Jessica Taylor admits she was “upset” when her Baldwyn Bearcats opened the slow-pitch softball season with two losses.

However, the stumble out of the starting gate in August is in Baldwyn’s rearview mirror. The Bearcats won their division, 1-2A, and begin play at 5 p.m. today in the state playoffs with a best-of-three series at home against East Webster.

“When the time came, we have stepped it up,” said Taylor, whose club finished a weather-abbreviated regular season with a 14-7 record. “We lost one division game, to New Site, and we weren’t focused.”

Two of the Bearcats’ division wins were against Hamilton, a team that knocked them out of the playoffs last season. Baldwyn beat the Lions this season, 14-1 and 3-0.

“We knew going in it would be tough in a new division,” Taylor said. “These girls were determined to let that (losing to Hamilton) not happen again.

“They know what it takes to get to Jackson and will do whatever it takes to get there.”

The two teams could possibly meet again later in the playoffs. Hamilton placed second in the division and travels to Eupora today for its first-round series.

Baldwyn’s spark has been senior first baseman Consulea Starks, who is hitting .502 from her clean-up spot. Another senior, shortstop Kayleigh Bishop, has improved at the plate late in the season, Taylor said.

Mallory Hill, a senior and former outfielder, was moved to third base this year.

“For having never played third base, she’s done a tremendous job,” the coach said.

On the mound, eighth grader Maggie Martin has pitched every game.

Step one for Tigers

Nettleton captured a fast-pitch state championship in the spring and hopes to bring home a slow-pitch title this month.

The Tigers, 20-1, open their run for a 3A state championship at 5 p.m. today when they host Independence.

Coach Dana Rhea has six seniors in his 10-player starting lineup.

“When it’s time to play I let them play,” he said, then chuckled. “When you’ve got a group that has played as many games as they have together, you turn them loose.”

The Lady Tigers seniors are: outfielder Sydney Clayton, pitcher Harmony Hood, outfielder Katie Leach, third baseman Heather Noe, catcher Haydden Payne and shortstop Holly Schlicht.

Rhea notes that his team doesn’t have a superstar.

“This is the best team I’ve had 1 through 10,” he said. “On any given night anybody could step up up and get the big hit.”

Contact Gene Phelps at 678-1593 or gene.phelps@djournal.com