By Dana Harding (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
Nixa softball enjoyed another successful campaign in 2022.
The 23-9 Eagles achieved a second-straight 20-win season, falling to Ozark in the district championship.
“The 2022 season started with high expectations coming off the quarterfinal run from ‘21,” longtime head coach Matt Walker said. “We finished the season going 26-7, setting a new school record in wins in a season. We had a great season but did not achieve the goals we had set out to get.”
Nixa’s departed graduates include all-state pitcher Maddy Meierer, who recorded 151 innings, 181 strikeouts and 18 wins as a senior.
A quartet of starters return to lead the Eagles this season in Sara Sweaney, Rylee Harper, Paige Garetson and Jalyn Mabe.
Sweaney, a senior first baseman/catcher, received all-region, all-conference and all-district honors as a junior.
“Sara had a big season last year with 9 home runs and 39 RBIs,” Walker said. “She, defensively, does a great job at first base and will hit at the top of our lineup.”
Harper, a junior outfielder, received all-district honors in 2022.
“Rylee saw her first varsity time last year,” Walker said. “She hit .364 with 24 RBIs and 23 runs, and she will also hit towards the top of the lineup this season.”
Garetson, a junior outfielder and pitcher, will look to anchor the Eagles pitching staff this season.
“Paige hit leadoff for us last year hitting .336 with an on base of .411,” Walker said. “She also pitched last season going 7-2 and a save against some really good teams. She will see more innings this fall.”
Mabe, a sophomore second baseman, hit .464 with 12 runs in 14 games as a freshman filling in due to injuries.
Seniors Taylor Melton, Natalia Pharris and Lily Wooten also return to the varsity lineup.
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With open spots in the lineup, opportunities exist for newcomers to step up and make an impact at the varsity level heading into the fall campaign.
“We have several girls that will compete for varsity spots this season with the graduation of five starters,” Walker said. “All the sophomores and juniors have proven themselves at the JV level, so the ones that can make the step up to varsity pitching will be the ones that find themselves in the varsity lineup.”
Walker expects Bri Chilton, Baylie Shockly, Abigail Weitzel, Rachel Clemenson, Grace West, Maylee Harper, Jayleen Hunter, Mika Livingston, Jensen McCoy, Shelby Hicks and Jordan Phillips to compete for varsity playing time this season.
With plenty of young, inexperienced talent on the roster, Walker expects his lineup to be a work in progress early in the season.
“For us, our biggest issue will be finding the right group of starters that give us the best chance at winning,” Walker said. “We have a very solid group of young players who will push the older girls and, possibly, find themselves in the varsity lineup.”
In the circle, Garetson will get the early call; however, Walker expects Chilton and Hicks to see time as well.
For Nixa’s recent success to continue, Walker believes his young pitching staff must rise to the challenge and his defense must be able to make routine plays on a consistent basis.
“We have a lot of question marks in our lineup right now but I do expect to see girls who will battle at the plate and force the defense to make plays,” Walker said. “We will be young, as varsity experience goes, but we should get better every day. Some girls may have to play some new positions and some younger girls will need to step up.”
Nixa opens its season Aug. 25 at Kickapoo.
