By TOMMY REZAC
St. Joseph Post
The Buzz Verduzco era is off and running for the St. Joseph Central softball team.
The longtime college baseball coach was hired to lead the Indians' program this past June, and the era started off with a St. Joseph city jamboree championship this past Saturday at Heritage Park.
Verduzco credits the team's ability to adjust to his style of practice, as Central has now been practicing with their new coach for just over two weeks.
"They've adjusted to the pace of practice," he said. "We try to make the practice a little faster than the game would be. I thought the (jamboree) wasn't overwhelming for most of them, especially the upperclassmen, so that was good. We're now able to separate varsity from JV, so being able to see some of that has helped."
Verduzco inherits a team that has tallied three straight winning seasons. Central finished the 2022 campaign at 17-12-1. While they lost three seniors from that team, the Indians return four players who earned all-district honors last season, including senior shortstop Zoe Trotter.
"The girls we played last year as underclassmen, they're growing as well," Trotter said. "So, they're getting better along with the rest of us. So, I'm super excited. We have a new pitcher, Elizabeth (Morton), she's doing great now. I'm really looking forward to the season."
It's been an exciting summer for Trotter all around, as she gets to play her final season of high school softball for a coach who's a longtime family friend.
Trotter's stepmother, Jennifer, worked alongside Verduzco at Missouri Western for two decades. Trotter coached Griffon softball from 2002-2021, while Verduzco coached Griffon baseball from 2000-2023.
"Something out of the blue," Trotter said of Verduzco's hiring. "I never would have expected it. I found out the news and messaged him right away. That was really exciting for me and my family. We have that special connection with him. I watch his dogs, swim in his pool. But, it's really special. He knows what he's talking about. He's super easy to work with. He'll work with you in whatever ways you need."
At the end of July, Zoe announced her commitment to play softball at Division I University of St. Thomas in Minneapolis next year.
Bagley-Trotter, her stepmom, has been the head coach there since June 2021. Beyond that, playing college ball at any level has long been Trotter's goal.
"As I got older and watching the game grow as it has, has been really special to watch," Trotter said. "Being able to get that opportunity to go play at that level is really exciting for me."
"She deserves it," Verduzco said of Trotter's commitment. "She works hard. I'm sure she had other offers, so she put a lot of thought into it. It wasn't just because of Jennifer. It's because of who Jennifer is and the program, where she's going, how it's going to make a difference in her life and what it was going to mean to her as far as a degree. All of those things were a factor, so we're excited about that."
Central softball has enjoyed a recent run of success, including a school record 26 wins in 2021.
With a handful of players from that team still on the roster, and with a head coach that boasts over 30 years of coaching experience and over 600 wins at the college level, the Indians feel like they've only just begun to reach their potential.
Keeping in mind that the schedule only gets harder after the jamboree.
"The expectations and everything you do in practice stays the same," Verduzco pointed out. "We're still trying to install those things. It'll still be a learning process for all of us. And for them, it's going to get harder as the year goes on."
Central opens the season in the Cameron tournament this Saturday.
Zoe Trotter interview
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