GRAPE CREEK, TX -- The playoffs are nothing new for the Grape Creek Lady Eagles -- they’ve made 11 postseason appearances, including their fifth straight appearance this year.
But the Lady Eagles are hungry to end a longstanding drought without a playoff win. The program’s last win came in 2004 when the Lady Eagles beat Marfa 12-2.
“As long as I’ve been in high school, we’ve made playoffs, but haven’t made it past the first round,” senior pitcher Morgan Fowler said. “I think we really want that. We’re using that to push forward.”
To do that, Grape Creek will rely on a roster littered with eight returners from 2018’s appearance where they fell to Alpine in the Bi-District round. Fowler, her sister Caroline, Nita Betts, Kelly and Kimmy Salisbury, Makinna and Taigan Rivers and Jackie Carrillo return from that team. Five of those eight are seniors.
“Overall, our seniors have done a such a great job knowing their roles, knowing their personalities and taking everybody under their wing,” second year head coach Cara Thiel said.
The five seniors have been the driving force behind a culture shift at Grape Creek. The Lady Eagles held close with the rest of the district, including a 2-1 loss to Ballinger, losses to Wall by a combined five runs and a one-run loss to Brady.
“Last year, I felt like we were just happy to compete and play with the bigger teams,” Thiel said. “This year, we went into district really thinking we could get first at second. When you look at our scores, we were a couple of plays away from winning very close games.
“So, I think you see a lot of confidence change and trusting me. I just think, overall, we’re in a much better mindset as far as mental toughness and knowing we can win.”
The biggest reason for that shift is understanding the goals Thiel set out for her team and the seniors driving it home.
“I think they understand my expectations and they’re harder on themselves than I am,” Thiel said. “When I get up to yell, they’ve already got on each other. They know what’s coming before it happens. It means a lot more coming from your teammates than a coach.”
Heading into their bi-district clash with Kermit, Morgan Fowler says this team is “different” and they shouldn’t look back at last year.
“We’re a new team. We’re way different than we were last year,” the senior said. “We all have a different mindset. I think we’re ready.”
That mindset has involved the senior leaders stepping up to act as coaches on the field.
The Fowler sisters have been the core for Grape Creek this year as battery mates with Morgan, a 2018 All-Concho Valley selection, pitching and Caroline catching as they’ve done throughout their softball career. Morgan wouldn’t have it any other way.
“I know, with her behind the plate, she’s gonna do her best to get it. I can throw anything, and if I hit her, we’re still friends,” Morgan joked.
But Morgan has stepped up her game in 2019. She has thrown every inning of district play for the Lady Eagles and has proven to be a difference maker for Grape Creek.
“She’s been great in the circle,” Thiel praised. “She really has taken her role in stride. I can get on her this year, but she knows she messed up. Where as last year, it was more teaching and she didn’t understand. This year, she gets it. She knows she has to hit her spots, she knows she has to do her job in the circle and I expect her to do her job so our defense can do their job.”
Thiel and the Lady Eagles like this matchup with Kermit. Thiel noted the similarities between the two teams, but that Grape Creek could have the element of surprise come Friday.
“They don’t see our district and they don’t see how well we’ve competed,” Thiel said. “You look at us and fourth place and think ‘Oh, fourth place.’ But we’ve competed in every game. So, I think we really match up well. I have confidence in us to do a good job against Kermit.”
Grape Creek will square off with Kermit this Friday at 7:00 p.m. at Stanton.
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