PURVIS – Changes have come to Purvis softball, and things do look different.
The Lady Tornadoes swept Quitman with ease in the opening round of the Class 4A playoffs as they closed out the series with a 10-0 run-rule win by the fifth inning.
It's a result that the Purvis program expected, but the Lady Tornadoes are hoping or, rather, anticipated to turn their postseason misfortunes around.
Purvis has always been a respectable softball program but has always fallen short in playoff runs. With a No. 2 ranking in Class 4A, the ever-alluding appearance in the state championship, which will again be hosted in Hattiesburg at the Southern Miss Softball Complex, has the potential to come to an end finally.
"Everyone always says let's start a new season, but we are finishing business," said Purvis coach Lindsay Robertson on the team's postseason approach. "We have always been a team that gets to the third round and does not finish it. We want to finish it.
"We feel like we have a deep down burn that we are going to go deeper than ever before."
Part of Purvis' misfortune last year was experiencing an unexpected head coaching change midseason. But this past offseason, Robertson had the interim title removed and has quickly implemented changes that have made an immediate difference.
"Last year was a tough year through coaching staff changes, and we had to face a lot of adversity in the beginning and work back from that," said Purvis junior pitcher Chelsea, who racked up 10 strikeouts against Quitman on Monday. "She's our leader on and off the field. She's not just our coach in between the lines. In the classroom, she makes sure she takes care of us and is worried about us in our day-to-day lives and school work. She's an all-around role model."
One of Purvis's differences is its pitching depth. Regan, who holds a 2.50 ERA and struck out 82 batters, has become the team's ace. But Purvis has as many as four pitchers it can rely on, some of whom have not been needed.
"She's got over 20 strikeouts looking," Robertson said of Regan. "She's just dealing and is only a junior. She works hard and is always looking to improve.
"We have four pitchers that we can put in at any moment."
However the crucial change to the program began offseason conditioning as early as July and used it to harness the program's culture.
"Back in July we started working out," Regan said. "We were pushed in the weight room a lot. Our coaches pushed us, and we pushed each other. We decided that when we got put out in the second round last year, that's not where we wanted to end.
"We thought, 'When does it change?' We all decided that in July. For us to put in all this work for all these months coming up, let's finish it."
The time conditioning has shown on the field Purvis holds a .394 batting average and a .602 slugging percentage with five different starters hitting over .400 this year. Despite the self-imposed pressure and the eye-popping numbers, the team is predominantly young as it features just three juniors and one senior.
"Even though we are young we have some very mature minds," said lone senior Ava Williford, who is batting .389. "They take it very serious.
"I've been on the team since the seventh grade, and it's been a dream of mine to make it to state. Doing it during my senior year would be amazing, especially with this group of coaches we have. These coaches have pushed all year, every year."
Purvis will advance to the second round and host Pass Christian on Friday.
"These girls have made a commitment to something bigger than themselves," Robertson said. "We are doing our best to put it all together."
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