By Malcolm Butler
The 2023 Cedar Creek softball senior class remembers the last time they went to the state tournament.
But barely.
The six seniors were in seventh grade when the Lady Cougars captured the Class A state title in 2018, oddly enough the last time they qualified for state tournament.
However, as the start of the 2023 season approaches, head coach Julie Riser and her Lady Cougars have high hopes of returning to a place that the program used to frequent on a yearly basis.
Their ultimate goal?
“To go out strong,” said senior Allie Furr. “We haven’t been to the state tournament in softball since my seventh-grade year when we won state. Getting back to that would be awesome. We have been trying to get there ever since and we haven’t made it past the quarterfinals. So, it’s just about making that leap; working extra hard to win that extra game to get back to (the state title).”
Furr and her Lady Cougar teammates open the season this weekend at the North Desoto tournament where they will play Many, Opelousas Catholic and Logansport.
“We have six seniors who have a lot of years of experience,” said Riser.” They have all been in our program since they were in the 6th grade and have contributed in a lot ways. Their leadership and knowledge of the expectations will be something that we will benefit from this year.”
In addition to Furr, a Louisiana Tech softball signee, the senior class includes Lillian Soto (UL-Lafayette signee), Lizzie McAdams, Anna Grace Lee, Chloe Brashear, and Peyton Muse.
“We have a lot of seniors this year,” said Soto, who should be fully healthy finally after suffering a knee injury on the basketball court prior to the 2021 softball campaign. “I think Coach J is looking forward to this year. I think we will push hard to get further than we have the past two years. I was part of a state championship my seventh-grade year so I know I would love to go back to the state tournament.”
The state tournament theme consistently rings throughout the players and their head coach.
“We always have high expectations,” said Riser. “We are a mature, well-seasoned group. We always strive for a state championship. I think it’s important to set smaller team and individual goals along the way to help them reach their full potential.”
“I feel like we have all played together for so many years,” said McAdams. “This last year we all have the same determination to win.”
One of the biggest question marks will surround replacing shortstop Sarah Adams, who earned all-state honors the past few years. Furr, who has started in the outfield during her entire career, will be asked to move to the shortstop position for 2023.
“We’ve had a few changes with the makeup of our team,” said Riser. “Defensively we’ve had to move some people around. We have a lot of players who have the ability to work their way into a starting role. So, with time, we will see how the changes we’ve made will work out.”
Riser said she has four arms in the circle and feels confident in the group’s ability to get the job done.
“It will be pitcher by committee,” said Riser. “We have four pitchers that have been working, but our two seniors (Brashear, McAdams) will log most of the innings.”
