Despite ending, Faith Academy softball accomplishes plenty
The Faith Academy of Marble Falls softball team’s season ended in a 26-2 loss to district foe Pflugerville Concordia May 10.
The Lady Flames made a change in the lineup when sophomore pitcher Jaedyn Hart was unavailable to play. Hart has thrown the majority of the innings during the season.
As a result, Concordia made the plate adjustments and ended the contest in three innings.
Still, head coach Delaney Ferguson pointed out her players grew in many ways during the season. During the first practice, she noted she had three types of players: those who have played all their lives, those who quit playing some time ago, and those who never picked up a softball until they decided to join the team.
So the fact that Faith was able to finish third in its district and then win a playoff road game at Plano Coram Deo spoke volumes of how far the team came.
“Nobody thought we’d win against Coram Deo,” the coach said. “And we did. Our team has gotten better.”
Ferguson knew the key to the squad’s success was to lessen the learning curve of those who’ve never played and those who stopped playing with those who have played the sport all their lives. She was thrilled to see her athletes’ tireless work ethic and drive to improve. They also trusted their coaches as illustrated by accepting position changes that helped the team qualify for the playoffs, Ferguson added.
There was never a time where she thought the Lady Flames wouldn’t win. But to have a chance to advance to the third round of the playoffs also didn’t seem probable in January either. That’s why Ferguson can reflect on this season and feel good about the strides that were made.
“It was big,” she said. “The fact that we went to the playoffs and had an actual chance for success and the fact the girls wanted to work. And they made friends outside of their normal friendships.”
The better news? Every player who can already has signed up to play next year and with no seniors on the team, it’s definitely a reload.
“We helped the ones who didn’t play much before this season develop a love for the game,” Ferguson said. “And helped those who have played for a long time develop a deeper love for the sport. We’re going to strive for much more.”
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