By Gary Lloyd
Second-year Hewitt-Trussville softball coach Dusti Roberts says that if you look back at past state champions, those teams usually have a stud in the circle carrying their teams.
Hewitt-Trussville may have two.
Through spring break, senior Kimberly Mullins and freshman Callie Shields had combined for all of Hewitt-Trussville’s 16 wins. Mullins has nine, Shields seven. The team has lost just four games.
Freshman Callie Shields
photo by Gary Lloyd
The pitchers split time in the circle, Roberts said.
“They’re both our No. 1s,” Roberts said.
Mullins has a couple years of experience pitching on the varsity softball team. Shields pitched a good bit with the varsity last season when she was called up from the middle school team. Shields didn’t practice much with the varsity last year.
“It’s been a huge maturity shift with her because one, she’s grown up a bit and two, we’ve been able to practice with her more than last year,” Roberts said
.
Both threw three-inning perfect games earlier this season against Carver — on the same day. Mullins pitched first and struck out all nine batters she faced. Shields struck out eight of the nine batters she faced in the second game. Roberts said Shields was a little upset that she didn’t quite match Mullins’ performance.
Senior Kimberly Mullins
photo by Gary Lloyd
“They’re very competitive, which is kind of refreshing,” Roberts said.
Roberts said more than challenging each other, the pitching duo supports each other, as does the team. They try to be perfect. Roberts said Hewitt-Trussville employs certain defenses with each pitcher in the circle. They play a game called “21 outs” at the end of every practice, when the team attempts to get seven innings of outs with each defense.
Junior Kristen Bittle, junior Leigh McAnally and sophomore Taylor Beshears shift around the infield.
“That’s really when it gets competitive,” Roberts said.
Hewitt-Trussville, now No. 10 in the latest Class 6A softball rankings, plays Thursday at Class 5A No. 7 Mortimer Jordan at 6 p.m.
Contact Gary Lloyd at news@trussvilletribune.com and follow him on Twitter @GaryALloyd.
