By Kyle LoJacono
The Academy at the Lakes girls softball team is on quite a streak.
The Wildcats (7-3) have made the playoffs every season since becoming eligible in 2008. They’ve already extended that run to a sixth-straight year by locking up the No. 1 seed in Class 2A-District 4 tournament, which comes with a spot in the championship game.
But the 2013 squad isn’t looking to merely extend a postseason streak. The academy has goals of going further than last season when the Wildcats won the first district championship in program history and reached the 2A regional finals.
“It definitely showed us the growth of our program,” said junior shortstop Lauren Evans, who has been on the squad since her eighth-grade year. “Everything came together. We’re still coming together this year because we have new players, but it’s a good thing. It shows that academy sports, everyone, basketball, our football and our softball, we’re all growing.”
Second-year academy coach Jerry English, who has more than 30 years experience leading high school programs, told his players early in the season to forget about what happened in 2012 “because everyone else will remember last year, and they’re not going to take us for granted. … We need to improve. We are good in our district level, but there’s a whole new world when you get outside of our district.”
The squad only lost three players from last year, but English said it feels like a new team.
“It’s a constant building situation here with a small selection of kids at the school to have play for us,” English said. “There are some high-level players and some who have never played before, and getting them to adapt and play together is a constant juggling act. … They’re a great group of kids and really root each other on.”
Among the newcomers are senior first baseman Andrea Mauger and freshman center fielder Janice Cassenello, both members of the Wildcats’ state runner-up basketball team.
“Neither one of them has played softball in quite awhile, but they’re athletes and they’re willing to learn,” English said. “They have brought their great practice habits in. … If they make a mistake it’s only because they’ve never come across the situation before, and they don’t make the same mistake twice.”
English has leaned on his core of senior pitcher Sydney Boynton (7-3, 2.41 ERA, 78 strikeouts), sophomore catcher Skyler Boynton (.515, 14 runs) and Evans (.571, 19 runs, 14 RBI), a University of South Florida commit.
Evans split time pitching with Sydney last year, but the latter has taken on the job full-time and thrown every single pitch this season.
Sydney was named The Laker/Lutz News Softball Pitcher of the Year for her efforts last season and has focused on improving her repertoire for her final high school season.
“It could be one pitch that determines the game,” Sydney said. “I’m just making sure my changeup and curveball are always working, because those are my strikeout pitches. I’ve been working to make sure the changeup is perfect because that really sets up everything else.”
Skyler, Sydney’s sister, said of that changeup, “When it’s on, it’s on, and we heavily rely on it to strike people out. It’s really one of the best changeups I’ve ever seen.”
Skyler moved from center field this year to fill a team need despite not playing catcher for several years.
“It was hard at first, especially with the bumps and bruises you get catching,” Skyler said. “It’s hard having your sister pitch, because if she doesn’t pitch it right, or I miss it, we kind of give each other that little glare, but it’s working. … Sometimes she’ll shake me off, but I’ll nod my head to say yes and just pitch it because I know it’ll get them out.”
Skyler also leads off the academy’s lineup.
“I’m looking for my pitch and not swinging at balls, which will allow me to get on base more,” Skyler said. “As the leadoff hitter you want to have a good on base. … With Lauren, Sydney and Maria (Aumaitre) behind me it’s a good feeling that they’re going to drive me in.”
The mentality has worked for Skyler, who has a .579 on-base percentage.
“Skyler normally gets on every time,” Evans said. “It really takes pressure off the rest of us because she’s always getting hits and is on when I’m coming up so I can hit her in.”
English also commended the improvement of Aumaitre (.320), a senior third baseman.
“Maria has, to me, been the most improved player since last year,” English said.
The Wildcats will look to repeat as district champs at Hernando Christian April 18 at 4:30 p.m. against the winner of the game between the tournament host and Seven Rivers Christian.
—Follow Kyle LoJacono on Twitter: @Kyle_Laker
