Lady Tigers look for first #039;W#039; in Andy

Published 12:00 am Monday, March 14, 2005

Five games into the 2005 season, the Greenville High School Lady Tigers are still searching for their first 'W'. With those losses though, the Lady Tigers have been able to see vast improvement in their game. So far Greenville has gone from not being able to generate a hit to being able generate runs when needed to keep games close. Coach Donna Sunnycalb and members of the softball team feel that last weekend's series of games in the Charles Henderson Tournament proved to be a turning point for her squad both statistically and mentally.

"We come out and we played together and gave them some competition and we worked better as a team," said Amanda Wright, catcher for the Lady Tigers. "I think that throughout the season we will work and become better and we will progress."

This weekend, they will have the opportunity see if they can continue to learn and grow as a team when they travel to Andalusia and compete in the Lady Bulldog Tournament. The tournament, set up as a double elimination affair matches Greenville up with the Geneva Lady Panthers from 4A.

"I think the kids are excited to play and are excited that they are making improvements and starting to hit the ball," said Sunnycalb. "So I think you'll see a different team this weekend. I'm hoping that the whole team steps up. I don't have any individuals that need to step up, I need them all to step up and work as a team if we are going to get that first win."

Attitude is contagious.

The coach is positive about the team's chances this weekend and that has drifted down to the players.

"I think that those first games were like practice," said Junior Danida Crenshaw. "I think that if we keep improving from here on out we will be successful."

Through the first two games of the season, the Lady Tigers managed one hit and zero runs. Following last weekend's tournament in Troy, they proved they can hit and score.

"Each game we've played we've gotten better," said Halie Burnett. "We've focused on something and have accomplished it and then we focused on something else and accomplished it and I think that we are working better as a team and starting to learn each others advantages and disadvantages."

This weekend, the tournament field will be tough, Flomaton, Andalusia, Straughn, New Brocton, Dothan and T.R. Miller are a few of the team's that await the Lady Tigers.

If the Lady Tigers win the first game Friday against Geneva, they will advance to face Pleasant Home later that night, essentially playing a double header.

The tournament is set for March 11 and 12 and will be played at the Andalusia Sports Complex.