Practice starts for Bob Jones softball
Bob Jones softball players Taylor Weddington and Nicole Buccieri with Coach Whitney Elder Deaver at FCA Media Day (Record Photo/Lindsay Vaught)
HUNTSVILLE- For eight months Whitney Elder Deaver has talked about Bob Jones softball. The time for talking and conditioning is over for the Patriots first year softball coach.
Monday Jan. 30 is the first official day of practice for high school softball and baseball teams across Alabama.
“The players have been great during the offseason program, it’s been awesome. We had D1 do a strength and conditioning program and we did some speed and agility but we focused on getting stronger in the weight room,” Deaver said during the FCA Media Day event.
Deaver played at Grissom then Jacksonville State. She was an assistant coach at Sparkman and won several state championships there.
“I have been on the other side and teams brought their best against us. In softball any team can be beaten. I remember the losses. You have to bring your best every game.”
Deaver has some top talent returning. Key seniors include pitcher Hannah Pope. She has been starter since her sophomore season. Pope had offers to play in college but will go to Auburn to major in pre-dentistry.
Emily Quick will play the outfield. Nicole Buccieri will be a late signee with West Alabama. She will play outfield. Taylor Weddington returns. She played third base last season. Emma Jarrett played a lot as a freshman last year, she will also pitch.
Deaver must replace catcher McKenna Ray who now plays for UNA.
“We’ve got some good athletes and seven returners,” Deaver said. “I’m getting them on board with how I run things and how I call plays. We’ve done a lot work on baserunning and making smart decisions. We have a long way to go but I have seen improvement.”
Buccieri smacked a home run against rival James Clemens in the area tournament last season. Bob Jones will need more of that from her if they are to break a nine game regular season losing streak to James Clemens.
“Coach Deaver has worked us very hard this fall. It has taken some time for the new coaching but we are buying in to her style and what she is telling us to do and it will lead us to win a lot of ballgames this season,” Buccieri said.
“We are not afraid of hard work,” Buccieri said. “All the players want to be here, we give 110% and we want to win. Everybody on the team can be a leader.”
Hunter Smart is another returning senior who has potential for a big season.
Deaver is building the groundwork to improve future Bob Jones softball teams.
“We have really strong sophomore and freshman classes and Discovery is working with us on some things so I’m keeping an eye toward that,” Deaver said.
