MSHSAA announced on Monday, Mar. 16 that they would not be cancelling spring sports due to the Coronavirus. There will be delays to the start of the season and you can read the full MSHSAA release on spring sports by clicking here. Many area schools have called off classes and extracurricular activities through at least Apr. 3 and will reassess at that time. We will continue to post our spring previews. Please note that this preview was written before delays for the spring season were announced.
By Amanda Perkins (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
Houston moved to a spring softball schedule for the first time in 2019. With Jim Moore leading them, the Lady Tigers dominated the SCA conference and made it to the semi-final round of the district playoffs, finishing with a 15-8 record.
“We believe we can build on that success and take the next step forward this season,” said Coach Moore.
The Lady Tigers have a core of returning players. Senior Cameron Hall will be back in the outfield and led the team in stolen bases last year. “She has her eyes set on making a run at the state stolen base record this season,” said Moore. “She brings a lot of experience, pop, and speed to the team.” Emma Bryant is coming back from an injury, and the senior looks to make her mark this year.
Junior Riley Scheets started at first base last year. “She gives us a tall target to throw at over at first,” said Moore. Scheets’ on-base percentage was near the top of the team last year, but she will be expected to improve numbers at the plate and to drive in more runs. Junior shortstop Jaden Stell has the ability to make big plays, setting the table for the middle of the lineup last season, and classmate Kaylee Hock will be a strong left fielder.
“The heartbeat of our team will be centered around our pitching and catching,” said Coach Moore. “Aliyah Walker is a freshman but brings in a lot of game experience on the mound already. She has three pitches and spots them fairly well. Her velocity is increasing, but she mixes speeds well. Mali Brookshire is a sophomore and was injured all last year but is going to be healthy and can throw fairly hard. She is working on spotting her pitches and is improving rapidly. Having two pitchers is a huge asset. We can also throw in Hannah Dzurick, a sophomore, who gained some huge varsity experience last year. You can never have too much pitching and I am looking to see what these three can do.”
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Brookshire can also play third base, and Dzurick second base.
A battle for the starting catcher position will ensue; senior Jada Lassiter held the position last season and incoming freshman Katie Chipps will challenge her. “Both girls have a good stick at the plate,” said Moore. “Both are more than adequate behind the plate. I look forward to seeing how this competition shakes out.”
Other returning players include designated hitter MacKenzie Holder, Callie Britt, and Ashleigh Loman, all sophomores.
Incoming freshmen include Katie Chipps and Aliyah Walker as well as first baseman MacKenzie Bryan, infielder/outfielder Karlee Curtis, second baseman Maddy Reed, outfielder Rhease Manier, and outfielder Maddy Riley. “We have a talented and hungry group of incoming freshmen that are going to push for starting positions this year,” said Coach Moore. “There is a lot of talent on our team, and competition is going to be fierce for playing time,” he added. “We look forward to the competition, but we also know we are one team and we will support each other as much as we compete against each other.”
The Lady Tigers will have to reach their goals without two all-conference and all-district players who helped lead them to the postseason last year, Emily Roberts and Madison Curtis. Roberts was a four-year starter on the mound and kept the team in games. Curtis played third base and was a four-year letterman with huge hits last year, including a game-tying three-run double to set the team up for their first conference championship in program history against Mtn. Grove.
Moore is also the girls’ basketball coach and will transition from one sport to the next alongside many of his players. “The two sports are so different strategy and pace-wise,” he said. “I love the outdoors and the crack of the bat and pop of the mitt. I’m really looking forward to seeing what our team can accomplish this season.”
“We would love to be in position to win a second conference title and a district championship,” he added. “We believe with hard work and determination these goals are within our grasp.”
