SPORTS TALK

With Michael Betteridge

This Team Is Fun

Sports teams develop a personality. It develops as the challenges of the season unfold. Injuries, tough losses, big wins, and unexpected developments can mold the “vibe.” After a little over a month of softball, you can pretty much see and feel the personality of our Cougars softball team.

Catoctin softball is young. Even younger than when the season started! What does that mean?

Well, there was only one senior on the team, Kassidy Kreitz. Kassidy experienced a non-sports-related injury that ended her season. But only on the field. She is there at practice and in the dugout during the games. She continues to bring her passion, energy, and excellence to the team, but no more postgame handstands, for now. Most players would give up in her situation…but not Kassidy! With Kassidy off the field, there are no seniors.

That leaves four juniors, seven sophomores, and two freshmen to suit up. But don’t confuse youth with inexperience. Many of these young ladies played in a softball state championship last year.

“Good teams are self-regulating. They hold each other accountable. This team plays with a level of maturity beyond their years,” Coach Valentine told me.

Recently, from the sidelines, I witnessed something rare in team sports. Right in front of our broadcast tent, Charley Keilholtz had trouble in left field tracking a routine fly ball in the sun. When she dropped it, her teammates surrounded her, encouraged her, challenged her, and told her they knew she would get the next one. The next play, Bralyn West threw a rocket to home plate to get the third base runner out from deep center field. That was a “college” outfield throw! Charley turned toward her and shouted, “Great throw, Bralyn!”

The next five fly balls that came to Charley in left field were all outs, and they were not easy plays! Coach Valentine said, “These girls pick each other up, and that translates directly back into performance.”

You can say that again, Coach!

Our Catoctin Lady Cougars ran off nine wins in a row, five of which were shutouts.

“This group is truly enjoyable to be around. I was recently told that every time I talk about them, I just light up, and it’s true. I love these kids and everything they are bringing to this program. They make coaching fun, and they represent what it means to be part of a team,” Coach Valentine said.

Winning is fun, and that is exactly what these young ladies do. They are winners on the field and off. From their pink uniforms to support breast cancer to the crushing hitting in their lineup. The Walkersville softball coach, Randy Hinkelman, told us: “They have power hitters from the beginning of their lineup to the end.”

And don’t forget their pitching and defense. Right now, they have the number one pitcher in Frederick County, Caitlyn Stambaugh, who boasts a .90 earned run average with a defense behind her that doesn’t let many runners across home plate. Caitlyn was one of the players there last year at College Park in the state championship. She spent last season relieving Taylor Smith. Caitlyn followed a legend, and she’s never looked back.

This team is fun to watch. They are humble and yet confident. For them, it’s all about the journey.

After careful analysis of this team’s personality, I have to agree with Coach Valentine.

This team is FUN!