Greenwood’s star pitcher is no stranger to experience and is ready to lead the Lady Gators back to glory
Greenwood junior Elizabeth Moss understands the expectations her and her teammates face as members of the Greenwood Lady Gator softball program. She knows that winning is no longer something that would be nice to achieve but rather something that is assumed will happen each and every night the team takes the field. Already recognized as a force across Kentucky after back-to-back state titles in 2007 and 2008, the 2013 Lady Gators have a target on their back after placing fourth at the state event last season. Furthermore, Moss and company returned every player from that team and began the year ranked #1 in the preseason KSCA rankings. “It is definitely evident that we are a target this year,” said Moss. “This adds a lot of pressure, but also motivates us to uphold the expectations of everyone else.”
Expectations appear to be something Greenwood’s ace thrives on. The junior had an unbelievable sophomore season last year, striking out 324 batters en route to winning thirty-three games on the mound for her team. She recorded a 0.447 ERA as well, an unimaginable earned-run average for pitchers at any level of baseball or softball. Moss talked about her presence on the mound and game plan she goes by when facing the opposition. “I throw a variety of pitches; each one’s role depends on what the situation is during the game.” The Lady Gators have found themselves in a lot of “winning situations” in 2013 as they currently sit undefeated at the time of publication and have yet to give up a run defensively. That success can be attributed to Moss’ pitching as well as the teammates that back her up on the field. As for her teammates, the #1-ranked Gators appear to be climbing towards one goal. “We are mentally focusing on one goal, which motivates us to do the best we can every single day of the season.”
That one goal is a state championship; something the Lady Gators’ head coach is no stranger to. Coach Penny Reece is a legend when it comes to Kentucky High School Softball and has led Greenwood to two state championships while at the helm. Moss is glad to have the experienced skipper in her dugout. “Reece is tough and brings lots of experience to our team. She seems to know how to deal with team situations and goals. She has high expectations, but that only makes us work harder.” Reece’s motivation has inspired a dedicated work ethic in Moss and her teammates, a dedication that takes no breaks. “We all play on competitive travel teams and we have worked hard on our own during the off-season,” Moss said of her team. Individually, the ace went above and beyond many softball players’ preparations. “I worked a lot during the off-season to get stronger and physically prepare myself for the long season,” she explained. ‘Such things include lots of speed drills, weight lifting, running exercises, and obviously lots and lots of pitching.”
With so much time dedicated to softball and specifically pitching, one might wonder if the Lady Gator star has any time for fun outside of softball. And while Moss will tell you a majority of her time is spent practicing her art, she still finds time to be a regular high school student at Greenwood High. “I enjoy spending time with my friends at school and my favorite subjects include math, science, and US History,” she said. Moss is also a very bright student with great grades and is involved in a local church. “I am member of the National Honors Society at Greenwood and also a member at Hillvue Heights Church.”
Many athletes have superstitions that they must carry out before playing in their upcoming game. The greatest basketball player of all time, Michael Jordan, wore North Carolina shorts (his alma mater) under his Chicago Bulls slacks. Paying homage to Jordan, I used to wear Western Kentucky shorts under my own game shorts when I played basketball. Some players have to eat a specific meal before each game or arrive at the venue at a certain time. Elizabeth Moss is no stranger to superstitions either. The junior tells it best. “As for any preparations, I have an unusual ritual of throwing up before each game I pitch (odd, I know).” Vomiting aside, the Lady Gators are excited to have Moss on the hill for them day in and day out.
With the spring softball season in full gear, Moss and Greenwood appear prepared for a deep run in the postseason this summer. “We played several good teams across the state last year and even got some state tournament experience,” she stated. ‘I feel that we have played good competition and know what to expect down the road this season. This has prepared us mentally and physically for this upcoming year.” As noted above, the Lady Gators have started the season undefeated and the opposing team has yet to score a single run against the state’s top team. Expectations have become the norm for Moss and her teammates, something the squad has learned to embrace. “We all have played with one another for several years and can “click” when we need it most. I expect to have a winning season and hope we go very far into the postseason.”
Moss, Coach Reece, and Greenwood are no stranger to deep postseason runs. The girls want to continue the hallowed history at The Swamp this season. “We are aware of what our name means on the front of our jersey, and we hope to live up to its tradition,” Moss concluded. With the team playing superb softball at The Swamp, the pressure will surely begin to mount. Some people might say that’s bad for high school athletes to endure. But knowing the Ace of the Swamp and her teammates, the Lady Gators will invite the pressure into their dugout and draw fuel from its fire in hopes of finding themselves holding the state championship trophy this June.
