SOFTBALL: Maddux, Lady Chaps hope for an improved 2022 season

By Oscar LeRoy
Midland Reporter-Telegram

MIDLAND, TEXAS - Midland College sophomore pitcher Emily Maddux made it a point in the offseason to improve in every aspect of her game.

Last year, Maddux was called upon to carry a big load for the Lady Chaparrals as she was one of only two reliable pitchers on a team that went 19-19 overall and 14-16 in the Western Junior College Athletic Conference. She went 6-7 in 20 appearances with a 6.03 ERA.

Maddux said she thought that she pitched just "OK", but wanted to make bigger strides this upcoming season, which begins Friday in Beeville with games against Coastal Bend College at Alvin Community College.

"I think this year has proven to be a lot better," said Maddux, who is from Douglas, Arizona. "I've gotten a lot more comfortable. I kind of found my footing. I think experience has something to do with it and learning Coach (Angel) Castro's coaching style. I put in more work in personally and got more comfortable with myself."

Emily Maddux

She said the No. 1 goal of the offseason was to work on her mental game. Because of COVID cutting short her 2020 season, Maddux was granted an extra year eligibility. Not only did she have to deal with the pandemic and being away from home, but last year she also had to get used to having a new head coach as Castro was hired right before the season started.

"Playing high school ball is a whole different world than (college)," Maddux said. "Being away from your family is kind of disorienting and I had a really hard time with that. Then when we lost our coach a year and a half ago, it was kind of weird. We had a weird fall season and then things picked up again (after Castro was hired).

"Being confident is a big part of my mental game. Being confident in my abilities and being more confident in my teammates as well and learning how to trust them is important. When (Castro) came in as our coach, we did a lot of work on that, and I think she kind of saw where I was at with that."

Castro said they also worked on developing a changeup to Maddux's repertoire and that could also make a big difference this season.

"She's always been really coachable, but she's worked hard over the summer and she was able to come to in and really compete against some of those D-1s and D-2s that we faced (in the fall)," Castro said. "She left over the Christmas break and she really worked on that changeup and so we're really excited to be able to have that."

Castro added that she's also expecting Maddux to be a leader this year.

"She has experience that a lot of these kids don't have, especially on our pitching staff," she said. "She's going to teach these new pitchers different aspects and what is expected out of the program in such a short time and teach them what we expect as coaches too. We're really expecting a lot from her."

Maddux has also made her decision on where she will play next year as she signed a letter-of-intent in December to play at Western New Mexico University in Silver City, New Mexico.

"It was really nice to get that out of the way before the season, so that way I can focus on the upcoming season instead of trying to get that exposure," Maddux said. "My primary reason (in choosing WNMU) was because it was closer to home and it had everything I wanted in a school. We got in contact with the coaches there and when I went on my visit, I realized that it's more than just softball. It's a real inclusive program. They do a lot of mental work with the game and they're really involved in every aspect with the student athlete. I also like the whole scene in Silver City."

Maddux said she's hopeful all the preparation will lead to a good season with the Lady Chaps.

"I'm excited to get the season started and excited to see how everything unfolds," she said. "I expect good things, of course. I think we've put in a lot of hard work."

Follow Oscar on Twitter: @OLeRoy_MRT

2022 LADY CHAPS AT A GLANCE

Head coach: Angel Castro, 2nd year at MC (89-69 career record)

2021 record: 19-19 overall, 14-16 in WJCAC (4th)

Key players lost: P-OF Marlee Moala, OF Aryell Aguilar

Top returners: INF Tajanae Davis, P/INF Emily Maddux, C/P Gisselle Dominguez

Top newcomers; OF Chanel Esparza, INF Lauren De La Cruz, P/INF Zoey De Baca

Coach's Quote: "I'm really excited. We have a high energy and upbeat team. We have a lot of strong hitters in our arsenal. We've added pitchers to our staff as well."

Notes: This is going to be Castro's first full year with the Lady Chaps as she wasn't hired until December 2020 and didn't get a chance to recruit any of the players on last year's team. … Castro said the team should be better offensively and on the base paths, plus the team should have a deeper pitching staff.

2022 Midland College Softball Roster

No. Name Pos. B/T Class Hometown

1 Ciera Avila INF R/R Fr. El Paso

2 Aaliyah Hunter INF R/R So. Roswell, N.M.

3 Kaitlyn Gonzales OF R/R Fr. Midland

4 Isabella Slape INF R/R Fr. Fresno, Calif.

5 Micalynn Nacnac C/OF Fr. Waipahu, Hawaii

7 Victoria Perez OF R/R Fr. El Paso

8 Jana Bradshaw OF R/R Fr. Lubbock

9 Zoey De Baca P/INF R/R Fr. Las Cruces, N.M.

11 Jasmine Garcia OF R/R Fr. Monahans

12 Dezeray Ignacio INF R/R Fr. El Paso

13 Angelic Gonzalez INF R/R Fr. Abilene

15 Emily Maddux P/INF So. Douglas, Ariz.

16 Lucy Carney P R/R Fr. Denver, Colo.

17 Gisselle Dominguez C/P R/R Fr. Midland

18 Aliyah Lara INF R/R Fr. Odessa

19 Lauren De La Cruz INF R/R Fr. El Paso

20 Chardinee Hunkin INF R/R So. Aua, American Samoa

21 Samantha Rodriguez P/INF R/R Fr. El Paso

22 Chanel Esparza OF R/R Fr.-Rs. Salt Lake City, Utah

23 Tajanae Davis INF R/R Soph. Vallejo, Calif.

Head coach: Angel Castro

Assistant coach: Aubree Oropesa