By Tyler F. Thompson (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
The Marshfield Lady Jays softball team returns nine starters and lettermen this fall.
The team also welcomes a new head coach in James McAnarney, who replaces Jessica Gorham.
With more than 20 years at Marshfield, primarily in the baseball dugout and serving as the junior high football head coach, James McAnarney now takes the reigns for the Jays softball program.
The returning Lady Jays will be looking to improve on last season’s four-win campaign.
McAnarney said he has liked what’s he’s witnessed over the summer: tangibles and intangibles included.
“A new start, I guess,” McAnarney said. “I have been out of the realm the past four, five years now, and it is exciting to get back into it. Being with the girls over the summer, I am excited about what we have coming into the season.”
Returning this fall are 2nd Team All-District catcher Kirsten Ward (junior); 1st Team All-District infielder Alaura Padgett (senior); and 2nd Team All-District infielder Ally Harrison (senior).
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Senior Megan Petty, a returning letterman, McAnarney said, also returns to the outfield and behind the dish.
The circle will once again by occupied by a pitching tandem, as returners Macie Warren and Camryn Elliott will toe the circle (2020 pitching and offensive stats were not made available).
“Everything will be the same. They all return,” McAnarney said of the aforementioned core group.
Competition is breeding success, McAnarney said, which gives cautious optimism for a program that won four games last year.
“A lot of the girls play travel ball,” he said. “They are very, very competitive, which obviously helps. But in practice, their intensity and attitudes have been refreshing to me, just watching them — not just compete against each other — but compete against themselves. Their mental capacities are increasing.”
Marshfield will see live competition to conclude summer preparations Aug. 20 at the Camdenton jamboree.
The opener is Aug. 28th at the Halfway Tournament, followed by an Aug. 31 showdown at Monett.
McAnarney said while a few weeks remain before the opener at Halfway, the final push is evident in the continual work ethic.
“Just from this summer, I am very happy with what I have seen so far,” he said. “I just want them to be a little more consistent in what they do. And what they do, they do well. I feel like we have a deep team. As any softball team, it really depends on how pitching goes. And if we can do that on a consistent basis, I think we can compete with just about anyone.”
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While pitching assumes the primary identity of the team, McAnarney said, depth is a nice card to hold in their back pockets.
“I have probably four girls who can play multiple positions,” McAnarney said.
Among those, senior Kiana Massie will hold down center field.
“I am very excited watching her. She can cover a lot of ground,” McAnarney said.
Injuries have plagued the senior the past few seasons, but this past spring, the then-junior was an all-state javelin thrower for the Jays’ track and field team.
Others to watch this season include sophomore Halle Menzies (INF/OF/P); the aforementioned Elliott (INF/OF/P) and Harrison (INF); and senior Taylor Teal (OF).
First base will be commanded by Padgett.
