By Chris Parker
Fordland softball returns eight starters from last season’s team that finished 8-8 overall.
“I think our strengths will be experience,” Fordland head coach Joshua Smith said. “We are returning most of our team from last year. These kids play lots of ball, either with me in the summer or travel ball. Most of them have played since they were little kids and I think all of them have gone through our middle school softball program or moved in with prior softball experience.”
Four seniors in Hannah Brock, Shelby Rowan, Mikah Suter and Aubrey Huskey will be the team leaders. Rowan, a first-team all-district selection, is signed with North Arkansas to play in college. She posted a .558 on-base percentage with a 1.173 OPS last season scoring 15 runs and driving in 18 more. Suter scored 16 runs and drove in 13 behind a .553 on-base percentage.
The main position Fordland needs to fill is the pitcher position as Tessa Feeback graduated after being the team’s main pitcher last season. Feeback is playing college softball at Missouri State-West Plains.
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“I have several kids who could fill that role,” Smith said. “Senior Shelby Rowan is a hard throwing lefty that helped us out at the varsity level last year. Junior Riley Rippee, sophomore Justine Justice, junior Lexis Friesen and freshman Kaylee Mastroianni all have pitching experience that we might use.”
First-team all-district catcher Miranda Johns returns behind the plate. She drove in a team-high 22 runs and scored 16 last season.
Mikah Suter, also a first-team all-district selection will play first base. Huskey, Brock, Lily Kendall (sophomore), Friesen, Justice, Britton Suter (sophomore), Bailey Cook (freshman) and Mastroianni will be on the infield as well.
Rippee and Emma Trotter will lead the outfield with Rowan, Suter and freshman Haley Biehl also in the mix for time in the outfield.
Trotter was named first-team all-district.
Fordland opens the season Mar. 17-18 at the Summit Conference Tournament.
“We have a very talented team,” Smith said. “Several kids play travel ball in the offseason, many of the girls take a weights class and play multiple sports. We have a great group of young ladies that love the game and work hard to get better. Winning districts is always a goal, but improving on last year and becoming better ball players is always an important goal as well. We went 8-8 last year and lost to the district champion Crane in the second round of districts. Last season was the first season in 10 years we had a winning record. We competed in most of our games, but it always takes a few games to get back in the groove. It is tough for us because we immediately play conference schools that play fall ball and have only had a few months off, rather than almost a year for us. I would like to get into the double digits in the win column and start the year off ready to play.”
