ALSUP GETS AN 'A' FOR INGENUITY, CHANGES LAKELAND FOR THE BETTER BY TAKING GAMBLE

Instinct is everything in the coaching field. So it should be no surprise that Lakeland softball head coach, Joe Alsup, is one of the best diamond skippers in the entire state and has a super natural instinct from the dugout. Alsup, who has won 22 district championships in 31 years of coaching, displayed his outstanding instinct before the season started back in March when he made the decision to tweak his already more than formidable pitching rotation. Specifically, shifting all-state senior hurler Carlee Meek to the starting shortstop position and elevating last season's No. 2 pitcher, Michelle Stiltner, into becoming the team's ace.

It was a risky proposition and most coaches probably would have never even thought of engineering such a move.  But that's why Alsup is the genius of the game that he is and the rest of us aren't. The unconventional maneuver is paying major dividends right now as the Eagles sit 36-4 after breezing their way to their sixth straight regional title on Saturday. And, to no surprise at all to Alsup, they're doing it behind Stiltner's dominance from the circle. The junior pitcher is 18-2 on the season and threw a beauty of a one-hit shutout in Lakeland's 3-0 take down of Plymouth in the regional final.

Now, Meek is having no slouch of a season as well. Still getting some time in the circle, she's a 13-2 and on defense she has shown her merit as one of the best middle infielders in the area after having not played full time in the field since fifth grade. From the plate, she can shred with the best of them too and is hitting .325. What's ever more impressive is that the Madonna-bound team captain has handled the switch like a true professional, never complaining about losing her status as team ace and having to fill a different role at Alsup's behest, simply doing it and achieving.

Throw in the Eagles' fab frosh, Selena Hicks (5-0), one of the top freshman hurlers in the county, opposing hitters will have to continue to deal with Lakeland's oppressive pitching arsenal next year.

To be completely forthright, when I first heard that Alsup was considering not keeping Carlee Meek as his No. 1 pitcher, I thought he had lost his mind. I respected Michelle Stiltner as a solid twirler in her own right from the times I had seen her pitch last season as a sophomore, but I didn't see her as being able to come close to equaling what I thought Meek could bring to the table. I was wrong…..and in a big way. Regardless of how Meek would have done if she was the squad's ace, Stiltner has done everything she would have done and possibly more (if u count gaining invaluable experience as a feared No. 1 starter going into her senior campaign). In retrospect, I love this move. Meek is excelling as the captain of the infield from her spot at short and Stiltner is mowing them down at an epic clip – she had back-to-back two-hitters in the team's run to the district title last week. Joe, my man, you never stop impressing me with your tactical supremacy from the sidelines. How 'bout going out and getting that state championship for your BOY, Burney this coming weekend!

GO EAGLES!!!!!!!!!