By Chris Parker
Sarcoxie softball is looking to bounce back from the program’s first season under .500 since starting spring softball in 2015.
Head coach Dale Rice identified Brooklyn Carr (senior), Kaydence Flynn (junior) and Reese Clifton (senior) as key players to watch.
Rice on Carr: “Brooklyn was all-district her freshman year as our catcher and all-conference and district last year as our shortstop. She has great range and a good arm. She is always a threat at the plate because she can fly on the basepaths. She is one of those players that leads by example and is a fierce competitor.”
Carr hit .358 with a .411 on-base percentage last year including 14 runs scored.
Rice on Flynn: “Kaydence is a boisterous player and has a lot of potential to step it up this year, and I expect the games to be loud and fun because of her positivity and spirit. Kaydence will give us solid at-bats and has good pop. She also plays a good first base for us.”
Flynn posted a .456 on-base percentage with 19 RBI and 14 runs scored.
Rice on Clifton: “Reese is an experienced player along with Brooklyn and Kaydence and will not only lead us offensively but is highly competitive in the circle. She is another player that will lead by example and her fierce competition.”
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Clifton led the team in RBI with 25 while hitting .474 with a .494 on-base percentage.
Clifton will be joined by fellow senior Jessica Fieker handling the pitching duties. Freshman Kylee Walters is in the mix for time in the circle as well.
Starting catcher Katie Lopez (sophomore) returns and will share the catching duties with Maci Garrison (junior) and Ansley Morande (senior). Lopez drove in 15 runs and scored 13 last year with a .343 batting average.
“The nice thing about the Sarcoxie Bears this season is the versatility that we have across the board,” Rice said. “We have several players that are comfortable in different positions. Having five seniors and five juniors and some good underclassmen, I expect us to be very talented and knowledgeable.”
The infield will likely line up with Carr (shortstop), Flynn (first base), Hailey Garrison (second base), Clifton (third base), Maci Garrison (third base) and Kylee Walters (third base).
The outfield will have Emma Plybon (centerfield), Emma Parrigon (left field), Morande (right field) and Kaylee Burruss (right field).
“Our pitchers learned how to pitch last year instead of just throw. If they carry that over, we will be competitive right from the start of the season,” Rice said. “We will need to hit again and the potential for that is strong. We hit .382 as a team last year and even though we lost our No. 1 hitter, Kyann Ogle, last year to graduation, we are gaining Hailey Garrison back whose batting average was .434 last year and was an all-conference and district player her freshman year. Along with all the returning players and a promising freshman, Kylee Walters, our offense should be solid.”
Sarcoxie opens the season Mar. 18-19 with its home tournament.
“We should be competitive in every game this season and finish well above .500,” Rice said. “If we can do that with the schedule we play, it will be a very successful season and should prepare us for postseason play.”
