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Twins Are Team Players For Warner Southern

AVON PARK SISTERS ARE HAPPY TO PLAY ANY ROLE FOR ROYALS

Chris Hoffman/Highlands Today

Avon Park’s Sarah and Saundra Flores have worked hard to make a good impression as freshman for the Warner Southern softball squad.

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By Christopher  Hoffman | Highlands Today

Published: May 8, 2008

LAKE WALES — As freshman, Avon Park natives Sarah and Saundra Flores have waited patiently for their turn to shine for the Warner Southern softball team.

Playing time has been sporadic, and much of the Flores' season has been spent cheering for teammates from the dugout.

But with the Royals enjoying much success this season, there's been plenty for the twins to cheer about.

"It hasn't been hard for us," Sarah said after fielding ground balls in practice on Tuesday. "We've just practiced and kept sharp and waited for our turn. All freshman go through this."
"This is the best decision we've made, and wouldn't change it for anything."

Warner Southern boasts a 34-9 record, is ranked No. 16 in the nation and is the No. 1 seed in this weekend's NAIA Region 14 softball tournament in Savannah, Ga.

The prospects of playing on a the big stage has the Flores twins pumped for the any chance to get their cleats dirty in a national tournament.

"I can't wait to get up there and play," Saundra said. "The anxiety sometimes can get the better of you, and the excitement just boils over."

In preparation, the Royals have been practicing at a local high school to get used to night games, something Saundra says is a huge difference from playing exclusively during the day.

"It takes me back to my days of playing for the Red Devils," Sarah said. "The practices at the college level are something that was a huge adjustment for us."

Saundra laughs and nods her head in agreement.

"The practices are so long and more intense," Saundra said. "They're all in the afternoon and in the heat of the day to simulate our normal game times. But our teammates have been great. We're so close and there's such a great support system being a small campus.
"And no, we didn't have to carry any upperclassman's bags just because we're freshmen."

The twins have instead helped carry their team to a couple wins late in the season.

Against Edward Waters College on Apr. 26, Sarah had her best game to date, driving in three runs, including a two-run single.

Saundra started the first game of her collegiate career in the second-game of a doubleheader against Edward Waters College and allowed just one run on four hits and struck out six in a 9-1 win.

"I was so nervous going out to the circle," Saundra said. "I was just hoping it didn't show, but once I threw my first pitch, I settled down and got into a groove."

Warner head coach Shawn Gary, in his 10th season as the Royals' skipper, sees promise in his Avon Park protégés and applauds the effort and team-first attitude the twins have displayed all season.

"They're great role players for me right now," Gary said. "With Sarah, I tell her to go get a hit, and she has always come through for me, while Saundra is blossoming into a really good pitcher.

"Saundra's spin ratio on her pitch is higher than anyone on the team. She's got great wrist movement and if she puts the time in, she's going to be hard to ignore for a spot in the rotation in the coming years."

After a four-year career at Avon Park, the Flores twins had no idea where they'd go next in life.

"We knew we wanted to go to college," Sarah said. "But we just didn't know where. Then we just decided to come try out here and [Coach Gray] was very honest with us and said that what we'd expect and how we'd fit into the team."

"We really respected that from him," Saundra said. "[Coach Gray] is very straightforward and we immediately knew that we wanted to come play for him and the Royals."

Their freshman season has been an acclimation period, not only to the practice schedule, but to the academic rigors and the perils of being a student-athlete, not to mention the freedom.

"The college experience has been nothing short of amazing for us," Saundra said. "We live in the dorms and just that little test of freedom has really made all the difference. I never thought that softball would get us to college. It was just something we did for fun."

The Avon Park twins have shown what it takes to be team players, while keeping themselves ready to help their team when their name is called. The commitment they've displayed this season is by-product of who they are as people and whether or not they're part of the action, they're definitely part of the team.

"This is where we want to be," Sarah said. "We want to help bring championships to Warner and we'll do anything we're asked to make that happen."

Fans of Warner Southern can follow all the tournament action on the web. Visit warner.edu and click athletics and the live stats link under softball for updates.

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