By Chris Parker
Miller softball will be looking to finish above .500 for the first time since switching spring softball in 2015.
Three-sport star Kaylee Helton will be at the center of the leadership for Miller softball.
“Our team leader this year will be Kaylee Helton,” Miller head coach Audrey LaSalle said. “She’s our senior catcher. Kaylee is who everyone looks to for encouragement and guidance because of her seniority and skill. She’s a natural leader who moved into team leader last year, and I expect the same out of her this year as well. I’ll also be looking at Haylie Schnake, a junior pitcher, to step up as a vocal leader in the field.”
Helton earned first-team all-district and second-team all-conference honors last year with a.429 batting average.
Schnake will be the team’s top pitcher. She was honorable mention all-conference and all-district as a utility player last year.
“Haylie Schnake is our junior pitcher who I will be looking to be our main pitcher,” LaSalle said. “Her strengths are that she’s consistent and an all-around athlete, so she’s an asset to have running the show from the mound.”
Junior Hailey Mart along with freshmen Kendall Neely and Kaylee Thom are also in line to pitch.
Mart was a first-team all-conference and all-district infielder last year hitting .533 with a .562 on-base percentage.
Lillie Ricketts (junior first base), Addison Stockton (junior second base), Hailey Mart (junior shortstop) and Alyssa Hill (junior third base) will be the lineup around the infield.
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Ricketts was second-team all-district infielder last year.
Marissa Laxton (junior centerfield) and Caitlyn Burks (senior left field) will anchor the outfield.
“The majority of the varsity team this year will be upperclassmen. They are confident and skilled, so I expect them to use their experience and maturity to win games,” LaSalle said. “Last year we were coming off of COVID, so the majority of my team was young and had little varsity experience especially in the batters’ box. I really think if we can improve our batting average, our season will be a successful one.”
Miller opens the season Mar. 18-19 at the Sarcoxie Tournament.
“This year we want to improve our record to a winning season and play in a district championship,” LaSalle said. “We made big strides by the end of last season, and we just want to keep growing and improving as a team.”
