Among the consistencies of spring is a successful season by the Weatherford College Coyotes softball team.
And 2023 was no exception.
Once again coach Haylee Williams' team gave her and the Coyotes faithful plentyl of which to be proud. They had one of the winningest seasons in program history, advanced in the playoffs and in general presented some exciting softball day-in and day-out.
WC finished with a 39-16 overall record and was 22-10 in the Northern Texas Junior College Athletic Conference. At home they were extremely tough, posting a 25-5 record.
At one point the Coyotes climbed as high as No. 14 in the nation.
The season's longest win streak was 11 games, during which they outscored their opponents 103-29. The longest losing streak was the four straight they experienced against Grayson to end the regular season.
However, the Coyotes bounced back strong in the Region 5 Tournament in Waco. They opened with a 2-1 victory against Cisco and followed with a 9-0 win over McLennan. They then took the same Grayson team that had swept them a week earlier to eight innings before falling 7-4 and saw their season in a rematch with McLennan, 11-0.
The Coyotes were an explosive team offensively, scoring 10 or more runs 15 times (and nine runs another nine times - including four consecutive games at one point of the season). Their largest victory was 21-4 at Carl Albert State College in Denison on Feb. 10.
Defensively, they posted 10 shutouts and held opponents to two runs or less 21 times.
Among the more impressive statistics the Coyotes had was not hitting into a double play even once all season.
"We had a great year and the team was an absolute pleasure to coach all season," Williams said. "We achieved a lot of our goals, but did fall short in our ultimate goal of winning a championship.
"I'm so proud of this group and what they have accomplished on the field and in the classroom."
And, Williams added, the nucleus is in place for another successful season in 2024.
"We have Lilly Bean and Jacinta Fonoti returning, as well as Alexis Nava, Rozalyn Simmons and Tessa Cowan," she said. "These last three are some that didn't get a lot of time this past year but could be impactful next season."
Record: 39-16.
Conference: 22-10.
Home: 25-5.
Away: 11-7.
Neutral: 3-4.
Postseason: 2-2.
Longest win streak: 11.
Longest loss streak: 4.
Biggest win: 21-4 at Carl Albert State College in Denison.
Scored 10 runs or more: 15 times.
Shutouts: 10.S
Surrendered two runs or less: 21 times.
Batting average: .348.
On-base percentage: .424.
Slugging percentage: .555.
Doubles: 107.
Triples: 22.
Home runs: 53.
Runs: 396.
Walks: 176.
Hit by pitch: 40.
Strikeouts by batters: 203.
Sacrifice flies: 24.
Stolen bases: 113 (134 attempts).
Earned run average: 2.86.
Shutouts: 10.
Batting average against: .271.
Average (minimum 36 games): Lilly Bean, freshman, .414; Carter Smith, sophomore, .398; Lencia Powell, sophomore, .381.
On-base percentage: Bean, .481; Averie Gunther, sophomore, .477; Annabelle Guay, sophomore, .456.
Slugging percentage: Bean, .726; Guay, .719; Darlena Montoya, sophomore, .636.
Runs scored: Smith, 55; Gunther, 49; Montoya, 46.
Hits: Smith, 74; Bean, 65; Gunther, 59.
Doubles: Bean, 19; Montoya, 15; Guay, 14.
Triples: Montoya, 10; Powell, 4; Smith, 3; Jacinta Fonoti, 3.
Home runs: Guay, 13; Charlee Horton, sophomore, 12; Montoya, 10.
Runs batted in: Bean, 55; Horton, 41; Powell, 41.
Walks received: Guay, 29, Gunther, 22; Montoya, 22.
Stolen bases: Smith, 45-47; Gunther, 19-24; Montoya, 12-13.
Extra-base hits: Bean, 29; Montoya, 28; Guay, 27.
Sacrifice flies: Powell, 5; Gunther, 3; Bean, 3; Fonoti, 3.
Hit by pitch: Gunther, 11; Bean, 6; Fonoti, 3; Jeanette Rios, sophomore, 3.
Win-loss record: Amelia Hatthorn, sophomore, 14-4; Teoni Lamb, sophomore, 12-1; Gunther, 8-2.
Saves: Chloe Sales, sophomore, 3; Hatthorn, 1; Lamb, 1.
ERA (minimum 80 innings): Lamb, 1.71; Gunther, 3.07; Hatthorn, 3.55.
Innings pitched: Hatthorn, 118.1; Gunther, 100.1; Lamb, 86.0.
Fewest walks allowed (minimum 80 innings): Gunther, 25; Lamb, 27; Hatthorn, 39.
Strikeouts: Gunther, 98; Lamb, 96; Hatthorn, 80.
Average strikeouts per seven innings (minimum 25 innings): Lamb, 7.81; Gunther, 6.84; Sales, 6.41.
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