Chemistry is key for Cottey Comets softball this season

By Eric Wade

Nevada Daily Mail

The Cottey College Comets softball team has gotten the 2013 season off to a less than ideal start, but head coach Shelli Stanley's squad has all the pieces to put together a very competitive squad.

The Comets started the regular spring season with a doubleheader split at North Arkansas Community College in Harrison, Ark. on March 6, dropping the opening game by a final score of 8-1 before coming back to take the second game, 14-3. That split demonstrated right off the bat what Stanley pointed to as the Comets' biggest weakness coming into the new season -- finishing 14 innings.

Despite the inconsistency Stanley's squad has already shown this year, however, the Comets have already done something they were unable to do until 15 games into last season -- win. Last year, the Comets dropped the first 14 games of the regular spring season before picking up their first and only wins of the year against North Arkansas. Stanley's squad finished last season 2-18.

This year could be one full of more inconsistencies and unknowns, but Stanley is confident her four returning players will be able to turn things around with simple chemistry.

"Team chemistry is our biggest key. We could have the most talented team in the world but if they cannot play together then they will not win together," Stanley said. "We have great talent and with team chemistry, drive and work ethic, we will upset some teams."

The list of returning players will be anchored by Nevada High school product Lexi Johnson. Johnson played for the Lady Tigers throughout her high school days and was a member of the 2010 team that took the state of Missouri by surprise, winning not only the most games in one season in program history, but also winning the first district championship in program history.

In a year already full of firsts, that Lady Tigers squad wasn't finished just yet. Head coach Tammy Holcomb's squad went on to turn that first-ever district title into the first state championship in program history, just 10 years after the program was formed.

Johnson will play shortstop for the Comets and will join utility player Stevie Van Horn, catcher and first baseman Hallie Comer and outfielder Reanna Henderson as a second-year Comet. Joining those four on this year's roster will be freshmen Christine Nevins, Karla Dubon, Selena Gochenour, Danielle Womack, Emma Rathe and Raeann Mader.

The squad Stanley was able to put together this year may have been a bit inconsistent in the early days of the season, but will have its fair share of strengths as well.

"We will be able to hit for power and play the short game," Stanley said. "We are not the fastest team but we will be smart and aggressive on the base path, which will allow us to generate runs."

Though the Comets will have a strong core with which to work this year, graduation hit Stanley's squad hard after last season. In total, the Comets lost five players after last season, many of which were major difference-makers for Stanley's squad. Stanley said Elizabeth "Liz" Bromley, Taylor Buck, Kelly Spong, Gabriela Torres and Rachel Kennedy will all be dearly missed as the Comets attempt to move forward.

Though all of those players made significant impacts in their time with the squad, two of the most significant losses the Comets suffered last year were the departures of Spong and Kennedy. Spong joined the team as a walk-on, but progressed into one of her coach's favorite players.

"She had a lot of passion for the game and showed it. She was a utility player and would work hard in whatever position she was put in," Stanley said. "Spong was a contact hitter and you would very rarely not see her on the base paths."

Kennedy was also a member of the Lady Tigers squad and graduated just before the breakout season in 2010. As she was late in her high school career, Kennedy has been injury prone, but Stanley said she was the biggest reason the Comets were able to make it through last season since she was the squad's only true pitcher.

"Rachel Kennedy was a big bat for us. She experienced some injury throughout last season, however, always came through with some big hits for us," Stanley said. "Without Rachel, we would not have been able to get through the season."

Bromley and Torres were two of the best leaders on last year's squad, Stanley said, though they had very different leadership styles. Stanley called Torres a "great silent leader" who led by example, while Bromley was just the opposite and became the best vocal leader Stanley had during her time behind the plate.

Buck was the least experienced member of the Comets squad last year, having only played softball for two years, but Stanley said that didn't stop her from make significant contributions of her own. "She got the job done on and off the field and had a great, caring personality," Stanley said of Buck.

The Comets are set to return from spring break and get back into action next Tuesday, heading back out on the road to take on Kansas City, Kan., Community College at 2 p.m. The first game on Cottey's new home field -- Vanek Family Memorial Field -- is set for 1 p.m., Wednesday, March 20, against the Missouri Valley College junior varsity squad.