Even beyond their lopsided win, Wednesday was an especially productive day for the Cinco Ranch softball team.

By the second inning of the Cougars’ 17-0 win at Hastings in a District 18-5A game, coach Kerry Simpson worked two subs in. Three more entered the next inning.

It may not sound like much, but in a year when the Cougars starters are entrenched at their positions, Simpson will take any chance she can to empty the bench.

“I don’t have that many empty spots to fill,” Simpson said. “Everyone has to step up and do their job, so we base stuff on what they’ve done in the past. They have to be prepared to play and perform every time they step on the field.”

The Cougars (12-3 overall, 1-1 district), two-time defending 18-5A champions, had nine hits and took advantage of 13 errors by Hastings (0-6, 0-2). They led 5-0 after an inning, 6-0 after two and invoked the 15-run/three-inning mercy rule by sending 13 batters to the plate in an 11-run third.

Eight of Cinco Ranch’s nine starters reached base. Mary Beth Allcorn highlighted the first inning with a two-run double to straightaway center, starting pitcher Kristen Rumley had an RBI triple to virtually the same spot in the third and Lauren Gallagher later had a two-run single.

“The senior leadership is getting us there,” said Simpson, in her first year as varsity coach after the retirement of Judy Whillock. “We have some young pitchers. Kelly Tepper moved up from JV and Kristen Rumley is a freshman, but Meghan Brown, Mary Beth Allcorn and Jessica Stoelke (a Tulsa signee) have really stepped up as seniors along with Emily Meurer and Allison Tarbox and the other seniors. They’re taking these younger girls in and setting them up for success.”

It was Rumley’s turn Wednesday. She retired all nine batters she faced, striking out five and inducing four groundouts.

“(Tepper) has more screwballs and curveballs and my pitches go up and down,” Rumley said. “We’re different that way. I got to use a lot of different pitches today, which was good.”

Her contributions are especially welcome in the wake of losing two dominant pitchers. Kristie Chin is now at Brown University; Shannon Smith is at South Alabama.

“Kristie Chin and Shannon Smith were just stud pitchers (last year),” Simpson said. “We didn’t have to do a lot with them because they were so well-focused and trained, but this year what we’ve done is pitcher-and-catcher practice three times a week. They’re focusing on what works and what doesn’t and just getting stronger.”

Subscribe to this comment's feed