By Matt Turer — mturer@ky3.com
@MattTurer
Seven district title appearances and five district titles in seven years. That’s Walnut Grove softball’s resume this decade. Jeff Dishman’s Tigers know how to win in the postseason, and with an enrollment that usually dances around 120, consistency isn’t easy.
The key in Walnut Grove has been a consistently challenging schedule. One that starts in summer league action against the likes of Class 4 Republic, Class 3 Logan-Rogersville and spring softball state champion Strafford, and one that continues when it counts, with Dishman scheduling large-Class programs throughout the fall. This year alone, Walnut Grove is scheduled to face at least four Class 3 and 4 teams on their regular schedule, plus many more in tournaments like the Springfield Invitational.
“We aren’t going to set any records at Walnut Grove with the schedule we play,” Dishman said. “It’s stacked again this year. We shy away from nobody.”
Dishman’s Tigers finished 2016 at 12-15, beating Marion C. Early 6-3 for the district title before losing 11-8 in nine innings to Hermitage in sectionals, but seven of those losses came against Marshfield (twice), Parkview, Rogersville (twice), Holt, and Republic—all significantly larger schools.
“In the long run it seems to work out. I tell our girls [when we get into the postseason] that we’ve seen pitchers as good or better than [what we’re facing] three or four times this year.”
That Boss-Mode type experiment is going to really test this year’s exceptionally young Tigers. Dishman’s program is welcoming in a freshman class that’s been hyped up as one of the best to ever come into Walnut Grove athletics.
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“They’re awfully talented. I’ll admit that. But there will be a learning curve, and it’s already started this summer with basketball and softball,” Dishman said.
Freshmen Faith Gilkey, Lauren Johnson (Dishman said the sky is the limit for the “crazy athletic” Johnson) and MiKayla McVay are expected to make an immediate impact, but Dishman said a few others will be right there as well.
“You’ve got to get out there and just throw the fire at them and see how they handle it. They’re athletic. They’re long. They’re spooky fast,” he said.
“I think the thing that most high schools at the smaller level will tell you they miss is competition (for playing time). We now have 10 or 11 girls on softball and basketball who will compete for somebody’s spot, and I’ve told the younger girls to come in and take somebody’s spot.”
Three spots will be taken in the traditional sense after three seniors graduated from last year’s team, including Walnut Grove’s best power bat and No. 1 starter Raylie Henja, who all but carried the team in last year’s postseason.
But returning is all-state shortstop Bayley Harman (Sr.), all-region second baseman Grace McPhail (Jr.) , all-conference third baseman/pitcher Myranda McVay (Jr.) and all-conference outfielder Angel Rigg (Jr.). Seniors Grace Miller (three-year starter) and Stephani Ortiz (four-year starter) are also back.
Harman, one of the best in the region in any Class, hit .470 with 13 doubles and two triples in 2016.
“If she wasn’t a Harman she could go D1 in softball,” Dishman said of the current face of Walnut Grove girls basketball. “But she’s a Harman, and she’s going to go play basketball. She can run, hit, throw. She can do it all.”
McPhail brings efficiency on the basepaths to this lineup, safely swiping 37-of-38 bags last season.
McVay is the obvious choice to fill in for Henja on the mound, having pitched a handful of spot starts last season, but Dishman said he may have as many as three consistent starters.
“She’s the glue,” Dishman said of McVay. “God didn’t give her a lot of athleticism but he gave her heart and guts, and that’s good enough for me some days.”
Walnut Grove opens its season Aug. 21 at El Dorado Springs. Its home opener is scheduled for Aug. 28 against Marshfield.
“We’re not gonna have a lot of power, but we’ve proven out here we can hit a little bit,” Dishman said. “We’re gonna have some nights we don’t play very well. That’s just our age. And maybe poor coaching. But by the end of the year I think we’re gonna be OK.”
