CABOT — There will be no worm-eating.
Last year, Coach Debbie Stepp and the Bryant Lady Hornets both made it to the University of Arkansas’ Bogel Park, the annual site for State softball championships. This year, they’ll go together.[more]
Stepp led the Wynne Lady Yellowjackets to a Class 5A crown while the Lady Hornets reached the finals in Class 7A before losing to arch-rival North Little Rock.
As a motivational tool and to get her young team relaxed, Stepp used a humorous old story that former Baylor football coach Grant Teaff used to tell involving ice fisherman and their worms. And she actually ate live earth worms.
(For the details, go here: http://bryantdaily.com/post/Wynnes-Stepp-hired-as-new-Lady-Hornets-softball-coach.aspx )
“I have something else planned, something special,” she said after her first Lady Hornets team secured a return trip to the 7A final Tuesday with an 11-3 win over Cabot. “They’ll get to see it Saturday morning. We’ll see if it works.”
The Lady Hornets face Bentonville Saturday at 2 p.m., for the championship.
Tuesday was a red-letter day for Stepp, whose mother turned 77 that day. Family members were on hand for the game including her brother.
Prior to her Wynne team’s trek to Fayetteville last spring, Stepp also had the team practice celebrating a State championship.
After the game Tuesday, she was asked what she might pass on to her Bryant team from her experience winning a title.
“As a coach, that’s your goal and I’m not going to be happy until we get there and win it,” she stated. “I’ve been there and I know what it feels like and I want these girls to have that feeling. They’ve been there so they know what it’s like to get there but there’s no feeling like being on that hill (that overlooks Bogel Park) and being the champion. That’s what I want them to feel because they’ve worked so dad-gum hard.”
Junior pitcher Peyton Jenkins who went 3-for-3, drove in four runs and blasted her first homer Tuesday said she and her teammates learned an important lesson last year.
“I think we’ve learned to take a more serious and focused approach to the game,” she said. “Last year, I don’t think we were as focused as we should have been. We were too much in shock and awe about where we were. I think this year, we’ll go in more relaxed and ready to play.”
“I feel really, really good going into the State championship game this year,” added junior center fielder Kelsie Works who was also a member of the 2008 team that reached the State semifinals, one game away from making the trip to Fayetteville . “The two other years, I sat the bench but, this year, I’m really excited to play. I love my team and I think we’re going to do good. We have a lot of talent and I just have confidence in all my players.”
After going 24-2 so far this season to make them 46-10 over the last two campaigns, confidence doesn’t figure to be a problem for this Lady Hornets’ team on Saturday.
Debbie Kelly
Congratulations, Lady Hornets! I’m very proud of you. You have exemplified hard work and class both on and off the field. Debbie Kelly (English 12)