By Matt Turer — mturer@ky3.com
@MattTurer
It might be that the best pitcher in the Ozarks calls West Plains home. After a run to the Class 3 state quarterfinals in 2016, the Zizzers and senior Abbey Gann are in good shape to challenge that run this season.
Gann finished her junior campaign with 240 strikeouts in in 171 innings, second in the area to Republic’s Rachel Rook, who is now at SEMO.
“Abbey is our key,” West Plains head coach Don Long said. “She’s gotten a little stronger. She’s throwing low 60s (mph). She’s a real hard worker. That kind of defines her. And it all starts with pitching for us.”
Which means with Gann’s strikeout numbers, 1.80 ERA and 1.08 WHIP, the Zizzers are going to be good again, whether they win the Ozark Conference or not. Last year, they came close to that goal, finishing second (8-1) to Camdenton (9-0). (The Class 4 Lakers beat the Class 3 Zizzers, 4-0).
Gann has reportedly received interest from up to six schools, including Culver-Stockton and Three Rivers. She finished with double-digit strikeouts in 12 starts last year with a single-game high of 15.
Where West Plains struggled last season is hitting depth. The Zizzers hit a respectable .325 as a team but lacked a big power threat. That might be the case again this year but after finishing 23-7 last season, it’s not exactly a big problem.
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Hadley Taylor (OF) will be the toughest to replace of West Plains’ graduates. Taylor hit .347 with a pair of home runs, nine doubles and nine steals last year on her way to a unanimous first-team all-conference selection.
Returning all-conference selections include Alyssa Sims (C), Kasey Bonham (IF), Karsyn Smith (UTIL) and Abbi Thompson (IF).
Sims hit .276 with four extra-base hits last year, but her biggest impact comes behind the plate, not next to it.
Another year of Karsyn Smith and Kasey Bonham in the middle of the West Plains lineup will be nothing but a good thing. Smith hit .423 with 15 extra-base hits, 16 steals, 31 runs and 22 RBIs last season. Bonham hit a team-high .471 with 15 extra-base hits, 24 runs and 26 RBIs.
Abbi Thompson is one of the better young infielders in the conference. She hit .266 as a freshman with a .370 OBP, swiped nine bags and turned the double play that clinched the Class 3 District 11 championship over Rogersville. (West Plains went on to beat Monett sectionals before falling 8-5 to state runner-up Sullivan in the quarterfinals).
“She’s a slick fielder…and a neat kid,” Long said.
Senior Shelby Foster is an underrated bat in the West Plains lineup. Foster hit .391 in 46 at-bats last season, also stealing 12 bags and scoring 18 times.
“We’re just going to try to be competitive every game,” Long said. “We hope our pitching and defense kind of carries us through.”
