Beauregard softball ready for top-ranked ACA

By Mike Szvetitz
Sports Editor, Opelika-Auburn News
Published: May 10, 2008

It’s a tough task.

But one that can be accomplished, says Beauregard head softball coach Robert Langford.

Today, the Hornets will host Alabama Christian — the No. 1 team in Class 4A — in the second round of the Sub-State playoffs at 10 a.m. in a best-of-three series.

The Eagles, who boast one of the state’s best pitchers in Lauren Webster, have won seven out of the last 10 state championships and come into today’s series with hopes of making it eight.

“We got our work cut out for us,” Langford said. “They’re a great team. I’m glad they’re coming to us, though, and we don’t have to travel there.”

But don’t look for the Hornets to just lay down, says Langford. It’s not going to happen.

“I just told the girls, there’s no pressure on us,” the head coach said. “The pressure’s on them. They come in here as the team to beat — the No. 1 team in the state. All we got to do is play our game.

“I just want our girls to go out and have fun and lay it on the line. You know when they roll the balls out and you give everything you got, win or lose, you can be proud.”

Beauregard has been preparing for Webster since Tuesday’s first-round series win over Northside.

According to Langford, Webster struck out 30 batters in Alabama Christian’s first-round wins over T.R. Miller, including tossing a perfect game.

“She’s got over 400 strikeouts,” Langford said of Webster. “She throws the ball around 62 mph, which somebody told me was the equivalent of a 98-mph fastball in the big leagues. At 40 feet, it’s coming.”

To prepare, the Hornets have been hitting a pitching machine set between 66 and 70 mph to get acclimated to the speed.

And it also helps that Beauregard is a pretty good hitting team.

The Hornets are led by senior CaSandra Yarbrough, who was 6-for-7 in Tuesday’s series against Northside. Also, ninth grader Peyton DeLong has been consistent all year, hitting over .400.

“Our bats are hot right now,” Langford said.

Combine that with the starting pitching tandem of Jana Cooper and Yarbrough, Langford knows his team can hold its own.

“If the girls believe and we go out and play as a team, there’s no doubt in my mind we can beat them,” he said. “If we play like we are capable, we can beat anyone in the state.

“You know, anything can happen.”

Also in Class 4A, Dadeville heads to Andalusia for a 1 p.m. series start at the Andalusia Sports Complex.

In Class 6A, Smiths Station will travel to Prattville to take on the Lions in the best-of-three series today, beginning at 1 p.m.

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