By Angie Brushwood (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
Ash Grove, MO – After a five-year hiatus, Coach Pam Swift is returning to the Ash Grove Lady Pirates softball field. She knows her way around, having led the team to three district championships and two state quarterfinals in her prior 17 years as coach. Swift, an Ash Grove graduate and multi-sport athlete, has been coaching various sports at Ash Grove for 22 years.
Swift is already looking forward to building a successful program beyond this season.
“The Lady Pirates are looking forward to a rebuilding season,” said Swift. “We’re looking forward to the future of the program because there’s a lot of talent coming. We’ve got a lot of softball kids coming in the next couple years.”
The Lady Pirates finished 5-12 last year, ending with a loss to Sarcoxie (17-2) in the first round of district play.
Key player losses include pitcher Hailey Wood and 1st baseman Hannah Robinson to graduation.
Senior Josie Barnett will lead on defense at 2nd base. The Lady Tigers will look to Barnett for leadership for the young team. Barnett’s fielding percent is .853.
Patsy Gorski (jr.) led the Lady Pirates offensively with a batting average of .381. Gorski led the team in hits, including 10 singles, 6 doubles, and 17 RBIs. Gorski is a diverse player, having played a variety of defensive positions.
Another junior offensive leader is Kenzie Connell, who contributed 16 hits last season, including 4 triples and 12 singles, with a batting average of .348. Connell averaged .931 on defense.
Swift expects Connell will likely be starting catcher.
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Who will pitch for the Lady Pirates remains to be seen. Swift is considering her options, including a couple of freshmen players.
Other returning Lady Pirates include juniors Courtney Jean and Tara Barnett, and sophomores Riley Hammons, Madi Cline, and Alexis Jones.
The Lady Pirates will rely on returning sophomore center fielder Riley Hammons. Hammons started in center field last year.
Several of the junior high athletes Swift has coached in volleyball and basketball will benefit from her softball leadership in high school.
“We will be relying heavily on sophomore and freshman newcomers to the program to fill big roles in the lineup,” said Swift.
Expected to see the field this season are sophomores Kennedi Climer, Taylor Spickard and Madi Cline, along with freshmen Briley Bagley, Alexis Long, Mackenzie Lutz, Emma Eagleburger, and Starr Gilbert.
Bagley and Lutz will share the pitching responsibilities this season.
The Lady Pirates will benefit from Swift’s proven strategies, which earned her a 199-107 overall record from 1997-2012.
“We’re chomping at the bit and ready to get going. We’re pretty excited,” said Swift. “It’s going to take a lot of work. We’re very offensive minded. I’m pretty aggressive on base running and aggressive hitting.”
The Lady Pirates’ assistant coach will be Amanda Starks. The Lady Pirates’ season opens at Lockwood on March 16.
