(Posted Thursday, January 22) Although Mother Nature may push things indoors, Gatesville High will begin practices Friday. That is the official start day allowed by the University Interscholastic League for after-school workouts. The Hornets will have less than a month to prepare for their season opener. "We'll spend the first two weeks or so sorting through personnel and working on fundamentals," said GHS second-year coach Chris Sommerfeld. "We're going to give our kids as many repetitions as possible so they will be prepared for game action." Like most other GHS sports, the Hornet softball team moves into District 17-4A with Waco-area schools China Spring, Connally, La Vega, Lorena and Robinson. That 6-team unit includes some of the area's top programs and should make for a real battle for one of the league's four playoff spots come late April. "Year in and year out, that league is one of the toughest districts in the state," he noted. "Of course, old rivalries make every game intense and playoff-like." Last year's team went 15-15 and finished fourth in District 8-3A, clinching the program's second postseason berth in a row before bowing in the first round of the playoffs to 7-3A champ Glen Rose 2-1. Sommerfeld's squad returns a bevvy of experience and knowledge, a factor he hopes pays off during the 2015 season. "Our strengths are areas that you hope to be strong: experience, leadership and work ethic," he explained. "The girls truly buy in to what they are being taught to do. We expect to compete and win in everything we do. Our program strives for progression year to year, and hopefully we can take the next step as a program from where we were last year." Gatesville has four scrimmages - the first February 3 here against Waco University - before opening the regular season February 17 at home against Dublin. A complete schedule is attached.
Top photo - Junior catcher McKenzie Winkler
Bottom photo - Senior pitcher Evan Edmiston