After losing in the first round of playoffs last year, the Lady Chargers are focused on rebuilding and growing day after day. They will start off the season at Senatobia with a doubleheader against Cleveland Central and Senatobia on Feb. 8.
Coach Dana McGivney, in her second season of the head coaching job, knows it will take time to adjust to the different team but is confident in their potential.
“We basically have an all new team,” McGivney said. “We only have two returning starters from last year. We graduated seven seniors, and one other starter moved away. We are pretty much rebuilding.”
The team has spent a lot of time working on the basics to get ready for the game. Focusing on improving skills like fielding, hitting, and base running.
“We have gone back to the fundamentals a lot, especially in the fall,” McGivney said. “We have also been lifting weights at least twice a week and we are going to keep doing that throughout the season. Hopefully, we will get stronger, stay healthier, and make fewer mistakes.”
Even though the team is young, their strong teamwork is a big advantage. McGivney noted that the players have developed great chemistry, which helps offset their lack of experience.
“I think their biggest strength is that they are actually teammates,” McGivney said. “They get along, they enjoy spending time together, and they work hard for each other.”
Sophomore player Paisley Walls, one of two returning starters, has stepped up as a leader this season. She knows her role is important to all ages, not just the younger ones.
“My plan this season is to lead my team in the right direction and just be a good leader to everybody, both the girls
younger and older than me,” Walls said.
Even though the Chargers are rebuilding, they still have a difficult schedule. McGivney is looking forward to seeing how her team handles the challenge.
“There is not going to be a single game that is going to be easy,” McGivney said. “We have a really tough schedule, including non-district games, but I think if we show up and play well against teams like South Panola, we will see how we show up.”
Junior Mary Claire King is focused on setting a positive example for the younger players, aiming to inspire them with her work ethic and mindset.
“My goal is to work hard and be a great teammate so the younger kids can look up to me,” King said. “I want my legacy to include hard work and positivity.”
McGivney wants to see the team get better, make fewer mistakes and compete in every match. The team may be young and inexperienced, but with hard work and determination, the Chargers are looking forward to a successful season.
“I want to see improvement every game,” McGivney said. “We want to have low errors and not a lot of strikeouts per game. Just to compete in and try to be in every game we play.”
