By Chris Parker
Halfway softball has the pieces in place to make a run at a district title for the first time since 2017. The Lady Cardinals went 18-6 last season, and return their battery this year in seniors Elavia Sharp and Annabelle Ingram.
“Elavia has been our primary pitcher for the past three seasons and will again look to take the circle for the majority of games for senior year. She is a multi-year all-conference all-district and all-region pitcher who also bats in the leadoff spot and sets the tone for our offense,” Halfway head coach Eric Ingram said. “Annabelle is our returning catcher who is also multi-year all-conference all-district and all-region player. This is only her third season on the diamond, but with mounting credits in the classroom, she will be a senior and graduate at the end of this year having skipped her junior year. Annabelle will be looked to do most of the catching duties and help take care of our pitching staff. Annabelle also bats in the two hole and we’ll be look to play a big role in our offense.”
Junior Jaka Sharp will also provide leadership.
“Jaka is a returning all-conference, all-district and all-region player and has been used in a utility role over the previous two seasons. This year she will look to anchor our defense at shortstop as well as spend some time in the circle as she has much improved her pitching. Jaka about three hole and has a very strong bat. She has great pop and power and is a very disciplined hitter at the plate,” Ingram said.
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Freshman Jada Breashears could also see some innings at pitcher with the Sharp sisters aren’t pitching. She will play third base with the Sharp sisters rotating between shortstop and pitcher. Freshman Katie Howard will play second base. Junior Sammi Gallivan will play first base this year.
The outfield will be comprised of Klarissa McClelland (junior), Rea Spear (freshman), Gabby Radford (freshman) and Aliya Courses (sophomore).
“We have five combined juniors and seniors that look to lead this team and have lots of experience among them. Having a pitcher that has been in the circle for three seasons plus a pitching staff of three capable arms is a strength for our team no doubt. We have some girls that are very capable at the plate and know how to run the bases aggressively. These five will provide a lot of strength to our team,” Ingram said. “Outside of those five we will have four freshmen and a sophomore who are all obviously new to varsity softball. At Halfway, I have always said that we need to play complete games and we’ll say it again as last season we went 18-6. If you take away one inning in six of those losses we could have won even more. We will have people in new positions this year and that will come with growing pains although we hope to have gotten most of those out during the summer.”
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Halfway travels to Hillcrest on Aug. 21 for a jamboree with Glendale, Reeds Spring and the host Hornets. The Cardinals open the season on Aug. 28 with their home tournament.
“We expect to compete every time we step on the field no matter who we’re playing. We play a good schedule which will help prepare us come district time,” Ingram said. “We want to get better every day in practice and games and continue to build all season long. Our goal is to play for conference and district championships.”
