2011-2012 Team

The 2011-2012 Lady Westerners have a mix of players from different areas of the atlas.  This year we have 17 players coming to compete for a starting position.  You always have your starting 9 that you go with in most games but myself and Coach Berumen are looking to build a team in which we can put any one of our players on the field at anytime.  If our players buy in to what we are looking for it is a recipe for success.  We all know that every player will not start every game but we do know that depth on your team is huge.  We have that depth but we will need each player to accept the role given to them. Whether it is as a starter or it is situational offensively or defensively.   In order to be a conference, regional and national championship team this will have to happen. 

We have three sophomores returning this year, those players are Danielle Danek (Crosby, Texas), Christen Miller (Rio Rancho, NM) and Amanda Tuttle (Payson, UT).  All three players saw plenty of action last year. Danek is expected to be the leader of the pitching staff as she saw plenty of action for the Lady Westerners in 2010.  Miller will be expected to make a strong push as an Outfielder and 2nd Baseman and Tuttle will be competed for a spot at 1st Base, Catcher and in the Outfield. 

We have 14 freshmen coming in from different areas of Texas to compete for positions.  The pitching staff features Reagan Darnell (Clyde, Texas), Bailee Anderson (Haltom City, Texas) and Miranda White (Georgetown, Texas).  Darnell is a pitcher with great potential, she mixes her pitches well and has the movement to be a transition from the hard throwers we have.   Anderson is a power pitcher and is very consistent with location and her speed and movement make her a force to be reckoned with on a daily basis.  White did not compete during her senior season due to an injury but I feel that when she regains her strength from her injury that she is going to be a force in the circle as well as at the plate.  She will compete in the circle but gives us a great glove at 1st Base as well.  I think when it is all said and done a lot of people that passed on her because of her injury will wish they picked her up.  You look at the remainder of our freshman and you have plenty of speed and talent across the board.  You talk about a talented group, you take Jamie Ohm (Frisco, Texas), Brianna Aguilar (Irving, Texas) and Morgan Stover (Ponder, Texas) and you have a blazing fast offense that could put up 70-75 stolen bases as a group.  Ohm will be looked at in the outfield as a Left fielder and Centerfielder, Aguilar and Stover will both be competing at 2nd Base, Shortstop and in the Outfield. 

Other key recruits are Maci Smith (Huffman, Texas) 2nd Base, Catcher and Outfield, Alyssa Wall (Fort Worth, Texas) 3rd Base, Yiselle Alvarenga (Grapevine, Texas) Catcher, 3rd Base and Outfield, Jenice Aloyo (Corinth, Texas) 2nd Base and Outfield, Taylor Gillette (El Paso, Texas) 1st Base and Middle Infield, Cassie Cummings (Abilene, Texas) Outfield and Catcher, Cheyenne Burkhart (Henrietta, Texas) 3rd Base and 2nd Base, Sabrina Cerda (Ventura, California) 3rd Base, Shortstop and Outfield and last but not least Brittany White (Hamlin, Texas) Shortstop  and 2nd Base.  These kids round out a very exciting and talented group, which makes for a lot of competition at all positions. 

This year’s team will count on pitching and defense first and utilize its team speed as the catalyst for run production.  We have two ways we can go at it, one being left slappers at the top of the lineup or a combination of slappers and power mixed in throughout.  The fall season will be the determining factor with teams like Midwestern State (NCAA Tournament Qualifier), West Texas A &M (Regional Finalist), Division 1 softball power University of Texas, up and coming program Division 1 Texas Tech and our WJCAC opponents Howard College (2011 NJCAA National Qualifier) and Midland College a frequent WJCAC Conference Champion and National Tournament Qualifier in the last decade. We will be tested right off the bat.  We will practice for about 5 days and then we are going to Durant, Oklahoma to play 3 scrimmages.  It is always good to get the girls on the road early and let them see what it is like to travel a long distance and get that college feeling right away.  We don’t have any cake walks on our fall schedule so we will have to bring our A game every time we step on the field.  Even our intra squad scrimmages will be a test.  I like that about this season and I can only see us getting better because of it.  August 27th can’t get here fast enough for me, I am ready to get to Durant, Oklahoma and see how we match up against other teams.  We will mix up the lineups and try different things until we make up our mind on which lineup gives us the best chance to win.