SOFTBALL PREVIEW
Lady Tigers return top starters

Members of the varsity Lady Tiger softball team are, left to right, (front) Amanda Montano, Ashlee Boone, Alisha Montano, Emmalee Lower, Desiree Purtle, (back) Head Coach Lisa Sandoval, Casey Sanford, Valerie York, Christina Villanueva, Kelsey Claiborne, Janna Ross, Carolanne Martin, Alysha Barton and Assistant Coach Jana McGoldrick

Fresh off a playoff basketball season, the Lady Tiger athletic focus turns to softball and the debut of a new head coach.

A coach with the Sabine Lady Cardinals for six years, including the last two as head coach, Lisa Sandoval hopes to continue her personal winning streak.

"My first year as head coach we were the bi-district champs, beating Atlanta in the first round of the playoffs," said Sandoval. "In my second year, we placed second in district but lost to the state-ranked Liberty-Eylau softball team."

Last year's Lady Tiger squad finished with a 10-4 district record but dropped their bidistrict game to Wooden, 7-3.

Although they have a lot of young players with no varsity experience, the "nucleus of returning girls should help the team tremendously," said Sandoval.

Top returners from the 18-9 2006 team include infielders Alysha Barton, Casey Sanford Valerie York and pitcher Janna Ross, all earning all-district nods for last year's efforts, including Sanford as the Defensive Player of the Year.