By Chris Parker
Pierce City softball is ready to get back on the field this spring. The Eagles never finished with fewer than 17 wins in the spring until the 2019 season when they finished with just five wins.
They will look to get back to their winning ways under new coach Bobby Stackhouse, who was head coach at Pittsburg High School in Kansas for the past three years.
“If the girls are anything like me, they are itching to get started. I am so excited about my first year Pierce City,” Stackhouse said. “I had a chance to work with the girls over the summer. The biggest impact COVID will have on this team is the lack of varsity experience we will return. I will have several sophomores in my lineup who will be playing their first high school softball games.”
Losing the 2020 season has only increased Stackhouse’s love of softball.
“It will mean everything to get back on a softball field this spring. Sometimes it helps to put things into perspective. It has been almost two years since I have coached a game. The time away has really opened my eyes to how much I love this sport and enjoy coaching it,” Stackhouse said. “Hopefully my players will feel the same way. Hopefully they realize how quickly things can change and to never take any opportunities for granted.”
CLICK HERE FOR ALL OF THE SPRING SPORTS PREVIEWS
Two seniors in Madi Gripka and Sarah Farmer will provide leadership. Gripka will see time at first base. Farmer will be in the outfield.
Junior Mollie Beason and sophomore Olivia Stanphill will both see time in the circle along with sophomore Claudia Crowell.
“Beason is a girl who throws hard. If she can continue to improve her control, she will be someone who has the potential to shut down a lineup. Stanphill is more of a contact pitcher. She has several different pitches she can throw for strikes. She does a good job of hitting spots and changing speeds. I believe they both complement each other very nicely,” Stackhouse said. “Sophomore Claudia Crowell is another girl who could see some time in the circle. She was dealing with an arm injury over the summer and I didn’t get to see her pitch. I am excited to see what she brings to the table.”
Freshman Julie Lowe along with junior Riley Gripka and Jillian Mack are all options behind the plate at catcher.
Around the infield, Beason will compete with Madi Gripka for time at first base when not pitching. Sophomores Trinity Witt, Claudia Crowell, Atley Kleinman, Stanphill and Mack will all look for spots on the infield as well.
Riley Gripka is expected to play center field with Farmer, Witt and Keishia Delgado looking to play on the corners.
Pitching will have to lead the Eagles while the defense and offense get up to spped.
“I believe our greatest area of strengths will be pitching and catching. I am excited about the depth and talent we have at both of those positions. I believe those will be areas we can lean on throughout the season for consistency and success,” Stackhouse said. “Our hitting and fielding will be the areas that will need to improve the most. I believe we have the players who can take the next step in those areas. It will be a matter of how quickly they catch on to a new system. It will be a point of emphasis of ours to dominate the routine play defensively and recognize the importance of timely hitting offensively.”
Pierce City opens the season Mar. 19-20 at the Sarcoxie Tournament.
