By Brock Sisney (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
The Neosho Lady Wildcats return 10 players with starting experience for the 2021 season, eight position players and two pitchers.
All the returning starters are juniors and seniors, and most of these players have already logged 50 victories during their high school varsity careers. Neosho finished 18-9 overall last season and lost 4-1 to McDonald County in the district semifinals.
“I believe our strengths are having played so much softball together as a group,” Neosho head coach Catie Cummins said. “This group of girls has played together for years. They know how each other works and how to best motivate those around them. We have many kids that can play multiple positions, which can only help when the season has so many games, so fast. We also have three pitchers that will compete for varsity time. They are all very different from each other so we will be able to play around with different looks to throw off other teams’ lineups.”
Neosho graduated shortstop Sierra Jones and No. 1 starter Brittany Winchester, but senior outfielders Lili Graue and Kaitlyn Killion, junior outfielder Baylie Bowers, senior utility Alivia Campbell, juniors McKaylie Forrest (catcher), Maelynn Garrett (infielder), Grace Johnson (utility), Abbie Carpenter (infielder) and Chloe Patterson (pitcher), and sophomore pitcher Phenix Scott all return. Maddie Carpenter, who started both her freshman and sophomore years, returns from injury for her senior year.
CLICK HERE FOR A FULL SEASON SCHEDULE
Junior infielder Jordyn Baker, junior utility Trinity Drake, junior outfielder Avery Bradford, and sophomore outfielder Tatiyana Douglas return with varsity experience.
Cummins mentioned Carleigh Kinnaird stepping in as the Wildcats’ third pitcher and as somebody to keep an eye on this season.
“I’m excited to see our juniors and seniors play this year,” Cummins said. “I have coached them since seventh and eighth grade and I believe they have a lot of exciting things to show this season. As always, you have to win on all three sides of the ball: hitting, defense, and pitching. When we do these things we will be very successful. Our goals for the season are to finish at the top of the COC and win a district title.”
Forrest and Killion earned all-Central Ozark Conference second team honors and Graue honorable mention last season.
Killion batted .400 last season with 38 hits, four doubles, five triples, two home runs, 30 RBI, 28 runs scored, a .418 on-base percentage, and a .611 slugging percentage. Killion had six assists from the outfield.
Forrest nearly matched Killion at .398 with 35 hits, 13 doubles, one triple, 21 RBI, 23 runs scored, a .448 on-base, and a .568 slugging.
DOWNLOAD THE O-ZONE APP NOW!
APPLE – CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD
ANDROID – CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD
“McKaylie Forrest has been a leader since her freshman year and has only improved in that role in the last year,” Cummins said. “She has the knowledge of the game and control on the field and that is exactly what you want in a catcher.”
Graue batted .429 last season with 33 hits, four doubles, two triples, 13 RBI, 28 runs scored, a .482 on-base, and a .532 slugging.
Carpenter missed her junior season due to injury and returns to the mix after starting both her freshman and sophomore years.
“Maddie Carpenter has done a great job with our underclassmen this summer in teaching them the ropes and being an assistant coach in a way,” Cummins said. “While she was injured for a large portion of her junior year she was a positive teammate in the dugout and learned how to help coach those around her. She does a wonderful job teaching skills or concepts to other players.”
The Lady Wildcats officially open their 2021 season Aug. 30 at home against Monett and face COC foes Carthage, Carl Junction, and Joplin in the jamboree Aug. 24 hosted by Carthage.
