Greg Van Zant looks on closely from inside the dugout and directs his outfield to play slightly deeper in an effort to best position themselves for a no-doubles defense.

It's one of numerous situational aspects Van Zant, the head coach of Bridgeport High School softball, attempts to make his team aware of during a game at North Marion last Wednesday.

For the fourth-longest tenured and second-winningest head coach in the history of West Virginia University baseball, this is Van Zant's new norm in his first season overseeing softball at Bridgeport.

"I love the softball world," Van Zant says. "It's amazing when you're in the baseball world, you're not even aware of softball. The girls are athletic. I really enjoy working with them and they're eager to learn."

His first Bridgeport team includes daughter Reese Van Zant, a sophomore shortstop/pitcher and leadoff hitter for a squad with no seniors.

Of 14 players, the Indians roster is comprised of two juniors, eight sophomores and four freshmen.

After a 3-0 start and wins in five of its first seven games, Bridgeport (6-11) has lost nine of 10, including a 4-3 setback to the Huskies that didn't finish until Thursday after being suspended due to weather with BHS trailing 1-0 in the fourth.

"We just have a lot of inexperience. We have no seniors and we're playing mainly sophomores," Van Zant said. "The girls are really battling. I'm impressed with them. They have great attitudes and work hard."

Bridgeport's fourth head coach in the last four seasons, Van Zant is hopeful he can bring stability to the softball program.

"You're not going to be state champs in one year. We have so much inexperience," Van Zant said. "But I hope to coach for as long as I can. I really enjoy it."

Van Zant is hardly new to softball, having coached the Marion County Wolfpack, a travel team, for five years at the 12-U, 14-U and 16-U levels prior to accepting the BHS job.


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