Pickler’s Key to Success: Just Play, Baby

Cypress softball Coach Brad Pickler knows the real secret to winning and it has more to do with stamina than fundamentals.

Pickler’s philosophy is to play as many games as possible. Although most coaches would be thrilled to win one tournament during spring break, Pickler has his eye on two.

His team won the Ventura tournament title Sunday. But Pickler says his team is at its best when it’s playing as often as possible.

So, Cypress is hosting its own tournament Wednesday and Thursday. It’s the third tournament of the year Cypress has organized. The first two were shortened because of rain.

“The more games we play, the hotter we get and we just seem to start to get on a roll,” Pickler said. “Plus, we are more prepared for the [state] tournament at the end of the year and we are better conditioned than a lot of other teams.”

All this play has enabled Pickler, in his 12th season, to pick up several milestone victories, including his 500th Friday with a 16-1 drubbing of Irvine Valley.

His four victories Sunday at Ventura improved his career record to 504-156.

Cypress has reached the state tournament nine consecutive times and won titles last year and in 1991. His team is 34-1 this season and ranked first in the state. The victory in Ventura was the fourth tournament title for Cypress this season.

Cypress set a state record with 66 victories last season and played 71 games, which left most of the players too tired to join club teams during the summer.

Michele Bailon, a sophomore this season, spent last summer resting instead of playing softball for the first time since she was 10.

“I needed a break,” she said, “I was burned out. It felt good, but I was exhausted playing all those games.”

And that’s fine with Pickler.

“They should be tired at the end,” he said, “The pros want to rest at the end of the season as well. But [Bailon] came back more fired up to play this year than her first year.

“We think our kids are just more ready to play. But that’s just our theory.”