By Chris Parker
Halfway softball is poised for a big season with six starters returning from last season’s 16-win team.
At the head of that group is the reigning Polk County League Player of the Year Jaka Sharp.
“Jaka Sharp will return to her shortstop role and see a lot of mound time,” new Halfway head coach Amber Cline said. “Sharp is a very vocal leader on the field. She will also lead the team offensively with power.”
Sharp hit .586 with a .659 on-base percentage last year.
Fellow seniors Sammi Gallivan and Brookelyn Cline will be leaders for Halfway as well. Gallivan, who hit .391 with a .494 OBP last year, will play first base along with many other positions. She earned second-team all-conference honors last year. Cline is a newcomer who transferred in from Bolivar will play third base who could pitch and play any other position.
Halfway is replacing the graduated Elavia Sharp who was a four-year starter in the circle. Jaka Sharp and Brookelyn Cline along with sophomores Tessa Cline and Jada Breshears could also see innings pitching.
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Breshears will also play third base where she earned first-team all-conference honors last year. She hit .458 with a.518 on-base percentage.
Sophomores Rae Spear and Tessa Cline along with freshman Makenzie Grindstraff are in the mix to be behind the plate at catcher.
The infield will feature a combination of Breshears, Sharp, Tessa Cline, Brookelyn Cline, Gallivan and Grindstaff.
The outfield will see Klarissa McClelland in left field with Brookelyn Cline, Rae Spear, Emily Dickey and Hannah Maggard all capable of seeing time out there. McClleand was a second-team all-conference selection last year who hit .328 with a .481 OBP.
Depth and flexibility will be a strength for Halfway.
“Our pitching depth and fielding flexibility will be strengths. In small schools you are lucky to have one strong pitcher and I have four. We will also bring a lot of power to our lineup,” Cline said.
Outfield will be one place Halfway works on in the preseason.
“We have quick girls with the abilities they just don’t have a lot of experience,” Cline said. “But we will be taking a lot of reps between now and the start of the season to make them solid.”
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Halfway will travel to Hillcrest for a jamboree on Aug. 19 with the host Hornets, Norwood and Reeds Spring. The Lady Cardinals open the regular season on Aug. 27 at their home tournament.
“I am extremely excited for this group,” Cline said. “We have the pieces to do some great things. The more we practice and get to know each other as long as we build the trust with every player we should be a force in every game we play.”
