CORBIN SOFTBALL

Despite losing several key players from last year’s Corbin softball team Coach Chris Hart is looking forward to this season.

“This will probably be the youngest team since I have been here and I have no senior starters,” he said. “I will start four juniors, four sophomores and a freshman, so I am extremely young, but with that said we have some returning with experience.”

“My four juniors are my captains,” Hart said. Hart will get a big lift from his daughter, Hannah, who is the Lady Redhounds key pitcher. She can also play second base.”

“She was our starting pitcher last year and as a sophomore, but started second base as an eighth grader and freshman,” he said. “That is a good place to start when you can return your starting pitcher.”

“Kelly Farley will move over to play shortstop,” Hart said. “She was our starter at second last year so she is moving over to the other side in the infield.”

“Sydney Reynolds will return at third and Callie Schoolcraft will take over the catching chores behind the plate,” Hart said. “Callie played first base last year, so we will move one of our outfielders, Katie Bernardo in to play first. Kately Jackson will play second, she is a freshman.”

“The outfield will be anchored by one of my other juniors, Lindsey Barton. I expect big things from Lindsey, she is going to have a good year,” Hart predicted. “She is a great competitor and is very athletic.”

Junior Whitley Gatliff will also be in the outfield along with sophomore Amber Allen.

“We’re young and we have some work to do,” Hart said. “I am looking for a tough early season. The early schedule is pretty brutal. I am sure we will take our licks, but I think these girls can handle it.”

“We are going to struggle early and you will see some losses, especially as tough as our schedule is,” Hart said. “But, I think that will make us better. I think we will be very competitive by the end of the season.”

Corbin is schedule to play #5 ranked North Laurel Thursday in London before hosting the Somerset Lady Jumpers Friday. The Lady Redhounds will travel to Montgomery County Saturday for a round robin with the Lady Indians and Russell High School.

Corbin finished the 2012 season with 20 wins and was runner-up in the 50^th District to South Laurel.

“As far as the district goes, everybody is talking about how young they are this year,” Hart said. “You can throw everything out when it comes to Whitley County and Williamsburg. Whitley County always puts a good team on the field. They are always a good hitting team and I expect the same this year.”

“Williamsburg has a lot of seniors this year and I expect them to be vastly improved from last year,” Hart said.

“Of course all roads lead through South Laurel in the 50^th District,” Hart said. “Coach (James) Burns returns most of his starters from last year and the ones that didn’t, he just reloaded. They are going to be very good and very tough to beat.”
“I hope by the end of the season we can be tough enough to compete with them and I believe we can if we continue to work hard,” Hart said.

“You have to look at North Laurel as far as the region goes,” he said. “They were number five in the Kentucky Coaches Poll, (of which Hart is the President) and rightfully so,” Hart said.

“I had them at four, but they are definitely one of the top five teams in the state,” he said. “They returned everyone from the team that went through the region pretty easy.”

“We have continued to schedule tough, that’s something I have done every year that I have been here,” Hart said.

“We added Harlan County to the schedule. They have a good program and a new facility that is very nice,” Hart said.

“We are going back to Fort Walton, FL. They schedule is never easy in Fort Walton. It has always been a difficult schedule,” he said. The Lady Redhounds are scheduled to play Henry County, Whitesville Trinity, Breckinridge County, Tates Creek and Owensboro.

“Our tournament will include South Laurel, as well as Rowan County and Harrison County,” Hart said.

“I think our schedule will be pretty tough, but it will make us better as we go along,” Hart said.