2020 Fall Preview: Mansfield Softball

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By Amanda Perkins (For OzarksSportsZone.com)

The Mansfield Lady Lions are coming off a 10-win season despite a beefed-up schedule and return nearly their entire starting lineup to open the fall season.

“We put together a tough schedule in hopes of better preparing us for district play,” said head coach Aaron Gray. “As the season progressed, we started playing better ball. Unfortunately, we fell short in the district championship game, falling to Ava 11-10 in eight innings.”

Mansfield graduated one senior, Gracie Williams, a four-year starter and all-conference and all-district award winner. The centerfielder hit at the top of the order and was a team leader.

However, the Lady Lions will return twelve letterwinners from last season.

Senior Megan Langley has been a three-year starter both as a pitcher and position player and made the all-conference team in 2019. “In the circle, Megan does a solid job of throwing strikes and getting hitters to hit her pitch,” said Gray. Langley went 5-8 last season with twice as many strikeouts as walks and can also hit with power. She will bat in the middle of the order and is expected to be a run producer.

Fellow senior starter Ashlynn Heil will return to third base and also has outfield experience. “She can get the job done in the field and is another player that projects to be a middle of the order bat,” said Coach Gray. “Ashlynn can hit the ball with some pop and is also someone we look to drive in runs for us.”

Pitcher and position player Madalyn Ivy, junior, is coming off a 4-5 season that saw her strike out 53 against 27 walks over 55 innings. At the plate, Madalyn hit .345 last year and had an on-base percentage of .472. “Madalyn is a solid pitcher that throws three different pitches and throws with decent velocity,” said Gray. The all-district, all-conference selection “will help set the table for the middle of the order,” per her coach.

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Junior Morgan McGuire is a catcher and also a skilled first baseman. Per her coach, McGuire can hit for power and average, has improved her offensive skills, and projects to be a solid run producer.

Hailey Nelson, junior, started in the outfield last season but can also cover first base and the catcher position. She hit .362 with 26 runs scored and 28 stolen bases and should bat at the top of the order this year with a high on base percentage. The all-conference selection “has tremendous speed both on offense and defense, and the ability to go gap-to-gap and also the finesse to lay down a bunt,” said Coach Gray.

Maddie Coble is a junior and two-year starter, found at second base as well as the outfield. “She has proven to be a solid defender wherever she has played,” said Gray. “We look for Maddie to be a high on-base percentage hitter who can drive in runs or get herself on base to set the table for others.”

Junior Tyra Lansdown made spot starts as designated player in 2019. She has put in work in the off-season in the infield and could also be a run producer for the Lady Lions. “Tyra has good instincts and an above average arm,” said Coach Gray. “Offensively, Tyra has gap-to-gap power and can hit the long ball.”

Sophomore Macie Tate spent time in the outfield as well as behind the plate last season. Per her coach, Macie does an excellent job of tracking down fly balls and is a steady fielder. She hit .250 as a freshman and can hit the ball to all fields.

Chloe Lemons, sophomore, is a pitcher who can play the outfield. Last season she was used primarily as a courtesy runner thanks to her speed and understanding of base running. She stole 21 bases and was 1-0 in the circle, earning a win in relief. Chloe will also assist the team at bat as yet another player who can hit gap-to-gap.

Lauren Jones progressed in her freshman season at first base and in the outfield, and hit .274 with some clutch hits for her team.

Sophomore Logan Jones played at shortstop and stepped into the lineup mid-season to help anchor infield defense. “Logan has good hands and can also play multiple positions,” said Coach Gray. “At the plate, Logan is a high-contact player that has the potential of being someone we depend on as a high on-base player.”

Sophomore Trinnity Davis is a third baseman who can cover multiple positions and was used as a courtesy runner last season. Her coach noted she is a knowledgeable player that can step in defensively and has made tremendous strides offensively.

Three sophomores also return with experience. Sadee Green, outfielder and first baseman, had improved her hitting toward the end of last season and “can get the job done on defense,” per her coach. Dana Nelson is a utility-type player who can cover multiple outfield and infield positions. An aggressive hitter at the plate, she can put the ball in play for the team. Avery Lansdown is a hard-working outfielder and team player and shows promise and progress at the plate.

Seven newcomers will join the Lady Lions. Sophomore Dakota Liles enters her first year with the program as an outfielder with a knack for putting the ball in play.

Freshman Kyra Thompson is a pitcher who can play all over the field and has a good understanding of the game. “She is an outfielder with a knack for putting the ball in play,” said Gray.

Hailey Smith, outfielder and first baseman, is another young player with a solid work ethic, said her coach. The freshman puts in the work to improve her game and has a “team first” attitude.

Madison Hanger, freshman, can also play multiple positions, can go gap to gap, and hits the ball with pop.

“Freshman Candience Donaho is an outfielder who will start the year on the injured list due to a broken arm,” said Coach Gray. “Candience is a hard worker who listens and hustles all the time.”

Kaylee Cantrell, freshman, is another outfielder who has made progress over the summer.

Freshman Madison Tyra can play multiple positions for the Lady Lions. “She has really good hands and is a player that is blessed with speed,” said Coach Gray. “At the plate, once she puts in some work, she has the ability of being a high on-base percentage player that can get herself into scoring position.”

Ayden Anderson is another new face to the program, a recent transfer from California. “We look forward to welcoming her to our program,” said Gray.

The Lady Lions are looking forward to a fall season with their talented roster.

“Our primary goal this season is to play,” said Coach Gray. “With the craziness in the world around us, we just want the opportunity to take the field and play the game we all love. Beyond that, my goal is to be more consistent than a year ago and have players that accept their role and do their best to be ‘team first.’ We are blessed with a lot of returning players along with some solid new talent entering the program. With that, we will see girls competing for playing time. My hope is that they embrace the competition and push each other. In the end, that will make us better as a whole.”

Gray added the team’s ultimate goal is make it out of district play. “We have made it to the championship game a handful of times but just haven’t gotten the job done,” he said. “We have the right mix of players to make it happen. We just need to be playing our best ball of the year down the stretch.”

Mansfield will open their season September 1 at Bakersfield.

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