BLACKSVILLE — Although this season will be Clay-Battelle’s new softball coach Jeremy Doshen’s first foray into high school athletics, his philosophy and focus — and the opinion of his team — suggests that he’s the right person for the challenge.
“I’ve coached travel teams and rec leagues and fall ball, and I really enjoy the process of helping players improve,” Doshen explained. “I love seeing the progress unfold throughout the year, seeing them realize their potential. And make no mistake; it hasn’t taken very long for me to see the potential we have on this roster. We only lost one senior, and we’ve added four promising freshmen, so our numbers and talent levels are in a good place.”
However, Doshen is a firm believer that high school athletics are about much more than batting averages, ERAs, and conference standings.
“The girls found out right away that I consider them to be students first and athletes second,” he insisted. “Taking care of business in the classroom is the priority. We also want to emphasize enjoying the sport. It’s a game, and games are supposed to be fun most of all — that’s why I let the girls play music during practices. Building relationships and a family atmosphere are very important, and I think those aspects have been going great.”
Junior Paxton King, a three-year starter for the Cee-Bees, is very excited about the prospects for the year and the direction of the team.
“He’s been really great for all of us,” she explained. “He gives each player attention, pointing out the things we’re doing well and giving tips on how to get better. He’s also making practices really fun and productive at the same time because we work on all parts of our game. Different positions, different hitting and fielding techniques, game scenarios — everybody’s involved, and the team is together and motivated. It’s making us believe it’s going to be a good year, for sure.”
Having a blast at practice while the music is blasting is an excellent and fun way to find team chemistry — but nothing is more fun than winning, as any coach will tell you.
“We want to enjoy being with each other, but when it’s game time, it’s time to play ball,” Doshen said. “We will give 100% on and off the field and every time we’re together. I think we’ll be a solid hitting team, but we’re working hard on situational hitting, to put the ball in play more, have productive outs rather than strikeouts. Our pitching has stiffened up as well, with seniors Elyse Moore and Kenley Statler joined by freshmen Abby Price and Kaitlyn Wilson.
“I think the key aspect of our game this year will be our defense,” he continued. “We’ve preached to the girls that all it takes is one run to win, and sometimes, it’s your defense that has to carry the day for you. We want to compete hard, and be in every game this year, and if you play fundamentally sound situational defense, if you don’t give teams extra outs on offense, you should be able to stay in games until the end.”
“That’s what we hope to do,” he concluded. “Battle until the last out all season — and hopefully bring home a Sectional championship. We can’t wait to get started and see what we can become.”
Statler and the Moore sisters, Elyse and Lydia, make up the Cee-Bees’ seniors. Juniors are Elyse Snyder, Brianna Henard and Karley Riggs. The underclassmen are sophomores Olivia Summers, Shyanne Carpenter, Ryleigh Morgan, Peyton Whittaker, Alexis Stiles, Savannah Doshen and Bailey Willard and freshmen McKenzie Watson and Alyssa Nicholson.
BY MARK SCHRAF
TWEET @DomPostSports
