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Streaks Set To Make A Run

Chris Hoffman/Highlands Today

Sebring's Danielle "Dino" Lower, front, leads the pack during base-running drills at Blue Streak softball practice last week.

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By CHRIS HOFFMAN

Highlands Today

Published: February 11, 2009

SEBRING - There is no substitution for experience, and the Sebring softball team has that in abundance.

First-year head coach Joe Sinness relishes in the fact that he has seven seniors from last year's Class 4A-District 10 runner-up squad after taking over for long-time coach Lee Tolar, who stepped down after last season after 14 seasons.

"It's scary to think of all the experience coming back from last year's team," said Sinness, who is stressing discipline in the Streaks' dugout this season. "This team has so many weapons and it'll really be interesting to see how this season shakes out."

Sinness was formerly the girls weightlifting and assistant football coach for the Streaks before the position of head coach for the Streaks softball team became available. He then took a unique path to coming to a decision to accept the job.

"I talked with many of the seniors like Hannah Shoop and Sammie Lower and asked their input about me taking the coaching position," said Sinness. "I told them the kind of discipline that I would bring to the dugout and they gave me my endorsement.

"The trust level between the players and myself is there and that was the most important thing to me when taking this job."

Lower, a senior, gave a ringing endorsement of her own for the new coach.

"We've known Coach Sinness for a long time so it wasn't like they were bringing in someone totally foreign to us," Lower said. "He's been great for us during practice and brings that discipline that I think this club really needs right now."

Lower is one of the key components that make the Streaks such a force in the district: She led the Heartland in batting with a .552 average with 17 doubles, five triples, 20 RBI and scored 32 runs while playing second base last season and has shown she can play any position on the field.

The Sebring infielder has signed a letter of intent to play ball for East Tennessee State in the fall and will probably see more time at shortstop after sophomore Amanda Grimaldo suffered a season-ending injury during soccer this fall.

Sinness didn't have to go far to find an infield partner for Lower, as her sister Danielle "Dino" Lower has proven to be a chip off the old Lower block.

"Dino has amazing versatility and I have the luxury to play her in the infield or the outfield depending upon our matchup," said Sinness. "She has club experience which is something you can easily notice because she doesn't play like a freshman."

The older Lower is happy to get a chance to play alongside her little sister.

"It's good to have her there in the infield because we think the same," said Lower. "She has always listened when I'd give her tips about her play and it makes me proud to have her in the middle with me."

Sebring ace Niki Helms brings one of the best arms in the district back to the circle for the Streaks, as the senior hopes to improve on her '08 numbers.

Helms posted a 14-11 record last season and hit .489 with 14 RBI and 36 runs scored and stealing 11 bases but her main contribution to the team is being the vocal leader inside the clubhouse for Sebring.

"Niki is always getting the team up in the dugout and not letting us get down no matter how bad we're being beat," Lower said. "I expect her to be on top of her game this season."

Catcher Wendy Negrin was impressive at the plate, batting .489 with 13 RBI and 23 runs scored, but it was her cannon-like arm that gave opposing runners a moment of pause, while senior Priscilla "Pookie" Adams had extreme patience at the plate last season, as she struck out just once in 75 at-bats, while posting a .507 average and 19 RBI for the Streaks.

Seniors Hannah Shoop and Kayla Clemons are two solid leaders on and off the field, and will shore up the infield defense for the Streaks, though are both still playing basketball for the Sebring girls basketball team and won't take the field until the hoops season comes to an end.

Shoop improved in nearly every aspect of her game last season, batting .419 with 13 RBI and a towering two-run homer in the Class 4A-District 10 championship game against Braden River in '09, while Clemons is new to the Streaks after moving to the area this year.

"The beauty of Kayla is that she can play anywhere," Sinness said. "She can play infield/outfield as well as pitch, so she's going to be a huge asset to the team."

For Sinness, the process of bringing the Streaks back to the district championship starts with his maturation process as a coach, where he's transitioning from his years in baseball to the softball field.

"I went to some clinics over the summer and shadowed Carlos Falla at SFCC to really get a feel for the game," Sinness said. "But I also sat down with Sami Lower and talked strategy with her.

"Sami has a real head for this game and I hope she becomes a coach someday."

The Streaks kick off the season Tuesday when they face district foe Hardee at 7:30 p.m.

The Highlands Today sports department can be reached at 863-386-5841 or sports@highlandstoday.com.

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