By Matt Turer — mturer@ky3.com
@MattTurer
Lebanon hasn’t finished a season above .500 or won double-digit games since 2013, but that stretch could end this fall. The Yellowjackets are looking at a lineup bolstered by a player who is one of the top batting threats in the Ozark Conference to go along with a deep pool of upperclassmen.
That top bat is Cally Blattel (3B). Blattel—who head coach Stanley Crum called one of the best raw talents he’s ever seen in softball—hit .508 last season with a 1.565 OPS behind 17 extra-base hits (9 2B, 3 3B, 5 HR), in addition to 22 runs and 24 RBIs. But Blattel isn’t alone. She’ll be accompanied by Avery Hlavacek, who hit .462 last year with a 1.131 OPS (12 2B).
The Yellowjackets did lose a fair amount of offense in graduated seniors Chloe Johnson (.516 AVG./1.444 OPS), Erica Blake (.365 AVG.), Jaiden Offutt (.365 AVG.), Kaylen Tubbs and Megan Coffman, but there’s excitement about what’s back and the progress that’s been made this summer.
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“We’ve grown tremendously as a team [this summer] and hope to carry that forward into the season,” Crum said.
“My expectations going into any year are always high. We want to be competitive and challenge for a conference championship, and ultimately compete in a Final Four.”
Seniors Kailyn Hazlewood (P), Shannon Jenkins (1B) and Mackenzie Gress (OF), as well as juniors Kaylee Keen (P/IF), Leslee Weddle (SS/UTIL), Emily Morque (OF) and Amanda Varble (C), return.
Lebanon will be very competitive in the OC if its pitching can continue to improve.
“This year’s senior class has the potential to lead a very talented team to a great season, barring any unforeseen circumstances or injuries,” Crum said.
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