Cape girls help SFCA rebuild
The start of softball practice at Southwest Florida Christian Academy in Fort Myers is a lot like one might expect. A team prayer – consisting of coaches, players and parents holding hands in a circle – comes before the team shifts attention to their next opponent.
That approach hasn’t prevented the Kings from being serious when the game calls for it. Twice in the past three years, they’ve reached the FHSAA Class 2A Finals and are putting together another strong campaign this season, posting an 11-4 record so far.
“A great Christian education is what we stress, that’s what we’re all about,” said coach Doug McDonald, who served as an assistant last year. “We just love to play softball, too.”
This year’s success has been a bit unexpected, given that the team lost five key starters. Among the most notable players lost were ace pitcher Hailey Baracco and sister, Talia Baracco, who now play for the Bishop Verot Vikings.
Deniece Bent and Meghan Sullivan, both from Cape Coral, are two of the six eighth graders on the team, providing outstanding all-around play this season as well as plenty of promise for the future.
There are no seniors on the team and only two juniors. Alison Szymanski of Cape Coral is a sophomore for the Kings.
“We knew we would be very, very young this season,” McDonald said. “We knew a lot would depend on the girls and how much experience they had. I’m very proud of their progress.”
Bent and Sullivan have been instrumental in keeping the Kings in contention. They both played at the Cape Softball League at Burton Field for the past several years, and were teammates on the 12-year-old All-Star team last year, which finished third in the state.
The girls developed good chemistry during that time, which they have brought to the Kings.
“(Meghan) knows my style of play and I know her style,” Bent said.
Bent leads the team with a .574 batting average and has posted a 4-2 record on the mound.
Sullivan has also contributed both at the plate and on the mound, compiling a 3-2 record with a 2.36 ERA and is batting .400.
McDonald said versatility is a strength of both players. They both have played a number of different positions already.
The Kings, who continue their season Tuesday when they host LaBelle, have struck a good balance between being patient with their young players and striving for as many wins as possible.
“We’re laid back,” Sullivan said. “(The coaches) aren’t going to yell at you if you make one mistake, but at the same time, we stay very competitive.”