Questions still linger

Indian Land coach looking for answers as NSA team heads home

By Barry Byers - Barry Byers

Ray Coley, coach of the Indian Land Lady Warriors, a 16-and-under team playing in the 2007 NSA Class A Girls Fastpitch World Series this week, didn't have the answers to what was going on with his team.

Before Thursday afternoon's game at Cherry Park against the Carolina Hotshots, a team based in Spartanburg, Coley was still looking.

"We just don't seem to have the fire we need,'' Coley said. "In our last game, the girls came off the field and I told my assistant coach, Brian Campbell, I didn't want to talk to them. I walked away and darned if they didn't score three runs.

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"Maybe that's the answer; leave them alone. Maybe I have to make them mad at me for them to get their heads into the game. But I think there's more to it than that.''

Coley thinks the girls could be slightly burned out. Most play high school volleyball and travel softball in the fall, take a break or play basketball in the winter and finish out the school year on their high schools' softball teams.

This was supposed to be the year the Lady Warriors were waiting for. Two years ago they played as a 12-and-under team and went 3-2 before being eliminated. They went into Thursday's game against the Hotshots with a 2-2 record and one loss away from elimination.

Most of the players have been together six years and this is their third trip to the NSA World Series, which comes to this area every two years. The Lady Warriors have finished second in two tournaments this summer, third in three.

"And in the other one, we stunk it up,'' Coley said. "We've got the experience, but it seems like when things go bad, the girls get down on themselves too quickly.

"I really do think it's a case of burnout at times. When the World Series is over, we'll take a month off. We have half of our team back. I want them to have time to get acclimated for school starting back. Two of our girls have volleyball tryouts at Nation Ford (today).''

Coley also helps Monica Barfield coach the Indian Land High School team, one of the best in the state. The Lady Warriors have won nine of the last 11 Class A state championships and this year's team barely missed another trip, losing to Landrum in the Upper State championship.

Kimber Coley, Ray Coley's daughter, Kristin Campbell, Brian Campbell's daughter, Jacquelyn Delaune, Paige Brugh and Alyssa Hartman play high school softball at Indian Land.

Lindsey Visbeck and Heather Hammond played at Fort Mill but will be moving to Nation Ford this year when it opens in August.

Sisters Lindsey and Lesley Pressley play for Buford High School.

Rounding out the 12-player roster is Shay Jackson, a newcomer from Clover High School.

Kimber Coley was slated to pitch for Indian Land's high school team, but broke her right foot during preseason practice. The only action she saw was two pinch-hitting appearances late in the playoffs.

"I'm still not there yet,'' she said. "My foot was hurting last week but now it only hurts after games. I've been playing second base, but because of my foot I have to hit left-handed. I'm a right-hander.''

Campbell expected to be the starting centerfielder for the high school team, but when Coley went down she moved to the mound.

She is sharing pitching duties on the traveling team with Jackson and Hammond.

"I never thought Kimber would get hurt and never thought I'd end up being our pitcher,'' Campbell said. "But now that I did it for a season, I would rather play there again next year.''

It could happen. Coley is an excellent infielder and Indian Land has a key spot to replace because shortstop Alisha Kennerly graduated.

Perhaps that role will fall to Delaune, the team's third baseman. She has good range and a rocket arm. Delaune will be too old for the 16-and-under team next year and said she's hanging up travel ball after the World Series.

"It's been a lot of fun and most of us grew up playing high school and travel ball together,'' Delaune said. "I remember when we first started as a 10-and-under team. We were awful. It was three-games-and-out back then.

"But I'm kind of burned out. I've played a lot of ball this year and I need to take a break until the spring. I told coach Coley this was it for me.''

Thursday ended up being "it'' for the entire team. Coley is still searching for answers. The Hostshots eliminated the Lady Warriors, 5-0.