By Dana Harding (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
A new face will patrol the dugout in Weaubleau this season.
Head coach Sue Ann Ginnings is set to begin her first season with the Lady Tigers. Ginnings previously served as an assistant coach at Hermitage. She will be assisted by Shania Francka.
“I have a great group of girls that work hard and are willing to try anything that I have asked of them,” Ginnings said. “With the complete coaching staff change this year, we took the summer to work on the fundamentals and learn about each other and their abilities. This is a big softball family and we are hungry for a district title.”
Weaubleau finished 19-4 in 2017, falling to Hermitage in the district title game for a second-straight season.
The Lady Tigers say goodbye to a trio of graduates, including Jerika Vanderford, Kylie Vail and McKenna Arthurs.
Key returnees for Weaubleau include senior Megan Flagg (P/SS), senior Danni Stewart (3B), senior Jenna Ratliff (1B), junior Liz Stewart (2B) and sophomore Jenna Daggett (P/SS).
In addition, a trio of newcomers will make an immediate impact to the Lady Tiger roster. Sophomore Addison Durnell (OF/1B) and a pair of transfer students in senior Anna Ginnings (C) and junior Makayla Hostettler (UT) will bolster Weaubleau’s talent pool this season.
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“Our strength is our depth,” Coach Ginnings said. “As a Class 1 school, we are fortunate to have a big team with two strong pitchers and several girls that have the ability to play different positions all over the field.”
Weaubleau’s duo of Flagg and Daggett will provide different looks and approaches within the circle this fall. Daggett, a lefty, utilizes several pitches with lots of movement throughout the zone, while the right-handed Flagg relies more on velocity.
“Both girls have been working hard this summer and gaining confidence in their pitches,” Coach Ginnings said. “They are two different types of pitchers that have the ability to keep opposing batters off balance.”
For Weaubleau to be successful, it must navigate a challenging Polk County Conference schedule including the likes of Walnut Grove, Halfway and district nemesis Hermitage.
“Expectations are very high this season,” Coach Ginnings said. “This group has been the runner-up in the district championship the last two years. This year, we know that we have a good shot at winning a district title. I am excited for the season, and we should be a fun team to watch.”
Weaubleau opens its season Aug. 24 in the Humansville Tournament.
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