Fall 2017 Preview: Carl Junction Softball

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By Matt Turer — mturer@ky3.com
@MattTurer

It wasn’t exactly an easy jump for Carl Junction into the COC-Large last year. The softball Bulldogs finished 3-26 after averaging nearly 16 wins a season since 2010. But that record probably wasn’t all (or even mostly) due to being in a tougher softball conference.

Carl Junction entered last season having lost five of their six All-Big 8 Conference selections from 2015. It was the drop-off from that loss of talent that is mostly to blame for last year’s record.

“We were a very young, inexperienced group,” head coach Zak Petty said. “Last year was a big learning experience for everyone. However, we look forward to seeing the progress and strides our girls have made from a year ago.”

There’s hope within the program that some of that progress started late last year, including in a 9-7 district tournament win over East Newton (before being eliminated 9-0 by Cassville).

“That was a big win for our team,” Petty said. “It really was a nice way to finish out our season.”

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Carl Junction’s biggest roster loss is honorable mention all-conference catcher Ashton Boutwell.

The Bulldogs do return second-team all-conference outfielder (CF) Karli Frazier, who hit .400 with 22 runs and eight RBIs out of the leadoff spot.

Petty pointed to senior first baseman/pitcher Kaylie Hulette as another top returner. Hulette hit .276 with one homer and 14 RBIs last year.

“We have some competition in regards to our pitchers,” Petty said.

It’s expected that sophomore Hannah Carnes will come in as the team’s No. 1 starter, but Hulette and freshman Jayden Green will also compete. Green is a move-in from Joplin. “We haven’t seen much of her, but what little we have seen we’ve been very pleased with,” Petty said of Green.

Freshman Emma Sargent and senior Morgan Spencer (who started in right field in 2016) are both candidates to start at catcher. Petty said Spencer will start in right field again if Sargent proves ready to handle catching duties. Frazier could also catch a little (she did so as a freshman).

“We will be a young team once again, but mixed in are players with varsity experience,” he said. “I have a few girls from the incoming freshman class that are going to play a role at the varsity level, so we look forward to watching them develop.”

The freshman class list (and underclassmen in general) for Carl Junction is extensive, which bodes well for the future.

Bryn Neria (1B), Emme Beaver (3B, UTIL), Sargent (C), Kalyssa Hagston (OF) and Green (P/1B) alone are five freshman expected to see varsity time this season.

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