Lady Devil Workhorse
Published 6:02 am Wednesday, March 23, 2005
By By Tim Cottrell
For some, being the only option would be a tough task.
Being called upon to deliver when no one else can is an intimidating prospect, but Escambia County Lady Devil pitcher Morgan Marsh has embraced that opportunity all season long.
The senior has started every game except one for the Lady Devils, and has pitched in 70 of the 75 innings ECHS has been on the field.
Marsh said she felt her teammates were fine with her massive workload.
"None of them really pitch except maybe Kim (Holland), but I don't think she really wants to," Marsh said.
At a recent tournament in Gulf Shores, Marsh pitched in four of the five games, and three games in a row on Saturday.
"She did an awesome job in the last tournament," Lady Devil assistant coach Emmett Foley said. "She pitched three games in a row on Saturday. She just did an excellent job."
Lady Devil head coach Jeff Haney agreed with Foley's assessment.
"She just pitched that last game on pure heart," Haney said. "She didn't have anything left in her arm. She was concerned earlier in the year (about pitching so many innings), but I think she wants to be out there."
"She's more comfortable on the mound," Foley agreed.
Marsh said the few days following the tournament were the only time she questioned the amount of innings she threw.
"After the tournament my arm hurt pretty badly," Marsh said. "It got better after a few days, though."
Marsh felt that softball had helped her throughout her young life.
"I've been playing since I was seven," Marsh said. "It's helped me be more responsible and be a better leader. I've been playing with the Blue Devils since seventh grade; JV for three years and varsity for three years."
Haney and Foley agreed that Marsh was a leader of women.
"She's an integral part of our team," Foley said.
"She's made an average team a lot better," Haney said. "Everyone on the field is more confident with her being out there. She's one of the leaders of the team. She motivates a lot of the younger players and keeps them on the right path."
Marsh said her play had caught the eye of a few colleges.
"I'm going to have a tryout with Troy soon," Marsh said. "That's where I want to go and I'll tryout at third base."
Marsh said she preferred third base to pitcher.
"I just like it better," Marsh said. "I played a little third base, but the last two years I've had to pitch."
Foley said he felt Marsh forfeited her preferred position for the good of the team.
"She's just more comfortable on the mound because I think she feels she's the one who should be there," Foley said.
Haney said he would continue to work with Marsh to the top.
"She's been working hard for us," he said. "We're going to continue to pitch her. As long as we play no more than three games a week I think she'll be fine."
While concerned with playing out the season for the Lady Devils, Marsh was also looking ahead to the future.
"I enjoyed growing up in a small town, but I'm ready to leave and make something of myself," Marsh said.