Two pitchers make Lakewood Ranch softball armed and dangerous

With a dizzying amount of talent, the Lakewood Ranch softball team is making itself hard to ignore.

The Mustangs are ranked third in the nation by FloSoftball and fourth by MaxPreps as of March 18. Whichever service you prefer, it’s clear that the Mustangs are for real.

Their offensive prowess is certainly worthy of recognition, but pitching rules the roost in softball. Every great team has an ace it can lean on when things go south at the plate. What differentiates Lakewood Ranch from most teams is that it doesn't have one ace. It has two.

Senior Logan Newton and junior Kailey Christian are the team’s deadly duo on the mound. The pair allowed just five combined runs through the Mustangs’ first 10 games (all wins), and three of those runs came in one game against Braden River on March 16, a night when the temperature fell below 60 degrees at first pitch and the lights at Lakewood Ranch shut off, causing a delay in the fourth inning.

In other words, everything was just a bit wonky.

Both pitchers have similar philosophies on the mound. They don’t care about their individual stats, or even know what they are. Newton said neither of them have ever been “big number people.” They are confident in their team’s defensive abilities and view their job as simply letting the defense make plays on the ball. It’s been an effective strategy so far. Newton said she throws four pitches, while Christian said she throws five. Both declined to say exactly what they throw, however.

“We can’t tell you all the secrets,” Newton said.

The pair’s relationship began inauspiciously. Newton said she did not even know Christian during the latter’s freshman season. Last year, they were tasked by coach Maggie Sharrer with being the team’s top pitchers. That circumstance brought them together and created a bond.

“It was up to us (last year), so we helped each other out,” Christian said. “If one of us gave up a couple hits, we knew to calm each other down, because we can relate to that. Not all players can relate to a pitcher. Not everyone knows what to say. Talking to another pitcher definitely helps because they know what you're going through.”

Newton concurred and said she always turns toward second base, Christian’s fielding position, after a poor pitch, “because I know I will see her, and we can shake it off together.”

It also helps to have an incredibly deep and powerful offense backing them up, in the rare event that an opponent manages to score. That offense includes Mississippi State University commit Kinsey Goelz, her sister and No. 3-ranked freshman in the country by FloSoftball Avery Goelz and Louisiana State University commit Morgan Cummins. It also includes Newton and Christian themselves. Newton, an outfielder when not on the mound, hit for an absurd .714 average and 15 RBI through 10 games, and second baseman Christian hit for a more human but still solid .318 average and five RBI.

Newton and Christian shared glances and laughs while answering questions. They are noticeably relaxed; there’s no internal strife to be found. Instead, they each take comfort in the other being around. After one particularly prolonged giggle, Christian said it’s not just them that laughs a lot. The team as a whole is loose. Newton shared similar feelings.

"We're excited for the end goal, definitely, but I think we're just excited to be out here,” Newton said. “Sometimes when you get to this level, you can forget that we're all just out here to play. We don't forget that, and that's why we have been successful thus far."

The team’s personality was on display in that previously mentioned game against the Pirates. During the power outage delay, the Mustangs spontaneously broke into dance over a mix of modern hip-hop’s greatest hits. The performance was so lively, Braden River eventually jumped in and made it a dance battle.

Fun and games aside, the Mustangs still have work to do if they want to reach the end goal that Newton mentioned, which is a state championship. The program was knocked out in regional semifinals of the Class 8A tournament last year by Countryside after finishing the regular season 16-2. The responsibility of carrying the team again falls on the arms of Newton and Christian.

The pair would not have it any other way.

“I love me having that responsibility, and I love her (Christian) being the one beside me with that same responsibility," Newton said. "She does not make nervous, it is not ‘Oh no, she's pitching.’ I get excited. I'm confident in her as much as I am in myself.”