LAURINBURG — Lady Scots head coach Patrick Williams has seen a lot of girls play softball during his 25 years of coaching, but it’s been a long time since he’s had a team like the one he’s putting on the field this season.

“Their energy, effort, enthusiasm they have for the game and for each other speaks volumes,” he said. “I’ve had some teams like that, but it’s been a long time, since I’ve had a group that have wanted to see each other do well. They all have a competitive spirit, but it’s friendly competition.”

The Lady Scots softball team finished last season with an 8-10 overall record and 2-8 in SEC play to finish last in the conference. The team earned a spot in the North Carolina High School Athletic Association’s 4A playoffs as a No. 32 seed. The Lady Scots fell in the first round to No. 1 North Davidson, 3-0.

A far cry from the SEC champion Lady Scots had took the field in 2015 and compiled a 13-5 record en route to an SEC tournament championship and an appearance in the second round of the NCHSAA 4A playoffs.

“Last season was the first time in my 25 years that we had more than five losses,” said Williams. “We played the No. 1 team in the state in the first round of the playoffs and lost, but we didn’t get blow out, it was 3-0. It wasn’t like we didn’t have opportunities to score, we did, but we just couldn’t put the ball in play.”

The past isn’t something the team is focused on, they know there is room for improvement and have been putting in the work during the off and pre-season to try and gain a competitive edge.

Helping Williams lead the Lady Scots will be two seniors Maggie Laviner and Jordan Danford and junior Sarah McCall, who will be graduating early and won’t be able to play for the Lady Scots next spring.

“We nominated Sarah because she’s a junior and is going to graduate early, so I told her we were going to send her out on a great note,” said Williams. “We’ll pull a Kobe Bryant and send her out for a senior season. Jordan and Maggie, you can’t ask for any better. All three are great kids and work hard, as a coach you just can’t ask for any better.”

McCall will be one of three Lady Scots that will be in the circle for the team, along with junior Katie Lighthall and Bree Steele. Unlike in baseball, the NCHSAA does not have pitch count restrictions since the girls pitch under handed and the motion is not as difficult on the pitchers shoulders and elbows.

“With those three, I think we’ll be okay,” said Williams. “Softball is a normal motion, since it’s underhanded that it doesn’t tear up the kids shoulders and elbows like pitching in baseball does.”

The young Lady Scots are eager to play, according to Williams, which will serve them well when they start Southeastern conference play in a few weeks.

Williams knows his team is going to face an uphill battle in the SEC after finishing in last place a year ago.

“The other teams didn’t lose very many players, I think Richmond lost the same number of players we did,” he said. “It’s a situation where we don’t regroup, we just reload. Hopefully the kids will buy into what we’re trying to do and bring energy, enthusiasm and effort and we’ll make the best of it.”

Last season, Richmond finished as the regular season and SEC conference champions with a 9-1 record followed by Pinecrest in second at 7-3, Hoke in third at 6-4, Lumberton at 4-6 in fourth and Purnell at 2-8 just ahead of the Lady Scots in fifth.

“We did struggle last year, but we beat the No. 1 team in the conference, which was Richmond,” said Williams, that really showed the girls what they were capable of and the potential they have. I think this year we have some young girls, but they are pretty athletic but again they seem eager to play.”

The Lady Scots open their season on Thursday, March 2 with a non-conference home game against East Columbus at 6 p.m. Just like in baseball, the Lady Scots hope to win the conference and be crowned the conference champions, because with the NCHSAA rules changes only those two teams receive an automatic bid to the 4A playoffs, the rest of the field is based on a team’s 22-game record.

Williams is hopeful that the team’s eagerness and unity to translate onto the field and result in a winning season.

“I like their work ethic and attitude, it speaks volumes. It’s a situation now where we might be a little rust that we have to get off as far as playing and performing but once that’s done we can go from there,” he said. “I think the girls are eager to play and get the opportunity to see how we look as far as full competition and see how we stack up. Everyone is headed in the right direction and are positive people. This year, we’ll be strong but next year we’ll be even better with the core we have.”

Amber Hatten can be reached at 910-506-3170.

Amber Hatten | Laurinburg Exchange The 2017 Lady Scots softball team, back row, from left, Daizha McMillian, Kayla Walker, Maggie Laviner, Jordan Danford, Sarah McCall, Mackenzie Powell and Bree Steele. Front row, from left, Macie Gibson, Katie Lighthall, McKenzie Wilkerson, Nakiya Locklear and Jenna Byrd.
https://www.laurinburgexchange.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/web1_IMG_8942.jpgAmber Hatten | Laurinburg Exchange The 2017 Lady Scots softball team, back row, from left, Daizha McMillian, Kayla Walker, Maggie Laviner, Jordan Danford, Sarah McCall, Mackenzie Powell and Bree Steele. Front row, from left, Macie Gibson, Katie Lighthall, McKenzie Wilkerson, Nakiya Locklear and Jenna Byrd.

Amber Hatten | Laurinburg Exchange The 2017 Lady Scots softball captains are, from left, Sarah McCall, Maggie Laviner and Jordan Danford.
https://www.laurinburgexchange.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/web1_IMG_8946.jpgAmber Hatten | Laurinburg Exchange The 2017 Lady Scots softball captains are, from left, Sarah McCall, Maggie Laviner and Jordan Danford.
Open season March 2

By Amber Hatten

[email protected]

2017 Lady Scots Softball Schedule

All times are in p.m.

March 2

East Columbus

6

March 6

South Columbus

(double header)

5

March 7

@Cape Fear

7

March 17

Southern Lee

7

March 21

@Purnell Swett

7

March 24

Purnell Swett

7

March 28

Pinecrest

7

March 30

@Jack Britt

4

March 31

@Pinecrest

7

April 4

Hoke

7

April 6

Cape Fear

7

April 7

@Hoke

7

April 10

Jack Britt

4

April 11

@Lumberton

7

April 13

Lumberton

7

April 21

@Gray’s Creek

5

April 22

Gray’s Creek

Tournament

1

April 23

Gray’s Creek

Tournament

3

April 24

@Southern Lee

7

April 25

Richmond

7

April 27

@Richmond

7