By Matt Turer (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
Team: Webb City Cardinals
Coach: Shauna Friend
2019 Results: 21-7 (Lost 2-0 to Raymore-Peculiar in Class 4 sectionals)
Opening Day 2020: Sept. 3 at Monett
The Webb City softball program ended last decade with another district championship–its sixth in 10 years. And while the Cardinals lost in the first round of the state tournament, the loss came against the Class 4 runner-up. Long story short: the Cardinals enter the 2020s with arguably the most consistently tournament-level competitive large-school softball program in Southwest Missouri.
Over the past 10 years, the Cardinals are 219-77-2. That’s a .735 winning percentage. Coming with those wins? Six district titles and three state semi-final appearances, including a runner-up finish in 2013.
With all that in mind, it should be easy to guess what level of expectations head coach Shauna Friend has for the 2020 season.
“We have high expectations,” Friend said. “Even though we lost several seniors, we had a lot of depth at nearly every position and plan to carry on playing at the same level of intensity. I believe this 2020 team has the ability, determination, and unity to claim conference and district titles and advance deep into the postseason.”
That consistency year-in and year-out doesn’t all just come from what’s in the Webb City water. It comes from a dedication to developing talent at levels long before high school even begins.
Nearly every girl on any given Webb City Cardinals softball roster practices and plays throughout the summer and has done so during every summer since she was as young as eight.
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“We work on fundamentals every day, but they have good fundamental skills coming into high school,” Friend said. “They also get a lot of live at-bats over the summer leading into the fall. A second factor is the parent and community support they have every season.”
And the third factor?
“Webb City Cardinals know how to win and have a built-in desire to win,” Friend said.
So, maybe it’s a little in the water.
“Our focus is competing to win in every situation—every at bat, every inning, every game. Our seniors came up with our team motto this year, ‘All it takes is all you’ve got,’ and that is what we, as coaches, expect from them every practice and every game.”
This year’s Cardinals
Webb City said goodbye last year to four all-conference seniors (and two all-staters) in Stacy Tyndall, Kiera Jackson, Karson Culver and Taylor Harris. But Central Ozark Conference Player of the Year Haidyn Berry is back for her senior year. As is All-COC Honorable Mention Peyton Hawkins (Junior).
“We are certainly going to miss last year’s seniors, and their shoes will be tough to fill, but I know we have the athletes to step up and jump right into those positions,” Friend said.
Berry started 24 games in the circle for the Cardinals in 2020, striking out 174 batters in 139.1 innings with a 2.46 ERA (1.17 WHIP) and an 18-5 mark. Berry swung the bat at a high rate as well, slashing .418/.432/.648 with 16 extra-base hits and 29 RBIs.
“Not only does Haidyn have good speed, her command of her pitches has improved so much over the past three years,” Friend said. “What sets her apart from others is her competitiveness and determination to beat every batter she faces. She is mentally tough and never gets down on herself or her teammates.”
Peyton Hawkins, the Cardinals shortstop and leadoff bat, hit .410 with a .490 on-base percentage, churned out five doubles and three triples, scored 25 times and drove in 15 runners.
“I expect her to be consistent in the field and at the plate,” Friend said of Hawkins. She was able to get things going early [last year]. With that experience, I think she will continue to improve offensively. I expect her to continue to go 100 percent all the time. That is her only gear.”
Also returning from last year’s group are second baseman Alyssa Jennings and right fielder Emma Welch.
“Jennings is a defensive asset in both the infield and outfield,” Friend said of Jennings, who led the Cardinals with four home runs and hit .345 in 2019. “I expect to see her be an offensive leader on the team.”
Though only finishing with 40 at-bats, Welch posted the Cardinals second-best average (.450) and OBP (.551), trailing only the all-stater Tyndall in both categories.
“Emma developed into an invaluable outfielder for us last year,” Friend said. “She got a lot of action in right field and made some outstanding defensive plays. I expect her to continue to be consistent at the plate and use her speed and arm in the outfield to benefit the team.”
Beyond those four returning varsity starters, the Cardinals roster is wide open with room available for whomever is ready to claim a spot.
“We have 13 talented juniors and seniors competing for those spots,” Friend said. “I anticipate we will have several role players this year to try to utilize the talent to best benefit our team.”
Luckily, Friend said that the COVID-19 pandemic hasn’t had much of an impact on the team’s training opportunities this summer.
“Other than missing some offseason opportunities in April and May, it hasn’t had a substantial effect,” Friend said. “The girls were still able to complete summer weights, play summer travel tourneys and participate in offseason workouts. We will be ready to hit it hard on August 10 and get prepared for the season.”
