By Amanda Perkins (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
In her second year at the helm, West Plains Lady Zizzers head coach Amy Marshall doubled her team’s winning percentage. Rogersville topped West Plains in the district semifinal match-up, and the Lady Zizzers finished their season with a 16-12 record. Now, they return seven starters and are ready to once again improve on their record.
Starting shortstop Abbi Thompson and starting 3rd baseman Maggi Davidson, who batted 3 and 4 in the lineup, respectively, have graduated. Each earned all-conference and all-district honors, and Thompson’s .468 average will be missed.
“Our team is going to look a little different defensively,” said Coach Marshall.
Sophomore Zoey Williams, the starting pitcher in her breakout season, will now work to fill the gap left by Thompson. “Zoey is extremely athletic and plays good, smart softball,” said Marshall. Williams batted lead off with a .397 average last season and will continue to pitch, but will be a strong asset at shortstop.
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Megan McCrackin has worked on hitting in the off-season and her coach says she has high expectations for the junior. “She is so fast and can cover so much ground that it will make our defense stronger to have her in centerfield,” said Coach Marshall, noting McCrackin will move from her left field position of last season.
Emmy Howell returns as catcher and will be valuable both at and behind the plate; she also batted .423 last season. She will help fill the void left by the graduating seniors and will be a leader for the team.
Savannah Summers “is an excellent first baseman,” per her coach. “She makes our infield better with her ability to make plays at first.” Summers and fellow seniors Destiny Magnuson, right field, and Taylor Cecil, outfield, put in the work and lead by example.
Incoming freshman Alyssa Joyner will round out the pitching staff. “Alyssa is tall, long arms, athletic,” said Coach Marshall. “She is built like the ideal pitcher. She has a tough demeanor on the mound and throws hard.”
Second baseman Brooke Chitwood has worked on her game over the summer and is ready to make an impact this season.
Coach Marshall said the Lady Zizzers’ greatest asset is team speed. “We are fast from top to bottom in our lineup.”
“Our goal as a team is to keep getting better each year,” said Marshall. “We improved significantly from my first season as head coach and I would like to get our program back to where it was when Coach Long was the head coach. Our goal is to compete for a conference and district title this season.”
The Lady Zizzers begin play in the Morrisville Softball Tournament August 28 and host a home opener against Ozark on September 1.
