By JON WEBB
Glasgow Daily Times
GLASGOW —
After an hour-and-a-half long practice on Tuesday, first year Glasgow softball head coach Becky Kingery stood in the parking lot of the Lady Scotties field at the American Legion, watching second baseman Haley Perkins and catcher Micha Elmore working on Elmore’s pick off throw. The temperature was dropping quickly, but neither player seemed to be in a hurry to leave the field. This kind of attitude, Kingery said, is what makes her new job so exciting.
“You know, a lot of the players could have the attitude ‘I’m already good,’” Kingery said. “But here (Perkins and Elmore) are practicing throws to second because (the throws) are not quite right. (Elmore) is already one of the best catchers in the Region.
“We’ve got a great group.”
Kingery inherited that ‘great group’ on Sept. 11 when she officially replaced Steven Murphy, who Kingrey said did an “awesome job” with the girls last season. The description is quite accurate. Glasgow finished the year with a 22-10 record, boasting a 12-4 mark in the Region and championships in the first wave of the All “A” Classic and Lady Eagle invitational before a district-tournament loss to Barren County derailed any hopes for postseason success.
Despite possessing only one senior, Kingery believes her team has the experience necessary to repeat those accolades in 2010. The coach said many of her sophomores — including Perkins, Shelby Ray and Blair Dennison — have competed at the varsity level since sixth or seventh grade, giving them a career’s worth of experience well before their senior year.
“We’re blessed with a lot of young talent,” Kingery said. “And the beauty about this team is that we have leaders and they work so well with each other.”
Part of the reason for that symmetry is assistant coach Matt Alexander. Although Kingery competed on the inaugural Lady Scottie softball squad in 1986, the program had not yet made the transition into fast-pitch. To make up for her relative lack of experience, Kingery said she will utilize her knowledge of defense and hitting and allow Alexander to take care of Glasgow’s windmill hurlers. According to Kingery, her assistant is more than capable of doing so.
“Matt Alexander (is) the voice behind (the team). He’s very particular with what he wants,” she said. “When you get that kind of leadership and get down to those particulars, that’s when you get wins.”
The Lady Scotties’ first opportunity for a win will come a week from Tuesday, when they host Russell County. Glasgow will be on the road for much of the season’s opening month, competing in tournaments at Warren East and Russell County, as well as the All “A” Regional competition at Burkesville.
Glasgow will venture to Lebanon, Tenn., on April 23-24 to take part in the Macon County Tournament and close out the month with another tournament at Franklin-Simpson.
Kingery has seven more days to get acclimated to her new job before the season begins. With all the help and experience surrounding her, that acclimation shouldn’t prove difficult.
“I’ve had no problems,” she said. “This is a super group of young ladies.”
