By Chris Parker
Dora begins its first season as a spring softball team with seven starters returning from the 2021 fall team.
The Falcons made the move to the spring for a couple of reasons, according to head coach Dylan Fox.
“The biggest thing that went into our decision was that it got to where we were traveling so far to play games because most other schools in our area have gone to the spring,” Fox said. “Our district was also wanting to add volleyball, and we do not have the numbers to play two sports during the same season.”
The returning experience will help with the transition.
“Luckily for the transition we have a very senior loaded team this year, so I expect for them to make the transition well,” Fox said. “I have six seniors and one junior that I return from last year, so that should help. We also played last spring and last summer, so they have been playing some.”
A trio of seniors in Autumn Nold (centerfield), Shauna Lake (shortstop/third base) and Lauren Martin (first base) will be team leaders.
Nold hit .427 with a 1.295 OPS and four home runs in the fall of 2021.
“We will lean hard on our senior Autumn Nold,” Fox said. “Autumn is our centerfielder and has committed to Evangel to play college softball. Autumn led us in most offensive categories last season, and we will look for her to continue that.”
CLICK HERE TO FIND LINKS TO ALL OF OUR SPRING SPORTS PREVIEWS
Lake is a three-year starter at second base who will make the move to the left side of the infield. She hit .317 last season. Martin hit .310 in the fall of 2021.
Senior Kenley Howard will handle much of the pitching duties.
“(Howard) started last year for the first time and made improvements,” Fox said. “She has been working on improving her control and we will look for her to give our defense a chance to make plays behind her.”
She will throw to fellow senior Chesney Luna behind the plate.
“Chesney started as our catcher all last season, and we will look for her to make more improvements this year behind the plate,” Fox said.
Lake (shortstop) and Martin (first base) will be joined by a combination of Loghan Bruce (freshman), Tamera Danahy (freshman), Hanna Bunch (junior), Kiera Vanada (sophomore) and Jada Paul (junior) on the infield.
Senior Cally Depriest will be in left field while Nold holds down center. The other outfield position is up for grabs between Danahy, Bunch, Vanada, Paul and Chloe Barton (sophomore).
However the lineup shakes out in the field, defense will be a priority for the Falcons.
“One thing that we focus on the most is playing well defensively,” Fox said. “We have a lot of experience, and I will look for players to step into different roles and perform well behind our senior leadership.”
Dora opens the season Mar. 20 at home against Willow Springs.
“I look for us to play well throughout the season,” Fox said. “I don’t expect us to have a slow start because of our senior leadership. I expect us to play well defensively and offensively and a lot of it will start with our senior pitcher Kenley Howard giving us a chance to make plays.”
