2018 Fall Preview: Ava Softball

By Chris Parker

Ava came up just one game short of a berth in the Class 2 final four last season. The Lady Bears won the Class 1 District 1 Championship, but saw their season end with a 6-1 loss to Kelly in the state quarterfinals to finish with a 16-7 record overall.

Expect another big season out of Ava this year with eight seniors returning to the team. That group is led by first-team all-region infielder Ashton Bewley at second base. She hit .425 with 28 RBI and 28 runs scored last year.

“She is one of the team leaders, (and is) not scared to speak up,” 15th-year head coach Rex Sawyer said.

Gracie Heinlein will return to the circle after earning second-team all-region honors. Heinlein was 10-6 with a 3.65 ERA and 56 strikeouts in 105.1 innings.

“(She) has been in a lot of tight situations (and is) usually very calm,” Sawyer said.

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Kiaunna Snow (infield) and Macey Phillips (utility) give Ava two more second-team all-region seniors to lean on. Snow is the leadoff hitter for the Lady Bears and plays shortstop. She had .405 average with 30 runs scored. Phillips will continue to be able to play any position on the infield and pitch, but third base will be her primary position.

The rest of the lineup will feature seniors Taylor George (first base), Jada Gunter (right field), Shantel Nagel (center field), Araina Evans (left field) along with junior Reagan Koop (left field) and sophomore Miquia Heinlein (catcher).

Ava won’t get too far ahead of itself even with all of the talent returning.

“We will play everything one game at a time, try and get better as the season goes and hopefully peak at district time,” Sawyer said.

Ava opens the season on Aug. 25 against Reeds Spring.