After going 4-0 against Class 6A competition from Arlington this season, Texas Leadership Charter Academy softball coach David Beaver and his Eagles’ are quickly making a name for themselves.
After finishing the year at 13-13 overall, the Lady Eagles are one of the biggest single reasons why all the school’s sports teams, with the exception of football, will be moving from 1A to 6A competition on a permanent basis this upcoming school year.
“We’ve got a great group of kids with really good pitching,” Beaver told Texas Scorecard of his Lady Eagles. “Savannah Schappaugh will be just a freshman, but she’s already our ace and one of our better hitters. We’ll look to her and junior catcher Charlize Dobbins to lead the way.”
Beaver is also high on soon-to-be freshman hurler Jarnae Allen, who before this school year had never played before.
“She’s already elevated herself to our No. 2 pitcher,” he said. “She and Savannah can take us where we want to go. We’re looking to be a playoff team in our first year.”
Beaver, who also serves as coach of the boys’ basketball team, is also hoping the bigger stage will help get the word out about hotshot guard De’Tarious Coleman, who averaged 17 points and 8 assists playing on the junior varsity as an eighth-grader this season.
“De’Tarious is still learning and really has the chance to be special,” said Beaver, who’s previously coached at the college level at Texas A&M International University, Brown Mackie College (Kansas) and been a top assistant at Sam Houston State.
“He’s lightning fast, can get to the rim on anybody and has a nice shot,” Beaver added. “I’ve coached at the Division 1 level for over 15 years and he already projects as at least a mid-major talent who can only get better from here.”
