By Matt Turer (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
Team: Skyline Lady Tigers
Coach: Shawna Bybee
2019 Results: 21-7 (Lost 6-1 to Lincoln in Class 1 District 14 finals)
Opening Day 2021: March 19 vs. Stoutland
The last two seasons of spring softball, Skyline came up just short of earning a shot at state. District title losses in 2018 and 2019 had the Lady Tigers hungry to make the jump to the next level of postseason play in 2020 before the season was shut down due to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
After losing just two seniors from that 2020 roster, that hunger is still there, but head coach Shawna Bybee knows that daily focus and improvement will be needed to get back to a district championship appearance.
And beyond.
“My expectation for this group is to take it one day at a time,” Bybee said. “Find something to improve on as an individual and for the team that will improve the team as a whole. I want my girls to be focused and just play the game the way it should be played. If they work hard for everything they want this season, they’ll never have anyone question their work ethic.”
The Lady Tigers put that work ethic on display last summer, when they continued to find ways to play and to improve despite limitations from the pandemic.
“My girls know their offseason is very important on how they separate from other spring teams,” Bybee said. “They have worked hard. Last summer, we got in a competitive summer league to get games that were missed last spring.”
Even if that offseason grind is all a usual part of the Skyline softball program’s growth mindset, there is still no understating how good it feels to get back to normal—and a true varsity season—in 2021.
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“Being able to play softball with these girls, they deserve a regular season and I want them to be able to experience that and be fired up,” Bybee said. “The energy and excitement is awesome.”
2021 Roster Outlook
Four members of the Lady Tigers are committed to play college softball, including a junior in Lilly Whitten (P/INF), who announced her commitment to the University of Missouri softball program back in September.
Three Skyline seniors join Whitten as college commits with Elle Dougherty (C/OF) heading to Hutchinson Community College, Keelie Holmes (INF) to Labette Community College, and Angelina Curtis (INF) to State Fair Community College.
“It’s a big deal for a small school to have that many going to play at the next level,” Bybee said. “Their commitment to this program has shown. It’s very exciting.”
Skyline returns a very strong senior class that includes Dougherty, Curtis, Holmes (INF) and Leah King (OF).
Bybee has four juniors coming back in Whitten, Jordan Hodges (P/INF) and Jadyn Foster (P/INF) as well as varsity newcomer Taylor Hunt (OF/INF).
Skyline’s underclassmen are sophomores Alexa Curtis (OF/C), Kalli Eidson (OF), Abigail Hammer (OF/1B) and Grace Edge (INF) and freshmen Chayla Tuning (OF/INF) and Mariah Pitts (OF).
“We only have 13 girls, and I expect to be versatile with all 13 girls,” Bybee said. “I want each kid to believe they are going into each game at any point in time. Obviously, my senior group has a lot of experience since they have been starters since their freshman year, but my junior class is right behind them in the same situation.’
“We need to be willing to prepare our underclassmen as we need them this season to help us win in the postseason.”
2021 Season Outlook
Skyline is scheduled to jamboree at Pleasant Hope on March 15 with Niangua, Billings and Pleasant Hope.
The Lady Tigers open their 2021 season at home on March 19 against Stoutland.
Scheduled tournaments for this season include the MLC Tournament (3/20) and the Adrian Tournament (4/16).
Like high school teams across the country, Skyline will do its best to avoid any COVID-19 cancellations or quarantines this spring.
“I think [the girls] are cautious about what could happen and fear games can be taken from them, but I have told them they can’t control anything,” Bybee said. “We need to focus on us and go into it one day at a time. I want my girls to be able to play the game with their hearts this season and hope COVID doesn’t affect them doing that.”
