By Moses Leos III
Two years removed from a state tournament appearance, the Hays Lady Rebels softball team wants to improve as they ready for the 2016 campaign.
Ensuring their season doesn’t end as it did last year in the first round will be one goal set by head coach Lisa Cone.
“We’ve talked about the fact that we don’t want to end our season so quickly,” Cone said. “We do want to be in the playoffs and we want to go on a long run.”
Leading the Lady Rebels will be a defense that Cone said was the “strength” of the team. Juniors Alyssa Martinez, Madison Allen and senior Karina Rocha return for Hays High in the infield. Joining them will be relatively young outfield led by Lulu Arroyo.
Pitcher Nadia Netek, who saw time in the circle behind Kara Davis last year, will lead the battery. Cone said either Abbie Blackwell or Maria Arroyo would work to fill a void at catcher.
Cone said Netek has “worked very hard” on her pitching mechanics and hitting her spots in the strike during the summer months.
“I know that she is more consistent already at this point of the year,” Cone said.
“Her leadership on the mound is going to help us overall,” Cone said.
Improving on making quick adjustments while at the plate is one aspect Cone said the offense would work on. Staying aggressive while they’re ahead in the count is another aspect they want to improve.
“You might get three at-bats during a game. We have to learn how to make adjustments quickly,” Cone said. “We have to know what the pitcher’s doing and laying off of waste pitches.”
Making adjustments will be a critical component as the Lady Rebels enter district play. Hays will contend with perennial powers Bowie, Westlake and Lake Travis in the district.
Adjusting to the wide-ranging styles and speeds of pitchers in 14-6A will be imperative, Cone said.
“We know we see good pitching, then slower pitching,” Cone said. “It will be making those adjustments from game-to-game and even during the game.”
Hays hosts Del Valle Feb. 26 at 7 p.m. at the Lady Rebel Softball Field.
