By Chris Parker
Carl Junction softball has an experienced team returning this year looking to win double-digit games for the first time since 2015.
“We are overall very experienced at the varsity level this year. It’s hard for me to pinpoint just one leader in this group. Senior through freshman, we have some girls that show up every day ready to work hard and get better,” Carl Junction head coach Zach Petty said.
Seniors Saedra Allen and Jayden Green both return with a wealth of experience in the circle pitching. Green threw 79 innings with 39 strikeouts and a 4.59 ERA last year. Allen pitched 66 innings with 42 strikeouts and a 5.83 ERA in 2019. Junior Maisen McCluney could also see time in the circle.
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Whoever is pitching will have a steady presence to throw to with junior Allison Plumlee returning at catcher for her third year as a starter.
Senior Bryn Neria will enter her third year as a starter at first base. She earned honorable mention all-conference honors last season. Neria hit .296 last season. Classmate Kacie Ford will be a second-year starter at second base. Sammie Sims returns to start at shortstop after starting last year as a freshman. Third base is a competition between senior Kaitlyn Nease and junior Tavia Rodriguez. Both junior Jamie Fabozzi and freshman Izzy Southern could find time on the infield.
In the outfield, Kalyssa Hagston (senior centerfield), Addie Brock (junior right field), Hannah Cantrell (freshman left field) and Dalaynie Hallacy (junior left field) will be the key players. Brock led Carl Junction in RBI last year with 12.
“We expect to be very competitive. We’ve had a really good summer so far and we have a lot of varsity experience on this roster,” Petty said. “The last few seasons haven’t been what we wanted or expected, however there’s just a different feel to this group of girls. We are ready to get started.”
Carl Junction opens the season on Aug. 28 at Reeds Spring.
