By Chris Parker
Wheatland softball is poised for a big season with nine starters and 13 letter winners returning from a 20-11 squad.
That includes four returning all-region selections in seniors Jaycee Dampier and Charley Crouch along with junior Kate Murphy and sophomore Mariah Box.
Dampier threw a bulk of the team’s innings last year with 108 innings pitched and a 3.56 ERA. At the plate, Dampier hit .483 with a 1.251 OPS, 37 runs scored and 34 RBI. She is still recovering from an off-season injury.
“Dampier is our No. 1 pitcher returning,” Wheatland head coach Pat Dougherty said. “She is coming off an ACL surgery. We expect her to be good to go, it may be a work in progress type of thing for a while though.”
Crouch is also a pitcher and shortstop. She hit .323 with 36 runs, 30 RBI and 11 stolen bases.
“Crouch is our everyday shortstop,” Dougherty said. “She is very good defensively, as well as at the plate.”
Murphy and Box are both catchers with the one not catching playing third base. Box is also a pitching candidate, but is recovering from ACL surgery as well. Murphy hit .506 with a team-best 1.437 OPS last season. She had 38 runs and 38 RBI with five home runs. Box also slugged with a 1.256 OPS, 40 runs, 29 RBI and 28 stolen bases.
“Murphy and Mariah Box split the (catching) duties last year,” Dougherty said. “Both did very well for us last year. Murphy will probably get more time back there due to Box’s ACL surgery.”
Freshman Tymber Rife is another option at pitcher with Mariah Box’s younger sister Kendrah Box an option at catcher.
“Rife is a freshman that can throw strikes and we look forward to see how she fits in the staff as well,” Dougherty said. “(Kendrah Box) caught a little for us this summer and did a good job. She could easily work her way into a lot of time behind the dish as well.”
Senior Macy Pearson and sophomore Clover Rusk are top options at first base. Pearson had a .310 average, 29 runs and 16 RBI on her way to all-conference honors last season. Rusk contributed a .343 average with 22 runs and 18 RBI. Dampier could also see time at first base when not pitching.
Ally Sawyer (sophomore), Emma Almond (sophomore) and Rife are all options at second base.
“Sawyer spent most of last year at second base until she moved to the outfield late in the year out of necessity,” Dougherty said. “Almond took over at second base and did a good job. They will probably go back and forth until we settle in. Rife is an athletic freshman that could challenge for time there as well.”
Pearson, Sawyer and freshman Lilyan Davis are most likely to see time in centerfield.
Shelby Shaddox (junior), Caidyn Whittle (sophomore), Jarden Keele (sophomore), Harlee Jones (sophomore), Hollee Whittle (freshman) and Rife will all compete for time in the outfield.
Dougherty tabbed Dampier, Crouch and Murphy as the team’s leaders.
“All three are seniors and fit the mold to be our leaders,” Dougherty said. “They have all had success on the field in the past, will lead by example and by encouraging our many underclassmen this year.”
Defensively, Wheatland will be strong.
Defense should be our biggest strength this year,” Dougherty said. “We have more team speed than we did last year with a strong freshman class coming in, and that should help us be stronger in the field either through playing some youngsters or by them pushing the older ones to be better.”
Wheatland opens the season Aug. 29-30 at the Morrisville Tournament.
“We would like to be able to outwork, out-hustle and outlast our opponents. We will have to be mentally tough as well as, physically tough to do that. There is always adversity in each game and in each season. We would like to be resilient enough to overcome adversity and be successful,” Dougherty said. “We would like to battle for a conference championship. Halfway will be very good again this year. Walnut Grove is always good. It should be a tough conference. We would also like to make another run at a district title. We lost last year in the district championship to eventual state champ, St. Elizabeth). We don’t know who we are with yet, but we obviously will strive to be in the mix.”
