By Matt Turer (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
Team: Springfield Catholic Lady Irish
Coach: Steve Govero
2019 Results: N/A (2021 is program’s inaugural season)
Opening Day 2021: March 23 at College Heights Christian
One year ago, the Springfield Catholic family was getting ready to support its inaugural varsity softball season. Then, a once-in-a-century worldwide pandemic crashed the party.
For the Lady Irish, the second time will be the lucky charm.
Catholic will throw the first pitch in its softball history books on March 23 at College Heights Christian. Then, six days later, they will play at home for the first time when they host Wheatland on March 29.
The Lady Irish will be led by first-year head coach Steve Govero. Govero’s son, Kyle Govero, will be the team’s assistant coach. Kyle has previous coaching experience with Webb City and Spokane baseball.
“The mood around the team is high,” Govero said. “Everyone is looking forward to it. I’m trying to get to know the girls. The parents have been really supportive. But it’s been a tough last year. Everybody was ready to go. All the same 15 girls who signed up for spring team played on the summer team. While they didn’t get high school ball, they played together over the summer under the Irish name.”
Govero was hired as head coach after Susan Provance stepped down following the cancelled 2020 season.
A private instructor in Springfield since 1987 through Practice Time Sports, Govero has gotten to know his players and many more throughout Southwest Missouri over the years. And while this is his first varsity head coaching job, he certainly doesn’t lack experience.
“I want them to take the stuff they’ve started with at their experience level and continue to grow,” Govero said. “I don’t want them to go backwards in their learning experience. We have good groundwork going. We had a good summer last year. Now we can work and expand upon that.’
“A lot of the girls I’ve coached have gone on to play college ball and have become coaches themselves.”
Catholic will be part of the Big 8 Conference, which will be able to compete for a spring softball championship for the first time this season thanks to the addition of the Lady Irish.
“We’re a new team to the conference this spring, but a lot of these young ladies have been playing ball,” Govero said. “It’s not like the Jamaican bobsled team. We have some knowledge of what’s going on.”
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2021 Roster Outlook
The Lady Irish have just two seniors on their first-ever roster in Lauren Haynes and Ella Collins.
Sophomore Brooke Barnes will be the team’s No. 1 pitcher and junior Madison Ruess will start at catcher. Barnes is one of the team’s most experienced players with three years of junior high/travel ball experience.
Junior Shelby Kindhard will play first base and will provide a lefty arm on the mound.
Freshman Katie Galligos is a multi-sport athlete at Catholic who is expected to compete for the starting shortstop spot.
“She’s the kind of player who can play up the middle for you,” Govero said.
The rest of the roster includes sophomores Aleah Appleby, Clara Ahmadnia, Samantha Fry, Larissa Holland, Avery Johnson, Frances Thomas and Emily Wieberg.
“We’re all excited about the opportunity to play for Catholic in this brand new spring sport,” Govero said. “Milestone No. 1 for this program will be our first pitch. And that will be thrown by Brooke.”
2021 Season Outlook
The Irish are scheduled to participate in a pair of in-season tournaments: the Pleasant Hope Softball Invitational (3/26-3/27) and the Big 8 Softball Festival (May 9).
In addition to their home opener on March 29, Catholic has home dates schedule against Seymour (4/5), Marion C. Early (4/6), Strafford (4/23) and Fair Grove (4/29).
“Let’s go out there and play,” Govero said. “We’re not going out for a participation award. We’re going out to play and win.”
