The Lady Bengals’ senior softball leadership: Bailey Newman (2), Blair Murphy (7) and Ellen Cordova (3).
The Lady Bengals softball team (24-4, 9-1) at Blythewood High School knows just about everything there is to know when it comes to winning a region championship. The Lady Bengals have won eight straight region titles, and if that isn’t impressive enough, keep in mind they’ve only been established for eight years. Having coached eight seasons of winning softball it may be hard to truly pinpoint the key to it all but Blythewood head coach Bucky Ware believes it’s all about tradition.
“The key is that they’re used to winning,” Ware said. “The upperclassmen pass down all the traditions to the underclassmen and the younger girls don’t want to be the one to lose that streak.”
Even though the softball season takes place during the spring semester, Blythewood’s winning tradition is one that is developed all throughout the year. The Lady Bengals’ program stresses development during the off-season and treats softball as if it is a year-round sport. When players aren’t in the batting cages or in bullpen sessions they spend time in the weight room and working on their cardio. Ware knows that winning breeds more winning and his team savors that sweet taste of victory.
“Once you get a taste of success you want more of it,” Ware said. “They’ve kept it up each year and I’m proud of them.”
Blythewood softball’s trophy case is full of hardware and after eight region titles the Lady Bengals are not sneaking up on their opponents. Ware enjoys the competition and looks forward to the challenge each season.
“There is a lot of pressure each year to keep it going,” Ware said. “But it is fun to have that target on our backs.”
Every season presents new challenges and different goals. Before the 2013 season Ware set the usual goal of winning the region title, but this season was confident enough in his team to challenge them with setting the school record for wins in a season (24). The Lady Bengals have responded and tied the school record for wins after last week’s 1-0 win over Nation Ford.
A 25th win, however, will have to wait until next year as the Lady Bengals were eliminated from the postseason at Byrnes.
“Every time we step onto the field we expect to win,” Ware said. “Even if it’s against the U.S. national team we believe we have a chance to win because we play our game.”
