By Michael Cignoli (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
As she enters her fourth season at the helm of the West Plains softball program, coach Amy Marshall is emphasizing the importance of sustaining success — not just achieving it.
Looking at how last season unfolded, it isn’t hard to understand why.
The Zizzers opened 13-2 and appeared well on their way to their most successful year since Marshall took over the program from longtime coach Donny Long in 2018. Then they went 6-7 over their final 13 games and lost to Willard in the second round of the district tournament.
West Plains finished 19-9, which was still its best record since it won 24 games in Long’s final season in 2017. But for a team that returned seven starters and accomplished so much in the first half of the season, there was an undeniable feeling it could have gone further.
With nearly all of its starters returning once again, the Zizzers hope to start and finish the season strong and meet their goals of competing for conference and district championships.
“I think that last season we weren’t mentally tough enough to sustain our success throughout the entire season,” Marshall said. “We lost some players due to COVID and I felt like we used that as an excuse. As a coach, I don’t think you are ever satisfied with your season. I know that as a team we didn’t achieve some of the goals we had made before the season started. I definitely felt like we had the potential to do more, but that was a good lesson for my returning players to learn. I’m hoping that gives us a drive to change that this season.”
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The Zizzers boast one of the region’s most experienced rosters, as their top six hitters and starting pitcher Alyssa Joyner are all back for another season. There’s no shortage of talent either, as six of those seven were named to all-conference or all-district teams last year.
“I think my starting lineup is mostly set,” Marshall said. “There is some room for people to be moved within the lineup, but I don’t see a lot of surprises coming into this season.”
Senior center fielder Megan McCrackin (.338 average, 18 steals, 27 runs scored), junior shortstop Zoey Williams (.459 average, 15 steals, 20 runs scored) and senior catcher Emmy Howell (.418 average, 41 RBI) were each all-conference and all-district selections. They’ll begin the season as the 1-2-3 hitters, giving the Zizzers plenty of firepower at the top of the order.
“I’m looking for the top three in our lineup to really set the tone for our team,” Marshall said. “Megan, Zoey and Emmy — each of these ladies had great seasons last year and we are hoping to build on that and keep getting better. I think the speed of these ladies is going to cause a lot of trouble for other teams.”
McCrackin and Howell were each members of the 4×100 relay team that finished third in the state this past spring, skills that translate well to the basepaths.
“It’s not very often that a team has that kind of speed in their lineup,” Marshall said. “Our other strength would be our experience level.”
While 2020 starters Savannah Summers (first base), Taylor Cecil (left field) and Destiny Magnuson (right field) all graduated, their replacements are all upperclassmen who saw playing time last season.
Senior Jacie Cotter hit .358, drove in 18 runs and earned all-conference and all-district selections while filling in at first base last year, while juniors Hannah Judd and Brooklyn Mead will take over the corner outfield slots.
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Seniors will make up the rest of the batting order, as designated player Emily Gregory, second baseman Brooke Chitwood and all-district third baseman Kylie Kittrell return for one more year.
“I’m really just looking to my juniors and seniors to deliver a solid season,” Marshall said.
The lone player in the lineup who is not an upperclassman is Joyner, who earned a spot on the postseason all-conference and all-district teams after going 14-7 with a 3.63 ERA as a freshman.
“She did a lot of learning and growing throughout the season,” Marshall said. “I’m expecting Alyssa to be more consistent this year. She had a little mid-season slump where she was tired and feeling the aches and pains of the season. Mentally, she will be better prepared for the grind of this upcoming season.”
The Zizzers will open the season at the Morrisville Tournament, set for August 27 and 28. Their first home game and Ozark Conference opener is scheduled for August 31 against Glendale.
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“In our conference, Kickapoo has been the team to beat and I don’t see that changing,” Marshall said. “I’m also expecting Rolla to field a tough team. They are returning several players from their team last year.”
Class and district assignments won’t be released until later this year, but the Zizzers expect to see more familiar faces as they look to secure the school’s first district title since 2016.
“If we are in the same district, Willard is returning an excellent pitcher and was a well-coached team last year,” Marshall said. “They knocked us out last season, so we would definitely like another shot at them this year.”
