The Agony of Defeat

The old saying says that to be the best, you must beat the best. And coming into this season, the Vandebilt Catholic Lady Terriers were the best, if considering their Class-4A State Championship victory in Sulphur last season.

But after losing five of their top players from that team, there weren’t many people who expected the Lady Terriers to repeat that championship, much less make it back to the Louisiana High School Athletic Associations Fast Pitch 56 tournament in Sulphur.

Mission No. 1: Accomplished.

The Lady Terriers made it to Sulphur, and defeated Zachary, 5-0, in their quarterfinal game, last Friday. However, in the semi-finals, Vandebilt lost to St. Thomas More, 5-2, ending their reign as the State Champion

St. Thomas More, beat “the best,” and went on to win the Class-4A title.

It was the first time since 2002 that Vandebilt didn’t play in the State Championship game.

Lady Terriers’ head coach Margaret Johnson said that despite falling short of the championship game, her team accomplished its main goal for this season. “I think in the beginning of this season, one of our main goals was to take this team and get them back (to Sulphur),” said Johnson after the semi-final loss. “We wanted to get a little bit of experience back, especially for those kids who are new starters. We accomplished that goal.”

Despite the team’s youth, Johnson said she was pleased with how the girl’s responded to playing on a statewide stage. “Once we were here, we were jut like … we’re just going to go out there, play relaxed ball, and do the best we can,” said Johnson. “We were really relaxed, and I was pleased with as young of a team as we were, that they weren’t nervous.”

The Lady Terriers lose just two seniors that got significant playing time from this season’s team. Overall, they are losing four seniors.

Meaning?

The returning players are looking forward to making a return trip to Sulphur. Two of the Lady Terriers top producers in Sulphur were juniors Lauren Martinez and Lauren Crane. In two games, Martinez recorded a homerun and two doubles. Crane was the team’s top pitcher, playing a key role throughout the season in helping the team to Sulphur. “Lauren Crane did an outstanding job in the circle,” said Johnson.

Johnson added that experiencing a loss like the one to St. Thomas More should make the returning players “hungrier” for next season. “Especially those young kids coming in,” she explained. “It shows that when coaches drill into you mental toughness … and you’ve got to be focused; that some of these young kids are going to go back and know what we’re talking about. Hopefully we’ll learn something, and be able to bring it back. We’re excited even for next year. I’m just glad the girls were able to get their experience this year under their belt.”

And getting that season-long experience has helped the Lady Terriers to “grow up” this season. “They grew up fast,” said Johnson. “I am extremely proud of how far we’ve come. A lot of people counted us out after we lost five good seniors.”

Next year, as usual, a lot of people will be counting Vandebilt Catholic “in.”