CHOCOWINITY — The time is now for the Southside softball team as it will look to make the most out of ace pitcher Savannah Mumford’s senior season when it begins its journey into the postseason at home today at 6 p.m. against North Edgecombe.
It’s not very often a talent like Mumford, the defending two-time WDN Pitcher of the Year, comes around and when it does the window of opportunity only stays open for a few years.
This year stars have seemingly aligned for the Seahawks who finished the regular season by going 17-3 to win their fourth conference title in five seasons to grab a No. 1 seed as well as the precious home field advantage.
Aside from having pitcher you can count on to shut down opposing lineups on a nightly basis, Southside also has several trusted veterans like shortstop Macy Paramore, second baseman Sondra Sparks, third baseman Marlin Edwards and catcher Valarie Hodges, while in the outfield the return of Valerie Ruffin to left field also adds some senior leadership to the team.
All of those players have proven themselves to be valuable assets on offensive and defensive and coach John Lohman said the biggest key for his team this year is to maintain its desire every time it steps on the diamond.
“They have to want it,” Lohman said. “They are good enough to go out and get after it. In games where we are focused and want it we win. That’s the key. If we show up lackadaisical and out of focus, if everything else is more important than the game we are about to play then we will probably end up losing that game. Especially against good teams.”
Last season the Seahawks made it to the third round of the playoffs before falling to Princeton, who would also go on to beat a quality South Creek team in the Sectional Round.
Lohman feels this team up to par with any he has coached in the past as long as it maintains its will to win.
“We’re just as good as any team I’ve had,” Lohman said. “We’ve got pitching and defense and some good hitters. We just have to want it.”
The Seahawks showed their desire in the final week of the regular season as it topped South Creek and Riverside to claim the Four Rivers Conference crown. Now, they will look to keep that momentum going today when they host No. 4 North Edgecombe (6-8, Tar Roanoke), a team it has bounced out of the playoffs in the first round the past two season by a combined score of 34-2.
“I think we ended the regular season strong with wins against Riverside and South Creek and Northside, those are all good teams,” Lohman said. “So it’s nice to go in with some momentum.”