MOORE — Jenny Rollins first year as head fastpitch coach at Westmoore didn’t go as smooth as she would have liked. After taking over for Steve Schwarz last year, Rollins led the team to a 17-19 season and watched as her team was knocked out in the regional tournament.
Despite not reaching the success level of past Jaguar teams, Rollins did come away from the season with a valuable lesson.
“I just do things different,” Rollins said. “It’s not necessarily wrong. Just different. We’ve done a lot of fine tuning things. Just how we carry ourselves and present ourselves on the field. The way we talk and how we talk to each other so that Westmoore is represented well when they are on the field. And not necessarily that they hadn’t been before, but when you have a younger group coming in, you have to pass that on that they do represent themselves.”
Rollins enters the 2010 season with the intent of molding the team to her liking. Even if that means upsetting older players who may have thought they had a starting position locked up.
“I told them that there are nine spots on the field and they are all open,” Rollins said. “At the beginning of every year I don’t have a lineup. If they want a spot, they have to earn it. I’ve even had a few kids go change positions because they have seen some kids in front of them who they think are a little bit better. And I’m perfectly okay with that.”
Young is the operative word to describe this year’s Westmoore squad. They lost six seniors from last year and will only have three upperclassmen this season.
One of those seniors is Kendra Pierce, who comes into her final season on the verge of being a four year starter at Westmoore. She still marvels at how far she has come to be included in long line of great Jaguar players.
“I just came out to play,” Pierce said. “It just happened. I am not one of those people that will tell you I’m the best. I am going to show you. You have to show you are the best. Telling doesn’t win the games for you.”
Pierce also recognizes the responsibility she has as a leader. She saw how the team didn’t play well together at times last year and wants to make sure they are all on the same page this season.
“We can be pretty good,” Pierce said. “We have a lot of talent and we know how to use it. So I think we will be pretty good. The key is to come together as a team and play as a team. Doesn’t matter if you win or lose. Just come together as a team. It wasn’t absent last year, but some games we weren’t together as a team.”
“Everybody has a better attitude and they are here to play,” Clarke said. “.And ready to work. It just puts everybody in a good mood. Everybody is wanting to play and have fun.”
Clarke, Destiny Lookout and Mackenzie Hacket are just a few of the underclassman who will either start or see lots of playing time. Having such a youthful team has its advantages and disadvantages, according to Rollins.
“The positive is that they do seem to click together pretty well,” Rollins said. “That they do recognize each other’s talents across the field, even though some of them are a lot younger. On the other hand you have some upperclassmen who are competing for spots against some freshman. They may be used to playing but some of these freshman may come in and challenge that this year. It will be interesting.”
Westmoore’s first game isn’t until next month, but Rollins already has the team thinking big about what to expect this year.
“I think they can go as far as they want to,” Rollins said. “That’s what I told them. This isn’t my team. It’s their team. I’m just here to manage. But I told them as far as talent goes, they can compete with anybody. That will depend on keeping the drama off the field. And just pushing themselves.”
Michael Kinney 366-3537 mkinney@mooreamerican.com
