There are plenty of words — matured, improved, developed — to select to try to describe what has happened to Lauren Holifield and D.J. Sanders this season.
No matter which word you use, though, all of them point to one thing: Holifield and Sanders have gotten better.
It doesn’t matter whether you gauge the level of that improvement in mph or poise in the circle because it’s all related. The nature of the improvement of Holifield, a junior right-hander, and Sanders, a sophomore right-hander, is a primary reason why the New Hope High School fast-pitch softball team has moved one step away from a chance to play for a state fast-pitch title.
At 6 p.m. Thursday, New Hope (25-3-1) will take on Lake Cormorant in game one of its best-of-three Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 5A North State title series. Game two will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in Columbus. An if-needed game three would follow approximately 30 minutes after game two.
Lake Cormorant eliminated New Hope in the second round last season.
That New Hope, which has had a habit of losing in the second round of the North State playoffs in recent years, has reached this point speaks to the team’s timely hitting and solid defense. But in a sport where pitchers can control the action, the progression of Holifield and Sanders has helped New Hope continue its quest for its first fast-pitch crown.
“It’s very special considering we haven’t been there in a long time,” New Hope coach Tabitha Beard said. “We haven’t been there since I have been here. This group of girls has worked so hard. They have played so much. They all eat, sleep and breathe it, and this is what they have worked for.”
Holifield and Sanders are hard on themselves. Pushed to evaluate their performances this season, both said they would give themselves a five. Far from average, though, Sanders said “some” of her pitches have improved, especially her changeup, and her control has improved. Holifield has added a screwball to her repertoire and improved her control. Both pitchers said they always have been confident in the circle and don’t spend a lot of time worrying about details. They said they have a job to do and they go out and do it.
“I feel I have more pitches and they are better,” Holifield said.
Beard said Holifield and Sanders have spearheaded the push to add a fast-pitch title sign to an outfield wall at Lady Trojan Field that charts a history of 14 state titles. Sanders is the harder thrower of the two, while Holifield is more apt to mix changeups in to keep hitters off balance. Regardless of who is in the circle, Beard said consistency has been the key.
“There have been times (last year) when I would look at (assistant coach) Connie (Sharpe) and I would ask, ‘What pitch was that?’ Beard said. “She would say, ‘I don’t know. It is not what I called.’ We haven’t had that a lot this year. They have worked really, really hard to be consistent.”
That consistency figures to get even steadier. Holifield and Sanders agreed there are plenty of things for them to work on and a lot of room for improvement. Their maturation as pitchers mirrors the progression of a fast-pitch softball program that has taken steps every year to make its mark on the state’s biggest stage.
“I don’t want to get stuck on the North State part,” Sanders said. “I just want to get past that point.”
Said Holifield, ” I know we are excited that we broke the second-round curse, but I want to do more than just that. I want to go all the way.”
That mind-set has allowed Beard to develop even more confidence in Holifield and Sanders. She said she has watched Sanders work through control problems, particularly in game one of its series against Pearl, and come up with a big pitch to get out of a jam. She also has watched Holifield “radiate” confidence in the circle. Their efforts have rubbed off on the defense, which feels equally confident to make plays when it gets the chance.
“Sometimes confidence can be more intimidating than anything else,” Beard said. “They know she is confident when she steps on the mound and she is going to carry our team. Coach Connie and I feel the same way.
“It is rare you have that in two girls. It is a lot to have one pitcher, but to have two you’re so confident in to get the job done is a nice thing.”
Adam Minichino is the former Sports Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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