By Amanda Perkins (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
Last year’s Skyline team went above .500 with a 13-11 record, but the Lady Tigers are hungry for more.
The lone returning senior is Autumn Baldwin. “Autumn is a lefty slapper second baseman,” said head coach Shawna Bybee. “She’s very athletic, but also plays three sports at Skyline. We expect a lot from here and I just hope that this year she just has fun and enjoys every single moment out there on the field and sees where she could lead this team. It’s unbelievable how fast she is and we always rely on her being on base and getting runs in with that speed.”
Junior Makenna Shockley is Skyline’s returning pitcher and threw 150 innings with 235 strikeouts in her sophomore campaign. “Makenna has been able to gain muscle over the off-season after a long injury going into last season,” said Coach Bybee. “She has shown huge improvements and we look forward to seeing her mentality to grow to be a good leader.”
Tymber Pinon, junior, “is very competitive and will do anything for the team to win a ball game,” said Bybee. “She will need to focus on getting the underclassmen invested and dedicated into the program. She plays infield positions and will also be a huge leader.”
Jenna Hunt sat out last year due to an ACL injury from basketball but is back for her junior season. “We look forward to seeing her back on the field and getting after it,” said Coach Bybee. “She can play anywhere on the field, which is always a blessing to have.”
Baylee Hash, junior, started in some games last year as an outfielder, per her coach. “She has been dedicated during the off-season,” said Bybee. “If she continues to see growth, we see her getting some more varsity time.”
Junior Janelle Long “was a huge bat for us last year,” said Bybee. “She always came in key with some hard hits and good swings. I look forward to watching her grow and can see her bat getting varsity games.”
The junior class also features Tae Harris, Brooklyn Miller, and Holly Hahs.
Sophomore Hailey Stokes is described as “super strong” by her Coach. “I see her having some roles if she shows growth on the field,” said Bybee.
Kimber Henderson, sophomore, played centerfield last year, and her coach believes she could return there. “She is a lefty batter and has a great line drive swing,” said Bybee. “We will continue to work on the confidence, but she is still an underclassman!”
Catcher Raegan Lewis, sophomore, “is a great defensive player,” said Bybee. “There weren’t many attempts on steals against her. Her bat has power and she has been working on making it more consistent this year. She is a vocal kid, and I really like that.”
Jayla Green and Kamryn Winn round out the sophomore class.
Freshman Kinsley Volcko is a strong bat and could be fighting for a spot. Adena Acker is also a solid freshman. “She pitches and is a great bat,” said Bybee. “She will see immediate time and will also work in the mentality of our program.”
Breanna Johnson is a freshman and an athletic infielder with a strong bat, per her coach. “She will see immediate time as a freshman and will work to learn how to develop in our program,” said Bybee.
Liberty Hammer, McKenna Mackey, and Katylena Wheeler are also incoming freshmen.
“Our goal is always to get better every day regardless of it being a practice or game for the post season,” said Coach Bybee. “This year, our word is ‘disciplined,’ and in everything we do or don’t do, we will be disciplined to learn and get better for our teammates for post season.”
Bybee said her team has had a great off-season. “Workouts in the weight room have been tough but rewarding,” she said. “We are going in goal-driven and I hope even when my girls are tired, they remember the goals and our word.”
Skyline will jamboree at Pleasant Hope on March 17 with Crane, El Dorado Springs, and Pleasant Hope and will host Versailles in their home opener March 21.
