You know how, every once in a while, a television show will just show clips from previous episodes because the writers are too lazy to come up with a new one? You gotta just hate that. Where’s the creativity? Where’s the originality?
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
So, on a completely unrelated note, I figured we’d look into the spring sports season ahead, since on last week’s episode... I mean, in last week’s issue, we re-watched all our favorite clips from the past winter sports season. Expectations are set, new uniforms are being unveiled, and some questions need answering.
State championship of bust?
They may be breaking out some new Nike uniforms, but not much else has changed from Coach Steve Kilby’s 2014 Henlopen Conference championship girls’ soccer squad.
The Lady Indian are set to return four All-State selections, including forwards and leading goal scorers Brooke Beam and Maddie Hogsten. Junior Ailene Guzman returns to lead the midfield, and senior Sarah Buchler should anchor the defense again.
With a new infusion of freshman talent, it’ll be interesting to see a once-underclassmen-heavy roster continue to step up and develop as both leaders and players. It’d be hard pressed to improve upon the girls’ 13-game win streak last season but, all things considered, wouldn’t shock anyone. Needless to say, expectations are high, and don’t think that the girls will be satisfied with anything less than both a conference and a state championship in 2015.
A few things to watch for this season will be how the team responds without the leadership of goalkeeper Alex Myers, whether or not they can continue their dominance over Sussex Tech, potential redemption against Caesar Rodney after last year’s 7-1 loss, and if Beam can continue the pace she’s on to eventually surpass 100-career goals. (Hogsten isn’t far off that pace either, after a 19-goal season during her freshman campaign.)
Will the Lady Indians ever break out their green uniforms?
When we were talking about all the awesome new Nike uniforms for this season, IRHS Athletic Director Todd Fuhrmann joked that the softball team would be unveiling some new uniforms, too — when they finally decide to break out their green “home” jerseys.
Last year’s squad was a little superstitious, opting to always wear their white uniforms at home, for good luck. The strategy worked, for the most part, as the Lady Indians strung together an impressive playoff run in 2014 and took down Caravel for the first time in years. Although I think that could have also had something to do with Henlopen Conference Coach of the Year Erika Brittingham and a roster full of All-State talent...
After graduating pitcher Rachel Hudson, shortstop Karlie Smith and second-baseman Ana Impastato, one of the major questions this season will be who’s filling those spots in the infield and in the batting lineup, but don’t think we’re not waiting to see those green uniforms, too.
Back to the playoffs?
Another Indians’ squad looking to get back to the playoffs will be the lacrosse team, which graduated 80 percent of their starting lineup from 2014. The eight starting seniors from last season were part of the Indians’ first lacrosse program and capped their careers by leading the school to their first-ever DIAA playoff appearance for the sport.
The only two returning starters will be sophomore attackman George Martin and sophomore goalie Hayden McWilliams, who played key roles as freshmen last season.
A few things to watch for will be South matchups against Delmar and Milford, which freshman and J.V. players will step up on varsity, how many times “G-Mart” starts trending on the Coastal Point sports Twitter account, and whether or not Point photographer Chris Clark gets hit by any lacrosse balls when refusing to not stand behind the goal.
Other things I’m looking forward to this spring:
• Driving to Laurel or Seaford or Delmar, or wherever, in my new gas-friendly Subaru instead of that old rusted-out 4Runner with the bumper hanging off.
• Trying to keep track of all the goals the Allison sisters score in the Lady Indians’ inaugural lacrosse season.
• Following @CPointSports on Twitter. Whoever runs that account is so entertaining and hilarious!
Correction: There was an unfortunate error in the Feb. 27 Tripple Overtime column where I claimed that my friend Mr. Rick had recently celebrated the 35th anniversary of his 35th birthday party. As Mr. Rick has been so kind to point out (and wasn’t bitter about at all, might I add), this would make him 1,225 years old.
Even after telling him that he didn’t look a day over 1,000, I felt this retraction was called for and would like to clear things up and announce that it was actually only the second anniversary of Mr. Rick’s 35th birthday — even if the jury is still out on whose math is correct on that matter...