2008 Woodie Awards
New coach fuels softball's 2008 turn around
Michael Courtney Hutchison
Issue date: 2/29/08 Section: Sports
Discipline, both on and off the field, is another main emphasis for Shores.
"I focus on discipline," Shores said. "Most importantly I stress academics. If you're disciplined in the classroom it will carry over to the field."
From actively recruiting and implementing his philosophies, Coach Shores' impact is already visible. The team's 3-0-1 start isn't bad, considering they only won three conference games all last season.
Sweeping Peace College in the Feb. 16 opener, it was the first time in the softball program's history they took both games in a double header.
More importantly, the Quaker's overcame a 5-1 deficit last Wednesday, Feb. 20, to defeat cross-town rivals Greensboro College. The victory marked the first time since 1990 that Guilford College has beaten the Pride, who were ranked as high as tenth in the nation last year by the Fast Pitch Coaches Association (NFCA).
"I came here with the intentions of rebuilding a program," Shores said. "After seeing the girls play last week I have raised the bar of expectations on them. The talent is here, but the focus and concentration on hard work is what will determine our success."
Guilford College ranked eighth out of ten teams in the ODAC preseason coaches' poll. Although they're not on other conference team's radar as a team to beat, it should be interesting to see where Guilford College stands in the rankings at the end of the season.
Junior Kelly Hale, the team's power hitter with six home runs last season, noted that this is a new year.
"The attitude and business has been laid out by coach," Hale said. "We believe in it and ourselves. If we continue this progress, we will compete with every team we face."
"I focus on discipline," Shores said. "Most importantly I stress academics. If you're disciplined in the classroom it will carry over to the field."
From actively recruiting and implementing his philosophies, Coach Shores' impact is already visible. The team's 3-0-1 start isn't bad, considering they only won three conference games all last season.
Sweeping Peace College in the Feb. 16 opener, it was the first time in the softball program's history they took both games in a double header.
More importantly, the Quaker's overcame a 5-1 deficit last Wednesday, Feb. 20, to defeat cross-town rivals Greensboro College. The victory marked the first time since 1990 that Guilford College has beaten the Pride, who were ranked as high as tenth in the nation last year by the Fast Pitch Coaches Association (NFCA).
"I came here with the intentions of rebuilding a program," Shores said. "After seeing the girls play last week I have raised the bar of expectations on them. The talent is here, but the focus and concentration on hard work is what will determine our success."
Guilford College ranked eighth out of ten teams in the ODAC preseason coaches' poll. Although they're not on other conference team's radar as a team to beat, it should be interesting to see where Guilford College stands in the rankings at the end of the season.
Junior Kelly Hale, the team's power hitter with six home runs last season, noted that this is a new year.
"The attitude and business has been laid out by coach," Hale said. "We believe in it and ourselves. If we continue this progress, we will compete with every team we face."
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