By Chris Parker

Fall 2019 Preview: Mansfield Softball

By Kai Raymer (For OzarksSportsZone.com)

Starting spots and playing time are up for grabs on Mansfield, which graduated nearly half of its lineup from a seven-win team.

With change comes new opportunities, and coach Aaron Gray is eager to see what unfolds.

“This group will definitely have a different look to it,” Gray said. “With the graduation of three infielders and a catcher, we have a number of key positions to fill.”

Mansfield will have plenty of options to fill those starting spots.

The Lions return seven players with significant varsity experience.

Gracie Williams enters her fourth season as a starter. She’s the team’s lone senior.

The speedy center fielder hit .427 last season and was 27-for-27 in stolen base attempts.

“She has incredible quickness on the bases and in the outfield,” Gray said. “We will look to Gracie to be a high on-base percentage hitter who can set the table.”

Mansfield brings back a trio of starters in the junior class in Ashlynn Heil (OF), Megan Langley (pitcher/second base) and Parker Mattix (OF/designated player).

Heil emerged as a full-time starter last season, where she hit .368 and tallied an on-base percentage around .400.

“She really came on strong at the plate and can provide some pop in our lineup,” Gray said. “We will look for Ashlynn to step up and help fill some of the offensive production gone from last year’s group.”

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Langley hit .467 and went 5-7 as the team’s starting pitcher last season. She figures to be one of Mansfield’s primary pitchers this fall after going 6-0 with 38 strikeouts and six walks allowed in the spring.

“She spots her pitches well and has command of the strike zone,” Gray said. “She will help anchor the infield when she is not pitching.”

Mattix has steadily improved from her sophomore to junior season, Gray said. She hit .286 with a .412 on-base percentage last fall.

“We look for her to be a gap-to-gap hitter capable of being a strong run producer,” Gray said.

Madalyn Ivy (P/2B), Madeline Coble (OF) and Morgan McGuire (C/1B) lead Mansfield’s sophomore class.

Ivy hit over .300 last season and had one of the best on-base percentages (.571) on the team. Ivy, who went 3-2 in Mansfield’s 2019 spring season, while share the primary pitching duties alongside Langley.

“She has the ability to shut teams down and we will look for her to be another high on-base player at the plate,” Gray said.

Coble (.286 average) and McGuire (.333 average, .810 slugging percentage) also performed well as freshmen.

“Madeline really stepped up as a freshman and helped solidify the outfield,” Gray said. “We look for her to continue to be a solid defensive player who can handle the bat.”

Gray praised McGuire’s diligence.

“Morgan is an incredibly hard worker,” he said. “She started the second half of the spring due to injury and played as well as anyone we had. We look for Morgan to be a middle-of-the-order bat who has gap-to-gap power.”

Mansfield finished 7-16 overall last season. The Lions beat Seymour in their district opener before falling to Ava in the semifinal round.

Mansfield graduated a trio of four-year starters. Karsyn Brooke started at shortstop for Mansfield since her freshman season. She now plays at Evangel University in Springfield.

Infielder Ashley Nelson and catcher Sydnee Greene, the other four-year starters, are also gone. Tallana Carter, a two-year starter, graduated and leaves a starting spot open at first base.

Varsity newcomers include junior outfielder Michaela Harris, along with four sophomores: Tyra Lansdown (IF/OF), Emily Farris (OF/IF), Rebekah Wendell (OF) and Heavenly Jones (OF). Lansdown, Farris and Jones will be playing in their first season of fall competition after joining Mansfield’s team in the spring.

Gray said Mansfield will have experience and roster depth.

“We have spent the summer getting stronger in the weight room and focused our attention at the plate,” he said. “As we progress this fall, I think we can be a team capable of driving the ball and scoring runs. We have tweaked our approach a little and I am excited to see the results.”

Keep an eye on a strong freshmen class as well.

Around nine freshmen will see action on the JV level, and some could see varsity playing time.

They include Logan Jones (IF), Lauren Jones (1B/OF), Macie Tate (C/OF), Chloe Lemons (P/IF/OF) and Lily Clark (OF/IF). Sadee Greene (OF), Avery Lansdown (IF/OF), Trinnity Davis (IF) and Dana Nelson (OF/IF) round out the rookie class.

Lemons will be Mansfield’s third pitching option and Gray’s excited about her future potential.

“She will get a lot of early pitching at the JV level,” Gray said. “Chloe is a versatile player who has been working hard to improve her game in the outfield and the infield as well.”

Mansfield starts its regular season August 30-31 at the Buffalo Lady Bison Invitational.

“I am excited to see all of their hard work pay off,” Gray said. “I feel that this group is capable of doing some exciting things on the field.”