2020 Fall Preview: Nixa Softball

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By Dana Harding (For OzarksSportsZone.com)

2019 was a tumultuous year for Nixa’s softball program.

The Lady Eagles finished with a 15-14 record, falling in the district semifinal to Kickapoo.

While his team struggled to find its footing at times, head coach Matt Walker was pleased with its overall development as the season progressed.

“The 2019 season was one that was full of ups and downs and one that will never be forgotten,” Walker said. “For most of the season I started three freshmen, two sophomores, two juniors, and two seniors.”

Nixa also went through its share of off-field hardships and adversity, which Walker believes galvanized his team’s resolve and trust in one another.

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“We had some very difficult times to overcome,” Walker said. “I believe what we went through as a team brought us closer together and made us stronger as a team.”

Two graduated seniors depart the program in Ellie Osborne and Emily Morton.

“Ellie had a great season hitting .338 and playing a great left field for us,” Walker said. “Emily had a break-out season hitting .400 with 24 RBIs. Both of these girls will be missed for their roles on and off the field.”

With only two losses to graduation, Nixa returns the main core of its roster

A pair of seniors step into leadership roles this season in catcher Emma Vincent (.375 BA, 4 HR, 25 RBI) and shortstop/third baseman Maya Herman (.361 BA, 26 RBI).

The duo is joined by junior center fielder Katie Faulk (.393 BA, 5 HR, 25 Runs), junior right fielder Dakota Hale (.274 BA) and junior second baseman Kaylee Schlenker, who saw limited time last season due to an injury during the first game of the year.

A trio of sophomores round out Nixa’s returnees in pitcher Maddy Meierer (.307 BA, 10-9, 3.896 ERA), third baseman/shortstop Phoebe Gardner (.351 BA, 27 Runs) and second baseman Chloe Krans (.278 BA).

Krans suffered a broken ankle during basketball and is still trying to get over her injury at this time, according to Walker.

While open roster spots will be limited, Walker does see the opportunity for some new faces to battle their way into the varsity lineup and help improve on last season’s win total, including Morgan Delloma — who is also coming off an injury this summer — and junior Cameron Morton.

“My expectations for this season is to have a season with more wins than last year and to compete for a district title,” Walker said. “A very difficult district with softball moving to five classes.”

With the uncertainty of district assignments looming, Nixa’s experienced roster should be well poised to compete.

“We made huge strides last year as the season went, and the underclassmen adjusted to the speed of the game at the varsity level,” Walker said. “Last year going into the season we only had three girls with varsity experience — this year we will have seven or eight girls with considerable varsity time last year, so we should have fewer growing pains this season.”

As with most teams, Nixa’s success will be linked to that of its pitching staff, which will be anchored primarily by Meierer.

“We return our primary pitcher from last year in Maddy Meierer,” Walker said. “Maddy was a freshman and stepped up and saw her first varsity action and got better as the season went on. In her first 11 games in the circle, she was 4-7 with a 4.954 ERA and, in her last nine games pitching, she was 6-2 with a save and a 2.520 ERA. I look forward to seeing her continue to improve.”

Following an Aug. 21 jamboree in Republic with Rogersville, Nixa opens its season Aug. 28 at home against Kickapoo, the team that ended the Lady Eagles’ season in 2019.

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