Lady 'Dawgs looking for more in 2012

The Marianna Lady Bulldogs put together one of their best seasons in recent years in 2011, as an experienced squad reeled off 21 wins – including a playoff victory – and captured the school’s district championship in four years.

To replicate that success in 2012, the Lady Bulldogs will have to make up for the loss of a handful of key players from last year’s team and get bigger contributions from their young returnees.

Ace pitcher and leading hitter Hali Stout has moved on to Gulf Coast, while three-year starting catcher and home run and RBI leader Cayce Griffin is now at Chipola, and key starters Jennifer Cramer and Brandi Middleton have also moved on,

Marianna coach Scott Wiggins said that while last year was season to remember, he believes this year’s group has just as much potential.

“I think we had a very successful season last year. We brought the district title back to Marianna and got to the second round of the playoffs,” he said. “We want to win district again this year and move past the second round. We just have to have some of the young ones we’re bringing up step up and fill those shoes.

“I think we can go as far or farther than we did last year because I think this team has a better understanding of how I coach and the way I do things and what I expect out of them. I expect this team to go just as far as last year, and hopefully break that mold and get past the second round.”

While the Lady Bulldogs did lose a lot, they also return a nice nucleus of contributors from last year’s team.

Juniors Linsey Basford and Whitney Lipford both return after having big sophomore seasons, with Basford having hit .393 and tying Griffin for the team lead with three home runs, and Lipford batted .383 with 29 RBI and team leads in doubles (17) and hits (36).

Senior Mya Boykin returns after batting .395 last season and will join Basford and Lipford to form a formidable middle of the batting order for Marianna.

Wiggins said the trio of sluggers would be a big key for his team this year.

“No doubt their bats are going to be very important this year,” the coach said. “If Linsey, Whitney, and Maya all swing the bats like they did last year or possibly have a better year, we’ve got a chance to score some runs. But we’re going to rely on it being a total team effort this year. It’s going to take all of them.”

Junior Connor Ward and freshman Reagan Oliver were both part time starters in 2011 that will get to play much bigger roles this season, while newcomers Lindsie Eubanks – who will split time at catcher with sophomore Madison Gullett – and Taniyah Robinson will both get a chance to make an impact in 2012.

Junior pitcher Mallory Dean will replace Stout as the No. 1 pitcher for the Lady Bulldogs, and will also add some pop with her bat to the lineup.

The performance of Dean in the circle this year could be the biggest factor in whether the Lady Bulldogs can achieve all of their goals this year, as the junior gets her chance to be the team’s ace after pitching well as a freshman and sophomore.

Dean went 5-3 last year with a 1.78 Earned Run Average, 63 strikeouts, and 24 walks.

Wiggins said he believed that the junior right-hander was ready to take the reins as the No. 1 of the staff.

“I believe that Mallory can get the job done. She worked really hard over the summer and the fall, and we’re going to rely on her to hit her spots and pitch up to her capability,” the coach said. “This is what she’s been waiting on for two years, for the ball to be put in her hand as the No. 1. We’re going to count on her to get people out.”

Ward also pitched last season and was excellent in five appearances, winning all three of her decisions with two complete games, a 0.43 ERA, and 11 strikeouts to just two walks.

But she has been bothered by a nagging ankle injury in the preseason, and Wiggins said that sophomore Breanna Willis – who is moving up from the junior varsity – was currently the No. 2 pitcher behind Dean.

A key adjustment for Dean this year will be throwing to a different catcher, with Marianna having to replace Griffin, who was excellent behind the plate and a team leader for the Lady Bulldogs in her three years on varsity.

“Replacing Cayce is going to be big for us. Madison and Lindsie have big shoes to fill,” Wiggins said. “They’ve both been working hard, but it’s going to take them a year or so to get to where Cayce was at. Cayce was a real good ballplayer for us, but we’ll get there.”

Despite breaking in new catchers, Wiggins said he expected his team to be a little better defensively than they were last year.

“That’s out goal,” he said. “We’re working real hard on defense this year and putting a little more emphasis on making the routine plays and not giving up extra opportunities. I think we’re going to eliminate some of the routine errors we made last year.”

The coach said that he thinks a big difference on this year’s team could be the overall familiarity he has with the players and that they have with him, now in his second year as the head varsity coach after coaching at Marianna Middle School.

“With this group now, I’ve coached everybody. Last year, we had some seniors I hadn’t coached before, but with this group this year, I’ve coached everybody up through middle school,” Wiggins said. “I’ve had some of them for five years now. Some of them just have a better understanding of how we’re supposed to play and how to be more successful at the plate and in the field.”

The Lady Bulldogs will have a new district this year, with last year’s six-team league cut in half, as Arnold, Chipley, and Bay moved out, and Pensacola Catholic and Walton remain.

But Wiggins said he made sure that the non-league schedule was even tougher this year to make up for the smaller district, and he believes that will pay dividends for his team down the road.

“I think our schedule will be tougher this year. I made it tougher because I want them to be a little more tested,” he said. “We need to have that experience so when we do get to the postseason, we’ll have already faced a lot of really good teams. I believe the more quality teams you play day in and day out, the better you’re going to be, as opposed to playing some teams where you can sort of take a day off. We have to play every game this year.”

Marianna will open the regular season Tuesday on the road against Chiles before making its home debut Thursday against Liberty County at 4 p.m., and 6 p.m.