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Letter to the editor

Expectations are high at Gaither

An ace pitcher figures talent and teamwork will result in a successful season.

By Rod Gipson, Times Correspondent
Published March 7, 2008

NORTHDALE 

Gaither softball coach Al Alcala knows full well there are pros and cons to having an ace pitcher on his roster.

Among the pros is that, well, she's an ace.

The con: She can't pitch every day.

Not that Alcala is complaining about that.

When top pitcher Morgan Grove isn't available, No. 2 hurler Courtney Williams has filled in admirably, winning two of her first three starts this season. But whenever anyone mentions Gaither softball these days, from opponents to parents to fans, Grove is usually the first topic.

"It's a little hard knowing people expect more of me this year," Grove said before a recent practice. "I had nothing to lose last year; the expectations weren't high. It's not that I'm worried about expectations.

"I just want to come out and have a good season for the team, especially since this is my senior year."

Last season's Times Player of the Year, Grove is trying to pick up where she left off. She won 18 games and posted an 0.79 ERA. She also batted .353 with two home runs and 17 RBIs while helping the Cowboys advance to the region finals.

The key this season, said Alcala, is transferring all that positive energy from that group to this group.

"Team unity is the big thing right now," said Alcala, with the season just a week old. "The talent is there but there has been a lack of focus. This group has to learn to play their best ball when Morgan is not on the mound."

That hasn't been an issue when Morgan has been on the mound.

She has won three of her first four starts and helped the Cowboys place second at the recent 16-team Lake Mary tournament in Central Florida. The owner of five pitches (fastball, changeup, drop, curve and riseball), Grove pitched the Cowboys to two wins as the season opened.

But in their first regular season contest without her, the Cowboys gave up four runs late in the game to allow Mitchell to come from behind and win 7-4. Alcala said he's leaning on seniors Grove, Williams, Katie Forbes, Lauren Elgar and sisters Ashley and Justine McCoy to provide leadership and avoid lapses like that - especially once the Cowboys get into the meat of their Class 6A, District 7 schedule.

"That was just that lack of focus," Alcala said. "We've got an entire regular season to play before we get to districts. The goal is to get all 20 girls playing as one and perfect it before the district tournament."

For Grove, meanwhile, that means time to continue working on her pitches, playing well this season and preparing for college softball. Grove, who will play at Tallahassee Community College, said improving the spin on several of her pitches is something she's always working on.

"I think I'm throwing fine but for me and the team, we have what it takes to get to the state tournament," she said. "We're finding out it takes more than talent.

"It takes drive, effort, practice time and putting in the effort. That's what we have to do now."

[Last modified March 7, 2008, 02:18:32]