Marietta High School’s Lady Indians’ fast pitch team has welcomed a new coaching
staff, headed by Coach Larry Flores, along with Assistant Coach Justin Billingsley and
Lay Coach Johnny Aguilar. Billingsley comes to Marietta from Blackwell, while Aguilar is
an MHS graduate.
Flores was raised up the road in McClain County, where he went to school at Wayne
and graduated from Purcell. He brings coaching experience from Putnam City,
Lexington, Sante Fe South, and OKC Douglass, and had had success in all four places,
including a 21-game win streak in Lexington.
Additionally, Flores has worked with both softball and baseball programs for kids,
believing that it’s a way for him to give back to the community as well as being involved
in the development of his niece and nephew.
“Strong programs have to start from the ground level up,” he insisted. “That’s why kids’
sports and even middle school sports are vital to the development of healthy programs.”
Flores looks forward to working at Marietta, enjoying the community involvement that a
smaller town brings to its school system.
“My time at Lexington game me an overall look at where I’m comfortable,” he said. “I
love smaller towns, especially the way they support their sports programs, from little
league up through the middle school and then into high school, small town people are
behind their teams.”
In addition to his coaching duties, Flores will be teaching in the English Language
Learners classroom in both middle and high schools.
“I have a background in ELL and I’m comfortable there,” explained Flores. “I love the
fact that I get to help someone who might have a language barrier but help make it
possible for them to go to college or develop a career where they can be successful.”
During his career, Flores has developed programs from the ground up, but that won’t be
the case at Marietta. According to Flores, he’s been working with his team for a while
now and is expecting great things this season.
“We wrapped up our fourth week of practice, along with summer pride, and we have a
good number of returning girls and are adding some who didn’t play last year,” said
Flores. “We have 12 on the roster and with school restarting, I believe we will add to
that.”
Flores has been impressed by the work ethic and dedication of his team, especially
seniors Aubry Chill and Taylor McClesky, who have been leaders on and off the field.
“These girls are a voice on and off the field,” he said. “They know how to talk to the girls
and ask for accountability without it seeming like punishment. I couldn’t have gotten the
ball rolling without them.”
Flores also took a moment to brag on junior pitcher Karrington Staton.
“We have been refining her in the pitcher’s circle,” stated Flores. “I think that the
mindset along with a couple of adjustments we’ve made, she is going to have a good
year.”
Along with a great team attitude, Flores is grateful for the community support his team
has experienced so far, believing that will contribute to a successful season.
“We are going to be competitive, but we are a family and that’s how we’re going to play
this year,” Flores explained. “The girls have made the transition seamless. There’s still
work, but I’m excited to see what the future holds. We’ve developed a family culture and
that is going to lead us to a lot of possibilities.”
Flores and his staff have several plans to bring the team’s family culture to the forefront
with plans for several theme games, including a family movie night.
“We’ve got some activities planned this year, plenty of fun things for our families,” he
said, “and we can’t wait to get started.”