By Chris Parker
Billings softball has a new head coach in Amanda Larsen this season. She inherits a team with eight varsity players returning from a three-win team.
Larsen expects Cadance Daniel (senior catcher), Tacey Blankenship (junior pitcher) and Kenzie Clendenning (junior shortstop) to be team leaders.
Larsen on Daniel: “Cadance will be a vital part of the team this year because she brings the most experience and is able to flex into other roles. The rest of the team already looks to her for leadership on the field and I have no doubt that will continue this year.”
Larsen on Blankenship: “Tacey will be another key player for us this year. She pitched every game last year and has been working since the end of the season to continue building her skills. She’s also a leader on the field and the younger girls especially see her success and look up to that.”
Larsen on Clendenning: “Kenzie is a utility player with a strong understanding of the game. She’s our best hitter and the rest of the team will be looking to her for leadership at the plate.”
Clendenning was named first-team all-conference last season. Daniel earned second-team all-conference honors.
Blankenship and Daniel will handle the pitching.
“Tacey Blankenship will be a key pitcher for us. She has the most experience and she’s been working on expanding her skills at the mound. Her experience under pressure is her best weapon,” Larsen said. “Daniel will be another key pitcher for us. She spends a lot of time behind the plate and is able to transition that knowledge into targeted throws off the mound.”
CLICK HERE TO FIND LINKS TO ALL OF OUR SPRING SPORTS PREVIEWS
Daniel and freshman Kyla Essick will play catcher.
“Daniel will be key for our team behind the plate this season but we also want to work her into some other positions to create a plan for future seasons by building up skills in our younger players while we still have her to guide them,” Larsen said. “Essick will be showing up behind the plate some this season as well. I think she will be a key player on the field this season and in the future. She has some good foundational skills and we are going to work on expanding those while Cadance is still around to help her navigate the varsity scene.”
Ryleigh Gearing (junior first base), Reaghan Hubert (senior second base), Clendenning (shortstop) and Essick (third base) will be around the infield.
Lancey-Joe Bellamy (sophomore), Paula Culver (senior) and Carly Baker (sophomore) will be in the outfield.
“I think our defense will be our strength this season. We’ve gained some experience on the mound and behind the plate from last season. Having several returning players will make a big impact on our ability to field the ball and demonstrate that strength,” Larsen said. “Last season, we struggled at the plate. We’re going to have to work hard to get over that fear of being up to bat and finding the connection with the ball when the right pitch comes across the plate.”
Billings opens the season on Mar. 20 at Miller.
“I think every coach wants their team to feel like a family. I really want the girls to build relationships on and off the field and create a sisterhood that carries with them beyond the years they spend at high school,” Larsen said. “The team really struggled last year to put runs on the board. I think we’re going to surprise some people with the growth the players have had as a team and individually.”
