Softball teams looks to better season

DAVID HUNTER
The Cannon Courier

The Cannon County softball team believed they underachieved in 2014, but they are hoping to improve their record this season. A mix of youth and experience makes up this year's squad."2014 was a good season, but we were a little better than our record indicated," CCHS co-head coach Gaylon Sissom said during practice a couple of weeks ago. "We did not come mentally ready to play in some games, which got us

"2014 was a good season, but we were a little better than our record indicated," CCHS co-head coach Gaylon Sissom said during practice a couple of weeks ago. "We did not come mentally ready to play in some games, which got us in some trouble. I feel like we finished a little lower than we hoped to. I think it can be a motivating factor, because we got a good group of seniors."

Returning senior's catcher Cheyanne Fann added, "last year, we were not really able to finish a game. We would play the first half really well, but we would not be able to finish it out. That is a motivator for us to be able to fulfill that this year."

Last season, the Lions finished the district season at 5-7 and they lost early in the district tournament in extra innings. However, they hope to change their luck in 2015 and it will start with five seniors including a couple of players who just enjoyed success on the hardwood. Kristen Hale and Kendra Maynard just completed another successful basketball season, which included another trip to the state tournament a couple of weeks ago. The other three seniors are Molly Williams, Fann and Sarah Hunt.

In the meantime, CCHS will also count on a few other key players this season, including lead-off hitter and centerfielder junior Livia Walker. Sisson says Walker is the fastest player on the team. Other players to watch, include the sophomore McCrary duo of Joie and Kallie and freshman Shelby Earls.

In order to compete in a very stout district this season, Sissom believes in the old saying "Defense wins championships," and he will be counting on that from the team in 2015.

"We build our team on defense, because defense wins championships," he said. "That is the key for us to be very good. The pitching is always key, and we are in better shape than a lot of teams. We probably got one of the top two pitchers in the district in Hale."

As for the players, they just want to get better as a team and they believe it begins with working together as one.

"We really want to work together, and have fun together as one," Williams said before practice last week.
Since Sissom took the job a couple of seasons ago, he wanted to beef up the non-district part of the schedule to help the Lions prepare for the heart of the district calendar, especially against teams like DeKalb County, who made a run at the Spring Fling last season.

"It builds confidence, because if you can play in these games and win some of them," Sissom said. "We have been very competitive in most every game we have played. The girls have bought in. When I took the job a couple of seasons ago, I maxed the schedule out. We take on anybody that we can play, especially in the tournaments.

Fann added, "It gets us ready for more competition, and it pushes us harder to be able to work as a team."
Next weekend, the Lions will play in the Gordonville's Tourney and they might play in another one later in April. Gordonville is the defending Class A state softball champions.
The CCHS softball team wants to improve in 2015, but they know in order to do that, it needs to play the complete game and work together as one against stiff competition on the schedule.

2015 CCHS Softball Schedule (District Game*)
March 11 Central Magnet* Away Postponed Make Up TBA
March 12 Cascade Home Postponed Make Up TBA
March 17 Smith Co* Away 4:30 p.m.
March 19 Macon Co* Away 4:30 p.m.
March 20-21 Gordonville Tournament
March 24 Upperman* Home 4:30 p.m.
March 26 DeKalb Co* Away 4:30 p.m.
March 30 DeKalb Co* Home 4:30 p.m.
March 31 York* Away 4:30 p.m. (DH)
April 2 Livingston Academy* Away 4:30 p.m.
April 3 Watertown Away 4:30 p.m. (DH)
April 7 Central Magnet* Home 4:30 p.m.
April 8 Cascade Away 4:30 p.m.
April 9 Smith Co* Home 4:30 p.m.
April 14 Upperman* Away 4:30 p.m.
April 15 Eagleville Away 1 p.m.
April 16 Macon Co* Home 4:30 p.m.
April 17-18 Possible Tournament (TBA)
April 22 Huntland Away 4:30 p.m. (DH)
April 27 Eagleville Home 4:30 p.m.
April 28 Livingston Academy* Home 4:30 p.m.