By Matt Turer — mturer@ky3.com
@MattTurer
Norwood softball underwent many notable changes this offseason with the graduation of four key seniors and a new face at head coach after an 18-win 2016.
Lori Drake has replaced Phillip Reed as the head of a program that has been one of the most consistent in the Ozarks this decade, averaging 15 wins per season and winning three district titles (2016, 2015, 2010). It’s Drake’s first year as a varsity coach on the high school level but she’s been a summer travel ball coach for the past 10 years.
Drake’s biggest challenge coming in is finding replacements for Melody Campbell (CF), Jenna Ogletree (SS), Emily Chadwell (P) and Emma McIntosh (OF). Campbell (.426 AVG., 24 R, 5 XBH) and Chadwell (18-5, 1.75 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, 125 K, 132 IP) were second-team all-staters in Class 1 last year. Ogletree (.403 AVG., 11 XBH, 25 R) was an all-region selection. That group helped lead the Lady Pirates to a 12-2 district championship over Crocker.
Chadwell will be toughest to replace after a successful run as Norwood’s primary pitcher. Drake said sophomore Payton Drake is slated to get the call there. She missed all of 2016 with an ACL injury.
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All-region selection Emma Nelson (Sr.) and her team-high .478 average is back and will seemingly be this lineup’s best bat. Norwood also returns starters in senior second baseman Chloe Crain (.365 AVG., 4 triples), senior outfielder Bayli Calhoun (.400 AVG.), junior third baseman Megan Campbell (.271 AVG.) and junior catcher Marla Chadwell (.229 AVG.).
“We expect to be competitive with five returning lettermen,” Lori Drake said. “We will need leadership from this year’s seniors…[who] had outstanding junior seasons.”
Seniors Alyssa Watson and LeAnn Stilley, junior Keayra Dawson and sophomore Josie Sullivan will also see varsity action this year with Sullivan slated to start in the outfield.
“Our juniors will carry more of a load this season,” Drake said. “They were strong defensive players for the 2015 and 2016 teams, and now we need them to step up offensively.”
