Softball: Wildcat girls starting over

Cy Woods softball's first three varsity seasons produced 67 wins and three district championships, including a perfect 18-0 league sweep last season, but now, it starts all over.

"We lost every starter, and 12 total seniors, and several of them had a great run," said Cy Woods coach Clif Bond, who started the program with a non-varsity campaign in 2007, and back-to-back-to-back trips to the postseason from 2008-10. "We've been blessed with great players, and we have more now, but they're all new to the varsity game for the most part, and it's a big step."

Cy Woods isn't alone in fielding an inexperienced team full of underclassmen.

"Cy-Fair and Cy Lakes are the teams to beat, and Jersey Village and Cy Ranch have good squads, and after that, it's wide open," Bond said. "There are a bunch of teams who are young like us, and that's going to make it interesting to see who handles it and challenges for the playoffs."

The Lady Wildcats rally around junior Morgan Truitt, the team's No. 1 pitcher, and another junior, shortstop Megan O'Keane, the only Cy Woods' player who started a few games last season as part of an outfield rotation.

Sophomores Hannah Doggett (third base) and Desiree Garcia (center field) were also called up to the varsity last year, and now they're in the regular lineup with seniors Taylor Burton (first base), Holly Young (second base) and Taryn Murillo (left field), and sophomore Mandi Hawkins (right field).

Junior Amanda Leal can play anywhere, and for now, she's at catcher until projected starting backstop Kristen Anglin completes the basketball season with the Lady Wildcats, who captured bidistrict and area hoop playoff wins.

During the Katy ISD Tournament last week, and the morning after a District 17-5A opening loss to Cy-Fair, freshman pitcher Lindsey Truitt (Morgan's sister) was moved up for her first varsity start.

"We gave Morgan a day off, and we had a couple of other injuries, so we needed some help, and Lindsey, who is our junior varsity pitcher, got out there for us," Bond said. "We're getting a good look at everyone, and they're gaining valuable experience, and by district, we'll have a few more answers."

Cy Woods is at the Spring Branch Tournament Thursday, Feb. 24, and Saturday, Feb. 26, and plays a district game at 6 p.m. Friday, Feb. 25, at Jersey Village.

The Lady Wildcats host Cy Creek at 6 p.m. Wednesday, March 2, in another 17-5A outing.

The program went 21-7 in 2008, 22-5 in 2009 with its first senior class, and and 24-5 last season. Cy Woods downed Mayde Creek in the opening round in 2008 for its only playoff victory.

Rachel Dluhos is the team's assistant coach.