The Pike County Lady Bulldogs entered the 2017 season with hopes of gaining experience. Over a month into the season, head coach Fawn Sims and the young Bulldogs are still searching.

The Bulldogs have played just five games on the season due to weather and further cancellations and have a 1-4 record.

“We have had some weather get in the way,” Sims said. “We are growing like we have been every year. We are very young, athletic and hardworking.”

The Bulldogs have a young team that, for the most part, is new to the sport of softball. Due to the lack of games, the Bulldogs are still trying to work out the kinks, especially on the defensive side of the ball.

“We are making mental mistakes on defense, but we are starting to dig ourselves out of those,” Sims said. “This year I had several players that never played a sport in their life. They are learning how to be a good teammate and how to be competitive. That is a huge stepping stone that we are still trying to get over.”

The offense has been hit or miss so far, but they have been able to get on base so far this season. The next step is to be able to get the big hit and score runs when they have runners in scoring position.

“Offensively, we are putting the ball in play and getting on base, we are just not collecting hits to get the runs in,” Sims said. “We are getting on base and stealing bases.”

The highlight thus far for the Bulldogs has been their defeat over area foe Daleville last Thursday night, a contest that lasted nine innings.

Senkethia Thompson pitched all nine innings for the Bulldogs in the back and forth contest.

“I know she was struggling, but she didn’t back off; she wanted the ball,” Sims said. “She finished the game and we came back and won the game in the final inning. That was one of those games that was a rollercoaster.”

The Bulldogs have a busy slate coming up when it comes to area play beginning on Saturday when they take on Daleville.