Juggling act

LAKEWOOD RANCH — Logan Newton has become accustomed to having the ball in her hands.

For the past five years, Newton has played softball with the same players and pitchers. She’s hurled more than one no-hitter, won a plethora of championships and pitched on some of youth softball’s biggest stages, including the USSSA World Series and the ASA 14U national championships. She’s been the person on whom her teammates have come to rely.

But, this season, the Lakewood Ranch High freshman has taken on a new role. Rather than having to pitch every other game, or every game, in some cases, Newton is now part of a quartet of talented Lakewood Ranch pitchers.

“To be able to play with these older girls who I’ve seen and looked up to growing up is really inspiring,” Newton says. “It’s different (not pitching all of the time), but I like to be able to see other people pitch too.”
Newton joins junior Amanda Rak and seniors Korrin Cline and Meghan Neu — all who have several years of experience, including back-to-back state semifinal appearances, under their belts.

Rak is perhaps the most recognizable of the three upperclassmen, having come on in relief in the state semifinals as a freshman and taking the mound again in the state semifinals as a starter a year later.

But, although Rak may have the most starts on the mound, Cline and Neu also have big-game experience. Cline posted wins against Braden River, Lemon Bay and Bartow last season before an injury kept her off the mound.

Four pitchers is the most Lakewood Ranch has had on its varsity roster since coach Tony Cummins took over the program in 2011. Cummins admits it’s a challenge, at times, trying to give all four girls time on the mound.

“It’s a juggle,” Cummins says. “Unfortunately, it’s not necessarily a fair process. It’s about what’s going to benefit the team the most. It’s stressful (at times) having four pitchers, but most high school coaches would drool over it.”

But, luckily, the girls have responded positively.

“We work together really well,” Rak says. “There’s no tension between us. We support each other. If one pitcher is having a hard time, we’ll go in to support her.”

Each pitcher brings something different to the mound, from her pitching style to her demeanor.
Rak is known for her mental focus and toughness. Cline has an intensely competitive fire. Neu brings a sense of maturity to the team. And Newton loves the big game.

So, what determines who will take the mound?

The answer is simple: the opponent.

“There’s not a team that we face that we haven’t scouted out,” Cummins says. “We know who their hitters are, and we tend to match up accordingly. We pitch by committee. All four bring different things.

“There’s not a hitting style that we can’t face,” Cummins says. “We’ve won district championships and been to the state semifinals twice, and I do not think that’s by accident.”

Lakewood is off to another impressive start this season, posting a 7-2 record heading into its district rivalry game with Braden River March 11.

The Lady Mustangs’ two losses this season came March 4 against Sarasota, which remains unbeaten, and Lake Region March 8. But Lakewood’s mentality this season has been the same as it has been each of the past two seasons; it is a championship approach for which the wins and losses add up at the end of the season.

“Pitching is all about the mental (focus),” Neu says. “Forgetting pitches and losses and focusing on the next game and focusing on the struggle (within) makes it all better.”

Rak agrees.

“The losses and the mistakes — you learn from them and they help you at the end of the season where it really matters,” Rak says. “They help prepare you to work harder.”

Lakewood still has another month remaining on its schedule before the district tournament begins, but the team has aspirations of returning to the Final Four and hopes to advance to the state championship for the first time.

“We learned from the experience and we know what we have to do to get back there,” Rak says. “I see us going far.”

Contact Jen Blanco at [email protected].