Lady Trojans counting on youngsters

By By Will Bardwell / staff writer
Aug. 1, 2004
Northeast Lauderdale brings just three seniors into the 2004 slow-pitch softball campaign, but Chris Harper won't call it a rebuilding season.
"I don't know what is meant by 'rebuilding,'" Harper said. "This is probably the youngest team I've had since I've been at Northeast Lauderdale. But to me, rebuilding means you've been down and you're building it back up. We haven't been down."
The Lady Trojans went 23-15 and advanced to the third round of the MHSAA Class 4A state playoffs in 2003, and while faces have changed, Harper said the desire to win remains.
"We have a lot of rich tradition at Northeast," Harper said. "When we step on the field, we're supposed to win. Our players know that. It doesn't matter that we're young. We may be rebuilding, but we've got a great tradition."
Helping the Lady Trojans write another chapter in that tradition will be veterans Kara Hull, Savannah Hall and Shelley Odom. Harper said the trio will be counted upon heavily not only to score runs but also to boost morale.
"Other than the seniors, the rest of them are new," Harper said. "They (the seniors) have a tough task ahead of them. Not that we're not good, but they're young girls. The seniors have got a hard job ahead of them. They can't let the team get down on itself when things go bad."
One of the seniors that Harper said can make sure things don't go bad is pitcher Kara Hull.
"Kara Hull is probably going to be our RBI person," Harper said. "The question mark with her is that she played second base last year, and we moved her to pitcher this year. She's a good hitter. If she can bring the pitching, that'll help tremendously."
Harper's two fleet-footed outfielders, seniors Hall and Odom, will also be relied upon.
"Savannah brings a lot of speed to the game," Harper said of the Lady Trojans' right-center fielder. "She's got a good arm. If she steps up with her bat, things are going to be good."
Odom, who will play next to Hall in left-center field, may be the fastest player on this year's squad, Harper said.
"Shelley Odom brings a lot of athletic ability to the team," Harper said. "She'll hit near the top of the order. We look for her to hit with a little more power this year."