Lady Tarpons look to improve

South Lafourche head softball coach Phil Bychurch said all he wants to see this season from the Lady Tarpons is improvement.

By improvement, he means winning at least two games this season.

“We only won one game last year,” he said. “So if we win two, then it’s an improvement. We’re trying to win more than two, and I think we will, but just two wins is an improvement.”

Last season was rough for Bychurch’s team, but the coach hopes it was lessons learned. With the core of his team back this season, he believes his team will make progress.

During the Lady Tarpons’ season opener against E.D. White last week, Bychurch said he saw signs of a team that could be competitive this year.

The Lady Tarpons jumped out to an early 3-0 lead for nearly four full innings, before errors and Lady Cardinal bats took over in a 12-3 route.

In that game, the coach explained that he felt his team hit the ball well, they just made too many mistakes in the field.

“I was surprised with how well of a hitting team we actually are,” he said. “But in the field, we use the old saying that we have our ‘South Lafourche innings.’ That’s where we can play flawless at one point then come back the next inning and commit four or five errors which can lead to six runs. We have to eliminate that.”

He blamed those mistakes for the Lady Tarpons’ shortfall last season.

In several district games, his team had a lead at one point or ended up losing by just one or two runs.

The coach was happy about the emergence of his third baseman, Tiffany Laird, who he considers one of the leaders of the infield. Bychurch admitted that her play can only help the other infielders – first baseman Meaghan Price, second baseman Sophia Collette, shortstop Rani Cheramie and catcher Brittany Charpentier – become better.

All three outfielders – Karli Pazani, Lani Melancon and Sadie Duet – are expected to improve the team defense. The coach believes that a better defense will yield better results this season.

Improvement will require a solid performance from pitcher Amber Rebstock, who Bychurch said isn’t as overpowering as other pitchers, but who would be effective all season long.

Rebstock’s arm could be enough to get the Lady Tarpons more wins, but it’s up to her teammates to back her up, explained Bychurch.

“It’s important for us not to let her throw extra pitches,” he said. “That’s where the mistakes come in. She’ll throw strikes, and if we can get a good field play to back her up, we can make things interesting in the district this year.”

However, the team will be short-handed until the end of the women’s basketball season.

Players such as senior Harley O’Quin, Simone Guidry, Heather Badeaux, Lindsey Ledet, and Celeste Cheramie are expected to play key roles on the team once they fully return.

But the coach wasn’t deterred; he said the opportunity gave some of his other players a chance to see the field.

“When those girls come back they are going to help us immensely,” Bychurch said. “We’re usually a tight-knit family, so if we can stay tight knit we are going to be alright. We’re starting games, all we have to do is finish them.”

Amber Rebstock delivers a pitch against the E.D. White Lady Cardinals last week. After winning only one game last season, the Lady Tarpons look to learn from last season to find success. * Photo by KYLE CARRIER