On Saturday morning, Rockdale High School’s softball team opened their 2021 season in a scrimmage with Holland, marking the first time the Lady Tigers have stepped on a field to face an opponent since March 11.
Five days after that outing in 2020, the UIL suspended com petition and ultimately canceled the rest of the season, putting a halt to RHS’s campaign four games into district play.
Now with 2021 here and a global pandemic still looming over spring sports like a heavy rain cloud, head coach Meghann Infantino’s attitude coming into this season is one of gratitude.
“With COVID, we’re just grate ful we’re getting to have a season,” Infantino told The Reporter. “I’ve been talking to the girls about just being thankful.”
This year’s team is very experienced, with six seniors and five juniors on the roster. However, District 19-3A requires the Blue-and-Gold to face rigorous competition on a regular basis.
This slate includes fifth-ranked Rogers and Lexington, a perennial power that has at least nine players returning from their 2020 roster and eliminated the Blue-and-Gold from playoff contention in 2019. The addition of Caldwell into their district has also made things much more difficult down the line.
“We’re just going to go in and fight for the three or four spot (because) we’re in the toughest district in Texas.” She said. “Hopefully we’re in the playoffs this year. We’re going to have to take care of the teams we know we can take care of and try to sneak one away from somebody else.”
Infantino also discussed her team’s strengths and weaknesses.
“Our offense is really consistent,” she said. “We put up a lot of points last year against teams like Lexington, when most people didn’t even score against them.
“We struggle with defense e a little bit. Which is why coming into this season, we’ve spent a lot of time focusing on that and since most of my varsity is returning, I don’t need to work on offensive strategy.”
On the mound, juniors Haven Jimenez (at right) and Brande Breithaupt will split the bill.
Although she’s not a new coach, the Tarleton State grad became head coach at only 23.
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