By Matt Turer — mturer@ky3.com
@MattTurer
It feels like Reeds Spring has been one or two breakout players away from a district title for the last handful of years. The Wolves have won 12 games the past three seasons and 11 the season before that. All four seasons have ended in sub-.500 records and all four follow a stretch that saw the program win 59 games from 2010-2012. But even so, they’re always a threat.
That was the case in 2016 with Allie Dickerson and Hannah Erickson, two of the best bats in the Ozarks. But the Wolves struggled to stay healthy, and that showed after an 8-4 start spiraled into a 4-9 finish. Even with that finish, Reeds Spring head coach Scott Walker was happy with what he saw down the stretch.
“We had to deal with some injuries and adversity that could have derailed us,” Walker said. “I thought finishing the year playing well helped us get ready for the summer and will continue through to the fall.”
The lone returning Wolves senior is first-team all-conference selection Mackenzie Duvall (3B/C/P). Duvall, who’s been a varsity starter since freshman year, hit .427 with eight doubles, two home runs and 22 RBI in 2016.
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“[Duvall] has tremendous work ethic and is a great team leader,” Walker said. “She’s been working as our starting catcher due to an injury (to Maddison Cantrell)…but will move to third base and pitcher when [Cantrell] returns.”
Two other .400 bats are back in junior shortstop Courtney Scobee (.407 AVG., 6 2B) and sophomore pitcher/infielder Izzy Erickson (.403 AVG., 7 XBH, 17 RBI, 14 SB). Both were second-team all-conference in 2016. Erickson showed a ton of promise as a freshman. She was 5-6 with a 3.01 ERA and struck out an impressive 105 batters in 67.1 innings last year.
“Izzy had a fantastic freshman season and we are expecting her to continue to excel this fall,” Walker said.
Cantrell (C/OF) broke her thumb this summer and is projected to return to catching by September. She hit .290 with six extra-base hits and 16 RBI as a freshman.
Junior first baseman Dusty Welch earned her starting spot there last year after an injury. A very good fielder, Walker said he expects her batting numbers (.294 AVG., 5 XBH) to continue to improve.
Abby Rudd delivers athleticism and speed to the centerfield position. The junior was 11-for-11 in steals in 2016. Both she and Erickson qualified for state track last spring.
“Abby possesses great range, instincts and has a cannon for an arm,” Walker said.
Junior leftfield Keeley Bauer and sophomore right fielder/pitcher Brooke Davis also return. Walker called Bauer one of the team’s leaders who’s a strong defensive player and improving offensively. Davis had a strong freshman year on JV in 2016 and is expected to step into an outfield position in 2017.
Sophomores Alexis Lewallen (IF) and Ally Moler (OF) and freshmen Victoria Scobee (IF/C/P), Bella Fuller (IF/OF), Cassidy Quick (OF), Ashley Nolan (OF), Mariah Cantrell (OF) and Katelyn Bolin (IF) were other notables listed by Walker.
