By Chris Parker
Veteran coach Jeff Dishman takes over as head coach of the Blue Eye softball program this spring. Dishman inherits a program looking to win double-digit games for the first time since 2016.
His first team at Blue Eye will have some experience to lean on with seven starters and 10 letterwinners returning.
Dishman will look to Emma Bumpuss (senior shortstop), Samantha George (senior infield) and Kieryn Fairchild (junior pitcher) to lead the team.
“All three of these young ladies bring something different to our team,” Dishman said. “Each one has a different type of mindset and each one brings great leadership skills. Players want to play around them, and they will be instrumental in developing the type of program we want to build here at Blue Eye. It will be up to these players to leave their handprint on this program and where it goes from here.”
Many different players could find opportunities to pitch.
“This is my first year here so anyone that can pitch will get an opportunity,” Dishman said. “We will rely on those that did the bulk of the pitching last year, but we do have some young ones that show promise. Only time will tell to see if we can compete each day in the circle.”
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Sophomore Kayla Johnson will handle most of the catching duties.
Blue Eye will have a new field to play on this season.
“We should be excited each day to go out and put the work in,” Dishman said. “We’re looking forward to getting outside and doing things we might not been able to in the past years due to field conditions and such.”
Blue Eye opens the season Mar. 21 at Marionville.
“We as coaches want to build a program that plays hard, practices with a purpose and again, competes each day,” Dishman said. “Our goal is simple: get 1% better each day. Put your work in and see the results.”
