By James Hernandez

James: The team showed a ton of heart this past weekend which included a four run comeback in the final game in Carson City. Is this team starting to come together and play as one cohesive unit?

Coach Montalto: I believe the Lady Coyotes are starting to see their potential and are rising up to the challenge. They are buying into the team as a whole instead of being individuals and I truly believe that is why we are fighting back and starting to win more games. Every single person on this team has a certain role to play and each player on this team is vital to the success of this program and they are finally seeing it. Amber Calderon did a great job in the fourth game when it came to preforming in her role. She has been utilized as a pinch hitter frequently this season so when bases were loaded I knew she was the one I wanted up to bat. She did a fantastic job on getting the runners in and preforming.

James: After going 1-3 at home versus CNCC to begin the conference season, what does the team need to do in order to return the favor and have a winning weekend in Rangely.

Coach Montalto: This is a different team when you compare who we are now to who we were weekend one. We hit the ball very well weekend one against CNCC. As a team we bated over .400 on the weekend. What we were lacking was the heart, passion and intensity to protect the den. We have grown within the past five weeks and I know if we bring those three elements this weekend we will be looking at a different outcome. The past three weeks have been learning weeks for us when it comes to practice. We've introduced more chaos for our defense, forced the batters to make adjustments while at the plate and have challenged the pitchers to go the distance in a game. Now it's time for this team step on the field and show what Coyote softball is all about.

James: Can you provide our readers with a brief scouting report on this weekend's opponent the CNCC Spartans? 

Coach Montalto: CNCC has been pitching the same girl every single game. When looking at their stats Taylor Reidhead has pitched over 60 innings in SWAC play while their next pitcher has only thrown 7 innings. They have decent bats, but our biggest concern is going to be getting Reidhead out of the game early.

James: The team was able to win 4 games in the first half of the conference season. With the improvements the team has shown is it realistic to think the team can double its win total over the second half of the SWAC season? 

Coach Montalto: I think it is completely realistic that we will be able to double our win total, but we will not stop there. Like I said earlier, this is a completely different team and they want to win. This team is starting to see what we as a coaching staff have seen in them all year long; they have the talent and ability to compete with any team. There are moments in your coaching career where you sit back and take a mental picture of what is happening and this weekend I did that during the last game. When we were up by two runs, with two outs and a runner on second and third I looking into my dugout at the eight other players. In the beginning of the year I would have seen people sitting on the bench, not cheering for their pitcher or defense, but that's not what I saw this game. I saw every single one of them in the opening of the dugout on their feet cheering for Shonda as she pitched to the last batter. WANTING to win, not hoping to win. This is why I know without a doubt my team will double our wins in the second half of SWAC play.
 
 James: Kara Simpson had a nice weekend (4 H, 5 RBI) in Carson City. Do you think we will see more power from the freshman as she gets more and more comfortable with JUCO pitching?

Coach Montalto: Kara Simpson did a good job for us this weekend, she rose to the task when she needed to score the runners. I believe Kara can hit at any level, she just needs to trust her swing and stay disciplined. The mental game is a huge component when it comes to hitting at the college level, so when gets sound with the mental aspect of the game I know she will break through for the team.

James: Both Shonda Badayos and Jaycie LeBaron were able to earn victories this weekend. It's the teams improved play a direct result of those two consistently providing quality innings?

Coach Montalto: I think there is a huge connection between the improvement of play from our defense and the quality of pitching these two are doing. They are finally getting comfortable on the mound and trusting their defense.

James: Give the readers a player or two that you and your coaches feel may be primed for a breakout weekend.

Coach Montalto: I think that Jinger Meuir is going to have a very good weekend for us up in Rangely. She has made improvements every weekend both on defense and offense so I think this weekend is going to be a great one for her. I also think that Chandie Perez is due for a great weekend offensively. If she can settle in while at the plate and hit the ball the way she knows how to she will be putting up big numbers for us.

James: Do you feel the team is doing a better job overall defensively or is last weekend's seven errors still too many at this point in the season?

Coach Montalto: With having sophomore second baseman Chelsea Perez out of the lineup we had to move some people around and I believe that is the reason we had more errors than we should have. Jessica Clifford and Jinger Meuir do a great job at second base; I think they just needed to calm the nerves more so than anything. I'm expecting our defense to be sound this weekend no matter who is in what position. 

Thanks Coach, and as always good luck.  

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