Slowly but surely for the Eagles

Updated: April 25, 2011 6:22AM

All improvement in almost every sport at Lake Station usually contains the phrase "baby steps." Take Linda Llewellyn's softball preview information as an example.

The second-year coach of the Eagles made no bones about what impressed her from last season and what was important heading into this season.

"We went for many years without a victory, so to win six was an accomplishment," she said, referring to last year's 6-20 record.

She added that for the first time in Lake Station softball history, players had to be cut after tryouts.

That was before a game was played. Eight games in, the Eagles have half as many wins as they did last season (3-5) and their play has Llewellyn hoping for more from her players each game.

"(The record) is not as good as it should be since we keep beating ourselves, making errors and giving the other teams chances," she said. "We can't afford to do that at the varsity level. I feel they are (going in right direction) and I think the attitude is changing a lot. They're believing they can be winners, and that's big at Lake Station. What you believe in your head is going to get you a long way."

There are no moral victories in Llewellyn's mind when she refers to losing to Whiting 7-4 after giving up five unearned runs, or being tied 0-0 with Bishop Noll going into the fifth inning and giving up 10 runs in the bottom of the fifth with more errors causing many of the runs. Much of the mistakes could be due to youth.

"I have a team that's a mixture of classes with three starting freshman," she said. "They're gelling well together - the seniors are accepting the freshmen and there's no jealousy.

"We have the potential to be very good. Hopefully the kids are learning from every game."

Among those freshmen are a pair of players with travel ball experience - Shelby Jorgenson and Caitlyn Acker. Both are pitchers, though Acker has been relegated to playing infield due to an early-season arm injury.

Wins and quality of play will ultimately determine Llewellyn's satisfaction, with postseason advancement not likely in the immediate future. The Eagles sectional consists of Wheeler, Bishop Noll and Hanover Central.

"It will be tough, but that's how you get better and (the kids) get to see what winners look like," she said.

So ultimately, it's still about baby steps, but the Eagles are making progress.

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