Published: May 13, 2008 12:07 am            

JUSTIN GRAVES: Ponder, Lady Bearcats have finally made the transition

There was once a time when Cullman High’s softball program was feared statewide.

When Cullman arrived at the state tournament, everyone at the ballpark knew the Lady Bearcats were one of the teams to beat.

That’s right. Cullman was considered a state softball power at one time. A state slow-pitch softball power, that is.

In the 1990s, Cullman won three Class 5A state championships in slow-pitch softball (1991, 1997 and 1998).

But since Cullman was forced the make the change to fast-pitch, the Lady Bearcats have yet to play in the state tournament.

Now in its eighth season of fast-pitch softball, Cullman has finally made the leap back to statewide prominence. The Lady Bearcats swept Decatur in the second round of sub-state Saturday, securing the program its first ever appearance in the state tournament.

Some people may say it took Cullman too long to successfully make the transition. But you have to remember that the Lady Bearcats were one of the last programs to make the change to fast-pitch softball.

You also have to remember that current softball coach Marc Ponder is only in his third year at the helm — and this is only the second year where softball is the only sport he has to worry about.

Last year, Ponder decided to step down from his position as head girls basketball coach so he could spend more time with this softball program. And the time he has spent with the program has payed off.

By taking the same approach that Cullman baseball coach Bryan Bowen — who has led the Bearcats to six appearances in the Class 5A state title series since 2002 — uses, Ponder has the Lady Bearcats winning again.

Just like the baseball team, Cullman’s softball players spend plenty of time on the practice field. But if you’re going to compete for championships, hard work is the price that has to be paid.

In three years, Ponder has helped Cullman become one of the top offensive softball programs in the state. And the Lady Bearcats are fundamentally sound in the field, too.

Cullman was once considered state softball power. With a 46-14 record heading into the state tournament, it looks like the Lady Bearcats are back at the top again.

        

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