- November 28, 2024
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Next season, a senior-laden Lady Sandcrabs team has coach Tarisa Grimm expecting big things.
BY MATT MENCARINI | SPORTS EDITOR
It was a disappointing end to the Seabreeze softball season, but there’s optimism about the future.
The Lady Sandcrabs lost to Deltona in the district championship and then fell to Palm Bay 5-1, April 25, in the first round of regionals.
“Next year, there's no limit to how far these girls can go,” coach Tarisa Grimm said, adding that she expects there to be seven seniors on the roster next season. There were only two seniors on the team this year.
Having an older squad, Grimm said, will go a long way toward addressing two areas she identified for improvement: clutch hitting and fielding.
The fielding may work itself out as players get more fundamental experience, Grimm said, adding that the seniors won't be the only highlight in 2014. She also expects the juniors to play a major role, just as they did this season as sophomores.
Batterymates Taylor Lee, the catcher, and Brintee Dowd, the pitcher, combined for a .540 batting average, 54 RBIs and 48 runs scored. Dowd won 14 games on the mound.
“(Britnee) is only going to get better,” Grimm said. “I don’t expect her numbers to improve, but she’s just going to clean it up a little. She needs to work on her change-up. ... If she’s able to improve, she will. That girl is a fighter.”
Another offseason and another year of varsity softball will also help Lee take strides.
“She made a few mistakes this year,” Grimm said. “With a little more experience and practice, I expect her to dominate defensively and offensively.”
By the numbers: 2013 stats
Batting:
Casey Travers (Jr.): 35 H .406 AVG 25 R 14 SB 82 AB
Britnee Dowd (So.): 33 H .507 AVG 27 R, 26 RBI 65 AB
Rachel Titus (Fr.): 34 H .436 AVG 25 R 20 RBI 78 AB
Taylor Lee (So.): 40 H .571 AVG 21 R 28 RBI 70 AB
Pitching:
Dowd was 14-6 with a 1.12 ERA. She gave up 19 earned runs in 119 innings pitched and struck out 108 batters.
