By Chris Cox

With each new season comes a new team. While the Crescent Lady Tigers are returning several starters from last year’s team that went 18-10, it’s still a new mix of players. But it is a mix that head coach Shawn Booth is excited to coach.

“I’ve got some really good girls,” Booth says. “That’s going to make this year a pleasure. If you’ve been in the business long enough you know some teams may have a little bit of drama with high school girls, but this group is going to be a good bunch of girls.”

One of the reasons Booth is so high on this team is their veteran leadership. Senior Chloe DeFuentes will be a four-year starter for Crescent and Booth says she’s a versatile player who will pitch and play some first base. 

Another four-year starter for Crescent will be senior shortstop Kaylie Counts. As a junior, Counts led Crescent with a .427 batting average. She was also second on the team with 23 RBI and 36 runs scored.

Alongside DeFuentes and Counts, junior outfielder Kinidi Taylor will be a key player for Crescent this year. She led the team in runs scored last year with 38 and was second on the team with a .406 batting average. Booth says she epitomizes the type of player he likes to coach.

“She loves the game,” he says. “She’ll go play it nonstop and is a good athlete.”

A sophomore Booth says he’s looking forward to seeing on the field again is third baseman and pitcher Phallioan Dyson. As a freshman, Dyson played in all 28 games, pitching in 17 of those. With a year of experience under belt, look for Dyson to step up her game and be an even bigger factor for Crescent this season.

“Our first goal is to go win that district championship,” Booth says. “Other than that, we want to get into a regional final and see how the ball bounces.”

Crescent is set to their season August 10th when they take on district rival Cashion.