By Chris Parker
Miller softball is looking for back-to-back district titles after winning Class 1 District 5 last year as the No. 4 seed upsetting the top two seeds in the semifinals and finals.
“I think my girls got a taste of success last year after they won districts, so I know several of them have been working in the offseason and even just staying late after practice to get more batting reps in or pitching on their own,” Miller head coach Audrey LaSalle said. “I’m expecting to see results from that extra time put in when games start up.”
Nine starters return from last season’s team led by a group of seven seniors who have been a part of Miller softball since junior high.
“We have seven seniors who were a part of the very first junior high team in Miller ever. I was their coach then and now I’m their varsity coach, and all of them have stuck with it,” LaSalle said.
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Sophomore Kendall Neely will handle the pitching duties.
“She’s (Neely) a sophomore but started almost every game for us last year,” LaSalle said. “She’s consistent and dependable.”
Freshman Loghann Levian is also in the mix to get some innings in the circle.
“She (Levian) has some power, so I’m excited to see what she brings to our defense this year,” LaSalle said.
Seniors Lillie Ricketts (first base), Addison Stockton (second base), Hailey Mart (shortstop) and Alyssa Hill (third base) will be on the infield. Alexa Houston (left field), Haylie Schnake (centerfield) and Marissa Laxton (right field) will be the seniors in the outfield along with Ashlynn Helton (freshman) and Alexis Bailey (sophomore).
“The strength of my team relies heavily on our experience as a whole,” LaSalle said. “I have seven seniors who have all started varsity before this year. They have been successful across all of the sports they have played, and they take softball just as seriously. They finished off last year with a district title, and I know they are just as determined to do that again.”
Miller opens the regular season on Mar. 20 at home against Billings.
“Our identity is to compete. This group of girls are some of the most competitive players I’ve ever been around. No matter what the situation is, we want to be competing and success will come if that is our mindset,” LaSalle said. “My goal for the season is to win games. We want to improve our record and we want to go further than we did last year. I just want us to be improving all the time.”
