Fall softball ended a week and a half ago, which means a new season is only about 300 days away.
Following up on our final power rankings for the 2015 season, let’s take an early look at how the 2016 season may project.
Instead of ranking them 1-through-15, we’ll switch things up and take a brief overview of the top favorites in all four Classes.
The run-down: Class 4 should be pretty stacked locally; Class 3 has a lot of power-shifting due to graduation; Class 2 (assuming everyone doesn’t switch to the spring) should have a lot of the same teams in contention again; Class 1 figures to be led by Dora and Norwood.
Class 4
Joplin made it the farther than anyone else this season, but the Eagles graduate a lot of talent. They return only one (SS Kinsley Stewart) of their seven all-Ozark Conference selections from this season, so the Eagles are going to have a new-look (and young) lineup next season.
You can never go wrong with picking Ozark as a preseason favorite. The last time the Tigers DIDN’T win 20 games in a season, their returning players for 2016 would have yet to enter 3rd grade.
Ozark graduates four very productive seniors in Hannah Carvel, Lauren Chambers, Madi Jamieson and Brittany White – all of whom earned all-COC-Large honors this year. But the Tigers bring back all-conference shortstop Bre Johnson, outfielder Morgan Doyle (6 home runs) and rising junior pitcher Brooke Pridgen (21-5 overall, 1.93 ERA), so things are far from bleak.
Republic has the best pitcher in SWMO returning in Rachel Rook (25-3, 323 Ks, 0.95 ERA), along with shortstop Kami Holt (.398, 9 HRs, 41 RBIs) and outfielder Sydney Phillips. Like Ozark, Republic loses some quality senior talent in Emily Hall, Lauren Strobel and Caty Eby, so they’ll have to call on some newcomers and/or reserves to fill in the lineup.
Camdenton had its best season in program history and returns all-conference players Erin Rasmussen, Krystin Carpenter, Kelly Uthe and Kylee Compton, along with a rising sophomore class that coach Rick Calbert was excited about heading into 2015.
Webb City (17-14 overall) had a down year by its recent standards, but could be a darkhorse in an always tough COC-Large race. Webb City graduates two all-conference players in Emily Harris and Peyton Rogers, but otherwise returns its full lineup. Webb City was a sophomore-heavy team last season and returns a pair of all-conference players in juniors-to-be Mareika Turpen and Ashley Allgood.
Willard was the hardest team for me to peg in our power rankings this fall. The Tigers were competitive in every game – they didn’t get blown out, but they didn’t really dominate anyone either. With a 2015 lineup that was basically all underclassmen, Willard figures to be stronger next year. Bridget Rippe (16-12, 1.11 ERA, 229 Ks) blossomed into one of the area’s best pitchers and helped keep Willard in every game.
Class 3
Of our local teams, graduation hit Class 3 the hardest. Carl Junction, Rogersville and Bolivar all had really good seasons, but graduate the majority of their lineups and all-conference/all-region talent. All three will have revamped lineups next year.
In the COC-Small, Reeds Spring may have the most returning talent. The Wolves bring back all four of their all-conference players in Allie Dickerson (unanimous), Hannah Erickson, Mackenzie Duvall and Courtney Scobee. Erickson (.524, 20 RBIs, 9 SBs) was all-state and Dickerson (.544 BA, .835 slugging, 12 steals) all-region.
It was a rebuilding year for Monett, but the Purple and Gold are in position to re-take the Big 8 next year. The Cubs won 16 games with a lineup that had multiple freshmen starting. Monett’s set to return all five of its All-Big 8 Softball selections heading into next year.
West Plains is still chasing the first district title in program history, and the Zizzers should have a good shot at earning one next season behind a strong junior class. Pitcher Abbey Gann will return for her third season as a starter, along with 2015 all-conference players Karsyn Smith, Kasey Bonham and Megean Frazier.
Salem could be a district title contender as well, with the Tigers graduating just one player from a 14-win team that reached its district final a month ago. The returning, seven-player senior class could end up being the most successful class in program history.
Class 2
A lot could change in Class 2 before next fall, because there a lot of teams in this Class – statewide – who would be logical candidates to switch to a spring season. For these purposes, let’s assume all of our local Class 2 teams return to a fall schedule next school year.
District champion El Dorado Springs graduates three seniors, including all-region shortstop Cameron McPeak, but otherwise returns a good amount, including its starting battery. Pleasant Hope brings back two of its four all-region players from this season, including pitcher and 3-hole hitter Ellie Lane. The Pirates will plug in a returning crop of rising sophomores and juniors that saw action in 2015.
The best of the local Class 2 teams next season may be Willow Springs, with the Bears returning all four of their all-region players in Kirstien Loman, Sydney Miller, Emily Fair and Krista Rader. Three of those four players were freshmen –Miller, Fair and Rader – giving the Bears hope for 2016 and beyond. Miller finished with 115 strikeouts in 91 innings, splitting time with Loman in the circle.
Class 1
Norwood (15-7 overall) and Dora (16-7 overall) were our best Class 1 teams this year, and I would expect them to lead the way again in 2016. Both hit the 15-win mark with young lineups and, with pretty much the whole gang back, will gain another year of experience/improvement.
Norwood shortstop Jenna Ogletree finished with a .471 average, six homers, 10 doubles and 38 RBIs in earning all-state honors. Dora has two all-state players coming back next year in shortstop Kryslyn Colvin (.590, 34 RBIs, 4 HRs, 1 strikeout all season), and speedy outfielder Ashlynn Vanatter (+.200 BA improvement, 15-for-15 in steals).
