Athletes of the Week: Nixa Softball

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Nixa softball is looking to repeat as district champs and make a run to the Final Four this season.  

Those high expectations are within grasp for the Lady Eagles, who are led by a trio of seniors. 

Nixa’s softball success truly takes a team effort. 

“When playing softball, the first thing you need to think about is your team because you can’t do anything without them. Softball is not a one-player sport,” said senior Chloe Krans. 

Luckily for the Lady Eagles, they have a few difference makers. Starting with senior shortstop Phoebe Gardner. 

“She is an amazing leader,” Krans said.  

Phoebe leads the team in hits and is a few hits away from breaking the school hits record. 

“Seeing Phoebe strikeout isn’t very often,” senior Maddy Meierer said.  

“She just keeps everything so simple; hands go back and she takes the barrel of the bat to the ball. She battles with two strikes, I think last year she only had two strikeouts all year and the year before only had two,” said Nixa softball coach Matt Walker.  

Second baseman Chloe Krans is also a force in the batter’s box.  

“Chloe is just clutch,” said Gardner. 

“She hits nukes in all the pressure situations,” Meierer added.  

“Crazy, crazy clutch. She had three go-ahead or game winners including the walk-off homerun against Ozark in the district championship last year. If she comes up and the game’s on the line we are like ‘okay, we got this,’” the coach said.  

A great compliment to the two powerhouses at the plate is pitcher Maddy Meierer. 

“Maddy controls the game, she’s such a leader in the circle. We couldn’t really do what we’ve been doing without her she’s like so consistent,” Gardner said.  

Meierer is chasing history this season for the most strikeouts by a Lady Eagle.  

“Commands the zone, she pounds the strike zone. She’s a competitor also, she’s not going to give in, she likes to try and challenge hitters,” Walker said.  

As the Lady Eagles search for a Final Four birth, this trio will be key to any postseason run.   

“They’re all important for us to be successful. Luckily, Maddy, Phoebe and Chloe at the varsity level have been there and done it,” said Walker.  

Maybe this year, that experience will pay off with the biggest trophy of all. 

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