By Michael Cignoli (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
If there’s one lesson the Marshfield softball team learned during the 2022 season, it’s the importance of every hit and every play.
The Blue Jays won 15 games last fall, a second consecutive strong season from an on-the-rise program that had won just 18 total games between 2018 and 2020.
But seven of their 16 losses were by two or fewer runs, meaning coach James McAnarney’s squad could easily be coming off a 22-win season — had things gone just slightly different.
Expect those games to favor Marshfield this fall.
“This year is a different story,” McAnarney said. “I feel we have learned from last year.”
Inexperience might have played a role in that close-game record, as the Blue Jays had just four players who had seen varsity action prior to the start of the 2022 season.
This year, they have eight returning starters — who have all been working on cutting down mistakes, playing better defense and making better decisions on the basepaths.
“I am looking forward to (seeing) how good we can be,” McAnarney said. “We had a lot of close games not go our way and I want to know if we can turn the close games into wins.”
Half of Marshfield’s returning starters earned postseason honors last fall.
Senior Halle Menzies was named to the all-conference and all-district teams.
“(She) has been a starter for me and led off the past two seasons,” McAnarney said. “She is a solid shortstop and I see her being one of the leaders in the dugout.”
Junior pitcher Kennedy Ross, sophomore outfielder Chloe Bateman and sophomore pitcher/outfielder Gabi Austin also earned all-district honors. Bateman and Ross were also all-Big 8 picks.
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“I feel Kennedy will be a force in the circle again this year,” McAnarney said. “She can also hit with power. Both Chloe and Gabi have developed into players that hit with power and average.”
Camryn Elliott, Taryn Mohn, Kayla Ward and Adyson Clark will also return.
Elliott is a do-it-all senior who has excelled in multiple different roles for the Blue Jays.
“She has pitched and played multiple positions for me the past two years,” McAnarney said. “She settled into third last year but will also see some time behind the plate this year.”
Mohn became the team’s starting second baseman as a freshman and should reprise that role in her sophomore campaign.
“I feel she has gotten stronger and her experience will be a big asset,” McAnarney said.
Ward, a junior, and Clark, a senior, split time at first base last fall.
“I am looking forward to (seeing) how they improved from last year,” McAnarney said.
With so many returning players, varsity newcomers will have to be particularly impressive to earn a spot in the lineup. But there are several Blue Jays who could do just that.
Freshman Kendyl Dolan “has shown she can hit and play multiple positions,” McAnarney said, and projects to join Ross, Elliott and Austin in the team’s pitching rotation.
Fellow freshman Sophie Hall is a “quick and good defensive outfielder,” who could make an immediate impact, McAnarney said, while classmate Madelynn Beckner could earn some innings at catcher.
Audrey O’Dell missed her sophomore season with an injury, but is now a junior who can be slotted into several different spots in the lineup.
“I believe she will have a bounce-back year,” McAnarney said.
The coach also touted hard-working senior Natalie Orphan, who could play her way into the outfield.
“I feel we will have good depth that will push everyone to be better,” McAnarney said.
Following an August 22 jamboree at Camdenton, the Blue Jays will open the season at the Halfway Tournament on August 25. Their home opener is August 31 against McDonald County.
