by: Kerry Lippold Jr.
In nearly the first week of the season, the Cobras have competed in more than ten games and are looking forward to an exciting journey as they make their way through the competition. To prepare for the rest of the season, the team has taken on many talented teams through their preliminary games.
Parkland Softball began their season in the deep south when No. 12 Central Alabama Community College, a Division I team, contacted the Cobras as they were working out nearby. They were looking to pick up a couple games which sparked a doubleheader between the Trojans and Cobras. This was only the beginning of their journey in the deep south as they were preparing for five more games during their opening weekend. Unfortunately, the Cobras fell short in two high scoring games (10-1) and (12-2) to the Trojan’s favor.
A report by Joey Gruner from Parkland Athletics gave a statement from co-head coach, Dan Paulson. On the night of the game he said that, “We just didn’t get the job done tonight. We had too many walks, a few too many defensive miscues, and left 18 runners on base in two games.” Nonetheless, it was an opportunity for the Cobras to play a high caliber team and achieve more successful at bats. Getting players back to home was the struggle of the game.
Parkland moved on to the Rush Invitational in Marian, Mississippi where their first two games started off strong but later took a turn in the favor of the opposing teams. Up against No. 14 East Central Community College, the Cobras began the game with two runs in the top of the first inning. East Central then went on in the bottom of the second and fourth innings to score nine and three runs respectively with a final score of 12-2 to East Central.
In the second game, Parkland faced Pearl River Community College where the Cobras were able to hold the game to a score of 3-3 until the bottom of the third inning. Pearl River then caught a break and finished the game 11-3. Parkland’s third scheduled game of the invite against Northwest Mississippi Community College was cancelled.
Looking to redeem themselves while finishing out the Rush Invitational, the Cobras fought through two close games against No.6 Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College and Hinds Community College. In the first of these two final games, the Cobras had the high-ranking team down by one after four innings. The lead and the outstanding pitching from Lauren Kavanagh were not enough in the end as Mississippi Gulf went on to beat out the Cobras in the fifth inning, and eventually ended the game 9-4.
The final game of the invite was an even closer one. In the final inning, Parkland had brought the game back from 5-2 to 5-4, but unfortunately couldn’t get the extra two points to beat Hinds for the win. Dan Paulson had great things to say about the pitching team, Lauren Kavanagh and Shelby Frederick, through these two difficult matches telling Joey Gruner they “combined to pitch an outstanding game.”
Since the difficult start to the season, Parkland Softball has succeeded in three wins and two losses including another close and exciting match up with Hinds Community College.
For more information about our Cobras and the new coaching team, check out the Parkland Athletics website where Joey Gruner has everything you need to know. Also be sure catch their next home game against Spoon River College on Friday, March 27, which is a part of their M-WAC series.
