By Dana Harding (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
2021 was a successful season for Pleasant Hope softball.
The Pirates finished with a 15-5 record, falling to Strafford in the district semifinal.
Longtime head coach Kevin McVey was pleased with his team’s development and strong finish heading into the postseason.
“As the season went on, our team gained experience and confidence and finished the season with eight wins in a row,” McVey said. “Along the way, we completed an undefeated conference record to claim our second SWC conference championship.”
Pleasant Hope graduated a trio of seniors In Bailey Stokes, Alyssa Bell and Keighlyn Johnson.
Stokes, a three-year starter at third base, earned all-state honors in 2021.
“We lost three major contributors to our success last year – those three seniors scored 63 runs and had 83 RBI,” McVey said. “Defensively, all three made big plays and contributed a lot on offense as well.”
Pleasant Hope will be led by three returning senior starters in Katie Chapman, Rachel Jenkins and Alexis Daugherty.
Chapman, a shortstop, hit .365 last season with 2 home runs and was named to all-conference and all-district teams.
“Katie had a .934 fielding percentage, has good range and a good arm,” McVey said. “She was on the front end of many double plays last year. Katie is a quiet leader but she works hard in practice and never takes a day off.”
Jenkins, a second baseman, proved to be a valuable asset in the field for the Pirates last season.
“Rachel is a very good defensive player and was the back end for many of the double plays we turned as a team last year,” McVey said. “Another quiet leader but not afraid to speak up when needed. We will need her to continue to play solid defense and contribute at the plate as well.”
Daugherty, an outfielder, earned all-conference and all-district honors as a junior.
“Alexis played right field last year and will move to center field this year,” McVey said. “Alexis can cover a lot of ground and is determined to catch every ball. I switched her to a lefty slapper early in the season last year, and it took her awhile but she really came on at the end of the season. She is very quick and always has a smile and a joke to tell.”
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Juniors Jaylin Miner and Kylie Tucker also return for the Pirates.
Miner, a pitcher, posted a record of 13-5 last season with 82 strikeouts and a 3.51 ERA. At the plate, she hit .475 with 3 home runs.
“Jaylin lost her Freshman year to Covid which made it a little harder for her to step in as an everyday starting pitcher,” McVey said. “She struggled a little bit early in the season but worked hard and improved each game. We prefer a pitch to contact method, using our defense to get outs. Jaylin became very good at this.”
Tucker, the Pirates’ first baseman, hit .424 with 1 home run and 22 runs batted in.
“Kylie was another player that lost some varsity playing experience to Covid,” McVey said. “She didn’t let that stop her from learning how to play first base and to be great at it. Kylie became one of our better offensive weapons after moving toward the top of the lineup.”
Sophomore Rebeckah Webb rounds out Pleasant Hope’s returning starters.
Webb, an outfielder, started as a freshman last season.
“Rebeckah is very athletic and has potential to be a very good player, maybe playing several positions for us,” McVey said.
Pleasant Hope’s roster will also feature a host of underclassmen who will compete for varsity playing time in Maya McIver, Mackenzie Hamilton, Sophie Pearson, Jessica Orum, Tyelynn Hochhalter, Jenna Sharif, Lorelai Myers and Haley Wilson.
With six returning starters, Pleasant Hope’s strength will reside within its defensive play early on.
“I feel pretty good about our returning defense with six returning starters,” McVey said. “We need to replace one outfielder, one infielder and our catcher (very important). I have confidence our defense will keep us in games and help win some as well.”
In the circle, the Pirates will once again turn to Miner to anchor the team’s defensive efforts.
“Jaylin is our only returning pitcher with varsity experience,” McVey said. “I’m hoping to find one or two more that can help her out and throw some innings during tournaments.”
At the plate, Pleasant Hope will feature a versatile offense that McVey hopes to see develop and improve throughout the season.
“Offensively, the top of our lineup should be pretty good but will need the bottom part to contribute,” McVey said. “We lost a lot of production from our graduating seniors that will be hard to replace. We do have a good mixture of speed and power returning. Several of the girls are able to hit a double or triple and then come up next at bat and beat out a bunt.”
Pleasant Hope opens its season March 18 in the Sarcoxie Tournament.
