The Dripping Springs Tiger softball team (24-7) closed the 2018 regular season with a 16-1 victory over Marble Falls last Tuesday to secure second place in 26-5A.
The Lady Tigers will host their first round playoff matchup versus LBJ Austin Thursday April 26, at 7 p.m.
“You know great teams that make deep runs in the playoffs are selfless. I don’t really believe in luck, I believe that you create it by your team culture. And if you have a great team culture things can happen.”
–Wade Womack, Dripping Springs head softball coach
After a heartbreaking 5-0 loss to Willis in the 2017 state semifinals, Dripping Springs head coach Wade Womack hopes that the deep run in the playoffs last season will provide the invaluable experience his team needs to take the next step.
“We have a good core of those kids back,” Womack said. “We lost some key positions, and we have multiple kids step up and fill those roles this season. So the girls have been there, and they know what it’s like. They’ve tasted it, and hopefully they are as hungry as I am to get back. I’ve been blessed to be a part of three of them, one state championship, and I want those girls to experience it.”
Womack wants his team members to stay focused and to stay ready for whenever their number is called, whether that is with a starting spot or coming off the bench for a pinch hit opportunity. That starts with the team’s one-game series with LBJ, which Womack said he isn’t taking for granted.
“It’s that team attitude, great team culture and being selfless,” Womack said about what he wants to see out of his team. “Accepting your role whatever that is, whether it’s starting or coming off the bench or getting a bunt down ... asked to do something maybe you’re not comfortable with, but it’s something that we need to get done.”
Selflessness is an attribute Womack hopes the Tigers can exemplify during the postseason. Womack said he wants to see his players form a family bond.
“You know great teams that make deep runs in the playoffs are selfless,” said Womack. “I don’t really believe in luck, I believe that you create it by your team culture. And if you have a great team culture things can happen.”
However, Womack said the Tigers have not hit their stride just yet and the team is eager to see improvement.
“We still haven’t played our best ball,” Womack said. “There are times that we are really, really good, and there are times that we look like an average ball club. Hopefully as we head into this third season, the playoff season, we get our minds right and our team culture continues to come together and have fun.”
