Softball Preview - Forsyth County Newshttp://www.forsythnews.com/section/118/article/27917/ | ||
THE GRIND: West Forsyth's Concatto embraces new position
“Shortstops are usually looked to as leaders, and I like to be in that position,” West Forsyth sophomore Bailley Concatto said. “I like to be a leader.”
West Forsyth softball coach Justin Rickett had finally relented – the Lady Wolverines’ game day uniforms were going to include white pants.
The next question was practical – how soon would a West player get her pristine white pants dirty?
Bailley Concatto answered that just a few minutes into the Lady Wolverines’ first practice with the new unis on a dive for a groundball.
"I dive pretty much whenever I can to get to whatever ball I can," Concatto said. "I try to get every ball I possibly can. …. I feel it goes with my personality, I guess."
That’s West’s sophomore shortstop. The one who creates her own words in Latin ("Gular," verb: the act of Guloing). Or quotes comedian Kevin Hart. Or sings "Leave the Night On," by Sam Hunt. Or always has a story to tell at practice about her day.
Aside from the comedic relief she brings, Concatto has stabilized West’s infield this season and been one of the team’s most consistent hitters as the Lady Wolverines entered Tuesday’s game against North Forsyth at 12-11 overall and 8-6 in Region 6-AAAAAA, tied for third place with Northview.
West had a senior-sized hole to fill when shortstop Erica Davis graduated, so head coach Justin Rickett turned to Concatto. She started at second base as a freshman, though she had some experience at shortstop from playing on her travel softball team.
Concatto relished the transition.
"I just love playing shortstop," Concatto said. "The shortstop gets the most [groundballs]. They kind of take control of the infield. Maybe the pressure is on the shortstop a little bit, but I just like being in that position. …Shortstops are usually looked to as leaders, and I like to be in that position. I like to be a leader."
Then she had a swing to tweak.
"This year, I worked more on not placing the ball as much in hitting," Concatto said. "Last year, I kind of used slapping too much. I would try to place the ball here or there. This year, I’m just working on power, just hitting it where it’s pitched and running."
It’s worked. Concatto entered Tuesday night hitting .437 (31-for-71) with 24 runs scored, 15 RBI and 10 stolen bases with just six strikeouts. She’s had a hit in 19 of 22 games she’s played and reached base safely in 21 of 22 games. The highlight: a 4-for-4 game against state power Collins Hill with a double and three runs scored.
"I hit slumps obviously like everyone else does," Concatto said, "but I feel like it’s been a pretty steady season so far. I always feel like my defensive skills would come in handy more than my offensive skills. Defense is what I bring to the table, but I feel like everything’s pretty good right now."
Indeed, the Lady Wolverines had won two straight entering Tuesday, including an 11-7 win against Northview to sweep the season series against the Lady Titans and earn any tiebreaker should the teams finish tied in the region standings.
Because, Concatto said, West has eyes on the state playoffs a year after losing in the first round for the second straight season.
"We just have to come together as a team," Concatto said. "We all love each other. We’re a team. We’re a family. And I feel like we just have to play like that on the field in order for everything to come together."
West Forsyth's Carpenter blanks North
Kelly Carpenter probably wishes she could pitch against North Forsyth every day.
The West Forsyth junior shut out North on Aug. 28. It was more of the same on Tuesday night: Carpenter held the Lady Raiders to five hits over seven scoreless innings as West earned a 6-0 home win to move closer to a state playoff berth.
West (13-11 overall) improved to 9-6 in Region 6-AAAAAA. South Forsyth’s 3-2 win over Northview (8-7 Region 6) in extra innings Tuesday gave the Wolverines sole possession of third place.
“Huge win tonight,” West coach Justin Rickett said. “Obviously the goal is to win out from here, but at this point we just need to take care of business in one or two of our last three games to get in.”
The Lady Wolverines made North (8-14, 7-8) pay for its inability to score with the bases loaded and one out in the fourth. Already trailing 2-0, North loaded the bases on an error, an infield dribbler and a single to right, but Carpenter (WP, 7 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 6 K) induced two lazy fly outs to escape with no damage done.
“We’ve had some games this season where the ball hasn’t bounced our way and things just haven’t quite gone right, and then that has snowballed,” Rickett said. “Our girls have matured a bit so now they know that just because something bad happens, it doesn’t have to continue to be bad. We’re growing up and getting there.”
West then broke it open one half-inning later. Courtney Canady (1-3) doubled to left-center to score Hayla Seitz (2-3, 2B, R) and shortstop Bailley Concatto (2-3, 2 R, 2B, 2 RBI) drove a looping double to deep center that scored Canady and Randee Bernstein (1-2, R, SB) for a 5-0 lead. Peyton Erb (1-3, 2 RBI, R) threaded a double just fair down the third base line to drive in Concatto and provide the final 6-0 margin.
The freshman- and sophomore-laden Lady Raiders now face an uphill battle in their quest for the fourth and final state playoff spot out of Region 6. North sits at 7-8, one game behind Northview, with home games against Lambert (14-1 in the region) and South (13-2) still looming.
Left on the schedule for West: Alpharetta (4-11), Habersham Central (7-8) and Chattahoochee (6-9).
“We got a big win on the road last Thursday and made it two in a row tonight,” Rickett said. “It was really the first complete game we’ve put together in a while — hitting, pitching, and fielding well. Now, we have to keep that up.”
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