The La Porte Slicers softball team combines grit, hard work and a family bond in the path to success. The team has not had a losing season in at least seven years and the expectation is to do the same in the 2013 season.
“I am looking forward to our young team to show improvement. It is going to take some time. We have a lot of good players, and so far they have really dedicated themselves,” head coach Bob Severs said.
The team is relatively young, but that does not mean it lacks talent. There are three returning seniors, Alexis Botsford, Brynna Wolfenbarger and Taylor Baima, who are expected to lead the team into a winning season. The leadership, however, does not stop there.
“We encourage all the girls to be leaders no matter what the grade. We want to lead by example and anyone can stand up and lead not only by what they say but especially by what they do,” Severs said.
Besides leadership the team is ample in strengths both physical and mental.
Severs commented, “Their team chemistry is our strength. I think character is one of their main strengths. The three main parts of the game are pitching, hitting and defense and it is really too early to tell which one it is.”
After meeting the team, it is evident the players foster a sense of family and positivity that will be a benefit throughout the season. Even though the early spring weather has sent gusts of chilly winds to the La Porte Softball Complex at Kesling Park, the girls still act passionate and jovial and joke and smile. The team is not in the business of competing with each other, but supporting each other and there is a certain sense of sisterhood in the mix.
“We want to keep positively moving throughout the season,” Severs said.