By Chris Parker
Forsyth softball has won two straight district titles and won at least 20 games in each of the two seasons. The Lady Panthers have posted a winning season in every year they have been a spring softball program.
This level of success has been achieved by consistent hard work by the players and coaches in the program. More of that hard work will be required if Forsyth is to get over the hump and make a final four.
“Unfortunately, there is not a magic formula we can apply to make that (a final four berth) happen,” Forsyth head coach Jeff Walls said. “In 2019, we made huge strides as a program that resulted in unprecedented success for our student-athletes. In 2021, our student-athletes rose to meet the challenges of a tougher schedule while having lost a year that could have been very special. We also ran into an exceptional pitcher in Sammi Huck that got the best of us. This season, we have again toughened up our schedule, and the challenges remain the same: take advantage of opportunities that arise; control what we can control; work each day to be a little better than the day before.”
Second-team all-state catcher Oletha Rich returns for Forsyth.
“Since her freshman year, Oletha has been a leader for us. Her composure and high softball IQ definitely act as a calming factor for our pitchers and our entire defense,” Walls said. “Oletha’s softball IQ is exceptionally high. She has played a lot of competitive softball and it shows in the way she goes about playing the game. She is also an extremely hard worker.”
Rich hit .458 with 38 RBI and 38 runs scored last year. She is signed to play at the next level with North Arkansas CC.
Kloe Hendrickson transitioned from infield to outfield last year and promptly earned all-region honors.
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“To be honest, Kloe had been an infielder all of her life before last year. We encourage our players, however, to learn multiple positions. After seeing Kloe in the outfield at the beginning of the season, we knew she would play a huge role in the outfield for us. We transitioned her to the outfield because of her natural ability to read the ball off the bat,” Walls said. “I expect Kloe to pick up where she left off last season. She will be in the middle of our order in a run-producing capacity.”
Hendrickson posted a .538 on-base percentage last year with 17 RBI and 23 runs scored.
Emmalea Cook (senior shortstop) and Landry Stuart (senior second base) will be key players on the infield. McKenzie Calhoun will play centerfield. Cook hit .317 with a .429 on-base percentage as a junior while stealing 16 bases. She also scored 36 runs. Stuart had a .329 on-base percentage with 18 RBI. Calhoun was on base 35.5% of the time last year.
Lindsey Essary (sophomore) and Hendrickson will be the key pitchers for Fosyth this year. Essary threw 39 innings last year and had 19 strikeouts with a 3.59 ERA.
“Lindsey got a lot of varsity experience last year. She is by far our most polished pitcher, and I look for her to find her full stride this year,” Walls said. “As mentioned earlier, Kloe’s competitiveness and hard work have put her in the discussion of making some big starts in the circle for us. She commands the ball well and hits her spots well.”
Emmy Blevins will play third base. Paige Rowton, Savannah Koen, Haley Avis and Lili Roberts will all be in the mix at first base.
Emma Woodward, Zoe White and Lily White along with some of the candidates for first base are in the mix for time in the outfield along Hendrickson and Calhoun.
“I think our biggest strength is our experience. We only lost three starters from last year’s team. We have several athletes that have played in a lot of big games, and I look for us to use that experience to our benefit,” Walls said. “Like every team, we will need to find consistency. Depending on who is in the circle for us, we will have some moving parts and people changing positions.”
Forsyth opens the season on Mar. 19 at the Mid-Lakes Conference Tournament.
“In the grand scheme of things, we want to be playing meaningful games in May,” Walls said. “We don’t really preach goals with our teams. We challenge each of our student athletes to improve on a day by day basis. If we can do that, I think success will take care of itself.”
