Friday, May 20, 2005 | 9:51 a.m.
Right after Sierra Vista coach Jerome Streets signaled the end of practice Thursday, not one girl left the field.
Instead, all 13 ran to the batting cage to help take down the netting, without Streets saying a word.
The Mountain Lions might not be the most experienced team in this year's 4A softball state tournament -- in fact, they don't even have a senior on their roster. But they do have one thing in their favor - a commitment to teamwork.
"They trust each other," Streets said. "They play very well together, and if one person is having a bad day, the other ones try and pick her up. Being together is a very strong thing when you are playing a team sport."
Streets has stressed teamwork all season. He knew very early the only way for his young team to compete in the competitive Sunset Region would be to foster a sense of togetherness.
"It's not about them, it's about us," Streets said. "We aren't a bunch of individuals and we don't have a superstar that is going to dominate ... we've got 13 kids that work hard together."
Streets believe his team has prepared all season for this tournament, and only held a light batting practice Thursday.
"We can't prepare them anymore," Streets said. "They've already been prepared by what they've done all year. You get them prepared by playing games. We've played 40 games against good competition. So, there isn't anything out there they haven't seen before."
For the first time in nearly a decade, the state tournament will be without a dominating pitcher like a Brianne McGowan, who led Wooster to four consecutive titles, or a Shannon Crisp, who guided Centennial to last year's title.
With the field wide open, Sierra Vista could sneak its way to a title behind the arms of juniors Kylee Kissane and Rebecca Rumsey. The two combined to give up only 10 runs and pitched two shutouts in four games en route to the school's first regional title.
"They are two really good junior pitchers," Streets said "Kylee had a good week last week and Becca has had a great season. Becca had the most wins going into the playoffs last week. So, they are both very solid pitchers and work very hard at what they do."
However, Streets doesn't expect the duo to dominate on the mound.
"When Kylee gets on the mound she is not thinking about dominating, but about putting the pitch where she is supposed to, and then she will get help from her teammates," Streets said.
Even on a team committed to working as a whole, there is always a leader on the field. For the Mountain Lions, that's catcher Stacey Burgos.
"Stacey is not a big talker, she goes out there and leads," Streets said. "She is one of those players you strive for and want everyone to be like."
The commitment to teamwork goes behind the field as well.
Occasionally after home games, the team has taken trips down to Buffalo Wild Wings.
"We have a lot of fun together, we get along together," Kissane said. "We try to spend as much time together as we can. There is no drama between us."
Kissane, Rumsey and Burgos have been playing on the same team since they were in seventh grade.
"Most of the team has been together since I was like nine," Burgos said. "So, we pretty much know each other and we just get along."
Other girls, such as junior Amber Heinz and sophomore Kristin Delahoussaye, joined the club team while in eighth grade.
Kissane said even when a new girl joins the team, the others make her feel like she has been with them all along, whether it is by having lunch together or getting their nails done together.
"We are a team on and off the field," Kissane said.
The Mountain Lions will face Silverado in their opening-round game at 5 p.m. today at Stephanie Lynn Craig Park.
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