by MARK CAUL
Liz Valderaz (above) and the Lady Lobo softball team got off to a hot start with a 10-0 win over Lake Travis. Lehman hopes to contend for a playoff spot this season. (Photo by Adam Reyna)
Nicole Herrera deserves a great deal of credit. Even with both soccer teams still in the thick of a playoff race, she already has Lobo fans buzzing about softball.
Not bad for someone who was relatively inexperienced at coaching on the varsity level when she took over a fledgling girls program three years ago at Lehman.
Herrera has quietly started to build a solid program in spite of having to overcome some major hurdles.
Back in her first season in 2008, Herrera lost three of her returning players, all seniors, before the season even began. Two of them succumbing to grades and the other suffering a season-ending knee injury during the basketball season.
Then, while in the midst of trying to find replacements for the three veterans she lost, Herrera was forced to disband her junior varsity team because of various reasons ranging from lack of interest to grades. At that time, many of the parents were disenchanted and wondering whether it would be worth playing the season out.
But to her credit, Herrera stuck to her guns and although her team struggled, she built a strong rapport with the players who remained and even gained a stronger fan base by the time the season concluded.
“It seemed like everything was stacked against us that first year,” Herrera said. “But I give a lot of credit to the girls that stayed in the program and continued to battle hard every game no matter what the outcome was.”
In 2009, the Lady Lobos continued to build momentum as they fielded a very competitive squad that managed to win double-digit games for the first time in school history but fell two games short of making the playoffs.
Unfortunately, one of their key players - Desiree Cruz, a first team all-district shortstop has graduated after a couple of very stellar years at Lehman.
But luckily for Herrera, senior third baseman Liz Valderaz, first baseman Keke Holmes, senior pitcher Feliciana Torres and speedy centerfielder Monique Johnson are among the talented core of Lady Lobos making their return this season with the playoffs in their sights.
“It will be different without Des out there for sure, but we still have a lot of good players that are hungry and ready to win,” said Herrera. “Liz and Feliciana are both good competitors who hate to lose so I know they’ll be ready to step into that leadership role.”
Valderaz, who possesses one of the strongest arms and best gloves in District 17-4A is expected to be an all-league selection in 2010 after concluding her junior season among the leaders in every offensive category.
Torres, who has logged more than 100 games for the Lady Lobos over the past three seasons, will shoulder most of the load in her final campaign but will also play infield in the rare occasion she doesn’t get the start in the pitching circle.
Newcomer Ashleigh Hildebrand, a sophomore, has looked impressive early for the Lady Lobos and will also log some pitching innings for Lehman.
Hildebrand was the winning pitcher in a 10-0 season opening thumping of Lake Travis last week.
“Ashleigh will give us another option on the mound this year,” said Herrera. “I’m expecting her to be very successful because she has become a very good pitcher.”
Senior Sabrina Martinez will start at catcher, and Johnson, the Lady Lobos leadoff hitter, will anchor a speedy outfield that will also include Cyndy Erwin and Keira Holmes.
“We definitely have two of the fastest outfielders in the district in Monique and Cyndy,” Herrera said. “They are able to track down a lot of balls that may have fallen in the gap in our first season.”
The Lady Lobos will be tested early and often as they will play three tournaments before the start of district play (Austin ISD Invitational, Taylor Varsity Classic as well as the San Marcos Rattler Classic).
Herrera admits that the rough-and-tumble 17-4A will provide the usual challenges from teams like rival Hays, Lockhart and San Marcos, but she expects her squad to challenge for one of the four playoff slots.
“If we battle the way we can there’s no reason why we can’t be in the running for a playoff spot this year,” Herrera said. “We have a team full of young ladies who are ready to take that next step. Hopefully, if we are playing our best softball by the end of the season, we’ll have a chance to get into the playoffs.”
