By Dana Harding (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
Skyline softball completed a magical 24-1 campaign with the program’s first-ever Class 2 state championship last season.
Head coach Shawna Bybee attributed the team’s success to mental preparation and a willingness to embrace the grind.
“We stress mental toughness through our off-season workouts and I feel like they used that mental ability during our season,” Bybee said. “We have to play for each other and not be selfish and that helped. We grind it out, we play for each other and our community and we get after it during the off-season. It’s been that mentality for years and will stay that way.”
A trio of key graduates departed the program in Ella Dougherty (Hutch Community College, Keelie Holmes (Labette Community College) and Angelina Curtis.
“All of these girls brought knowledge and lots of speed to the team,” Bybee said. “They will be greatly missed as they contributed in a lot of ways on both sides, offensively and defensively. They have been my 1-2-3 since they were freshman and have worked in key defense positions for several years.”
While the Skyline bids farewell to its graduates, a new senior trio is ready to step in and lead the Lady Tigers this season in Jordan Hodges, Taylor Hunt and Jadyn Foster.
Hodges, a pitcher and utility player, pitched the majority of innings for the team last season with an ERA of 1.38. At the plate, she hit .376 with 10 doubles.
“Jordan pitched 79 innings and only walked four,” Bybee said. “She also batted in the five hole and has great strength in that. She has started for me since she was a freshman.”
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Hunt, a utility player, played first base last season. She hit .350 with 10 doubles.
“Roles will change for Taylor,” Bybee said. “I see her growth in leadership on offense and defense showing this season. She has a strong bat and knows a lot about the game.”
Foster, a pitcher and utility player, missed the 2021 season due to ACL surgery.
“Jadyn will make a huge impact on the mound and offensively for us,” Bybee said. “So glad she is back and healthy! She is a strong kid and also very knowledgeable in the game!”
Four juniors also return for the Lady Tigers in Grace Edge, Lexie Curtis, Kalli Eidson and Abigail Hammer.
Edge, a utility player, played third base in 2021 and hit .518 with 11 doubles.
“Grace is strong,” Bybee said. “She led us in batting average and had a breakout year last year. I see her role changing and leading the team in a silent way and girls following her ability and learning from that.”
Curtis, a utility player, played outfield last season but could play other positions in 2022.
“Lexie will be catching some games for us this year and playing other positions,” Bybee said. “I’m also wanting to see the growth of her offensive game that I know she is capable of doing. The pressure is off, and she is now an upperclassman and should utilize that after having a season under her belt.”
Eidson, a utility player, will see an increased role this season after being a part-time starter last year.
“Kalli had to step in and start in a lot of games for us last year,” Bybee said. “She has put in a lot of time this off season and will be another key contributor to our game. She has the ability and now will get to show it daily.”
Hammer was the team’s designated player last season as a hitter.
“Abigail has a lot of power,” Bybee said. “She got some pinch at bats last year and made some impact offensively.”
Sophomore outfielder Chayla Tuning rounds out the returning starters for Skyline. She hit .313 with 17 runs batted in as a freshman.
“Last year Chayla was the only freshman starting,” Bybee said. “Once she settled down, she came in clutch in some big games for us. I see her jumping right into the season and taking it on right away and enjoying the game without the stress of being a freshman. She reads the ball well in the outfield and has a strong arm.”
Sophomore Mariah Pitts also returns for the Lady Tigers after serving as a courtesy runner last season.
Edge, Hodges, Hunt and Tuning all received postseason honors last year.
Bybee expects several newcomers to compete for playing time this season including junior transfer Danielle Henry, freshman Autumn Baldwin, freshman Naveah Dorrell, freshman Jolene Wilcox and junior transfer Haley Long.
In the circle, Skyline will turn to a battery of Hodges and Foster during the season.
“I have two pitchers that will rotate game by game,” Bybee said. “They both are very consistent, making batters put the ball in play. They don’t have very many walks and rely on their defense to help them out against a good hitting team.”
In the field, Bybee expects her defense to once again be a team strength.
“I have strong arms and my whole outfield is coming back,” Bybee said. “I have a lot of girls that can play multiple positions which will help. I am not one hundred percent on it, but there is a good chance every other game I will have a different defense out there.”
Following a March 14 jamboree at Pleasant Hope, Skyline opens its regular season March 18 at Ballparks National against El Dorado Springs.
