By Matt Turer (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
Team: Purdy Eagles
Coach: Lori Videmschek
2019 Results: 24-6 (Lost 2-0 to Mt. Vernon in Class 1 quarterfinals)
Opening Day 2020: March 20 at Pleasant Hope
Recapping 2019
The Eagles won 20+ games for the fifth consecutive season in 2019, a stretch that has also seen the program take home district titles in every campaign. That was the case again last year in a close 7-6 win over Crane in the Class 1 District 10 championship.
From there, Purdy dispatched a 22-win Forsyth team in the state sectionals before falling 2-0 to Mt. Vernon in the quarterfinals.
“After last year’s loss against Mt. Vernon in the quarterfinal game, our kids understand what it takes to get to the next level,” Purdy head coach Lori Videmschek said. “We can’t take anyone for granted. It seems every time teams play Purdy they are playing their best, and we’ve got to continue to push each other and trust the process along the way.”
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Looking Ahead to 2020
Since the program began in 2015, Purdy is 119-20 and before last season had been 26-0 all-time at home (3-2 at home in 2019). With eight starters returning in 2020—including four of their five all-district selections and their lone all-state selection—the Eagles are primed to continue their success.
“Purdy softball expectations have always been set high, and it’s no different for this year’s team,” Videmschek said. “There’s a lot of excitement and anticipation for what this team could do this year.”
Junior all-state pitcher Lauren Schallert is back after going 24-5 with a 3.36 ERA and 219 strikeouts in 169.0 innings in 2019. Schallert was maybe as impactful at the plate, swinging to a .444 average, 11 doubles, three home runs, 41 RBIs and 22 steals.
While Mackenzie Renkoski and her .413 average may be gone, the rest of a Purdy lineup that averaged 8.4 runs per game is back. That includes all-district selections INF Kylie Woods (.430 AVG, 14 XBH, 33 RBI, 34 R, 23 SB), UTIL Kinsley Mattingly (.333 AVG, 30 R, 27 SB), and INF Bayleigh Robbins (.449 AVG, 20 XBH, 33 R, 35 RBI, 22 SB).
On top of that, starters Robyn Schad (.367 AVG), Dally Craig (.393 AVG) and Annabelle Bowman (30 G, .200 AVG, 16 SB) return.
“With Schallert, Wood, Robbins, and Schad we could be very explosive at the plate with lots of power,” Videmschek said. “They could be very fun to watch. Speed will also be very good for us this year. Running the bases and putting pressure on the defense and being able to handle the bat at the plate will cause problems for teams.”
The Eagles also return Maykayla Ash and Jasmine Holloway and will add freshmen Allie Hayes and Alyssa Bolin. They’ll also welcome transfer OF Jaclin Fenske.
“Each player needs to be accountable for what they are doing and continue to set goals for themselves,” Videmschek said. “I expect the very best out of them. It’s not just one person on the team. It will take all of them to win a conference and district championship.”
Scheduling Champions
Videmschek has built a schedule that includes games against the last four Class 1 state champions, all of which have come from Southwest Missouri.
Purdy will face 2016 state champion—and 2019 state semifinalist—Mt. Vernon on April 3 on the road. The Eagles were 1-2 against Mt. Vernon in 2019, winning 13-8 on April 6 but losing 3-1 on April 16 and 2-0 in the state quarterfinals.
On April 25, Purdy will face 2019 champion Lincoln for the first time since a 3-0 Eagles win in the 2017 state semifinals.
Then on May 1, the Eagles host 2017 and 2018 champion Strafford. The two haven’t met since a 12-2 loss in 2018.
“Coming off a great season and with what we have returning we can be a team that could be hard to handle,” Videmschek said. “We have to continue to work hard and get better as players, teammates and as individuals. How good we can be is up to us and how hard we want to work for it. This could be a fun and exciting season.”
