By Michael Cignoli (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
The Branson softball team caught fire at the end of the 2022 season — and it is still burning.
After going winless against Central Ozark Conference opponents, a young group of Pirates scored 37 runs in their final two regular-season games and played their way into the district championship game. They finished as the runner up to Camdenton, but the late-season showing has coach Josh McKee feeling optimistic about what the program can do this fall.
“It was a great experience for them to reach the district championship with a lineup that was so young,” McKee said. “I think that it lit a fire in them, and they liked playing in the big game.”
The Pirates return eight starters from the 2022 squad that finished 16-18 — the program’s highest single-season win total since 2017.
“I feel like last year was a huge step in the right direction for our program,” McKee said. “It showed the girls they can play with anyone, and it also showed them what kind of focus and preparation they need to have on a daily basis for each game.”
McKee noted that the majority of those returners have been multi-year starters, so there’s no shortage of candidates for leadership roles. That will help the Pirates fill the few — but significant — holes created when the Class of 2023 graduated last spring.
“There are always a lot of unanswered questions going into each season,” McKee said. “We will have to wait for a few weeks into the season to get some of these answers. The biggest challenge every season is finding the right equation that works (for) that particular team and getting everybody where they need to be to be successful.”
Three of those graduates – Sierra Dailey, Ally Dicken and LeAnne Glenn – earned some form of postseason honors in 2022, with Dailey earning her second career all-state selection.
Dailey, who rewrote the school’s hitting record books, also threw the majority of the team’s varsity innings during her senior year.
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Now junior Kaleah Morrison and sophomore Kallie Hall will split pitching duties.
“For them to be successful they have to be able to locate their fastball and be able to throw their secondary pitches at any time,” McKee said. “They have shown a lot of growth over the past couple seasons and have already pitched in some varsity games.”
Offensively, the team will look for junior third baseman/catcher Sadie Lampe to build on her breakout season. She led the team with six home runs and drove in 36 runs, earning spots on the all-region and all-district teams.
“She has played a lot of softball this summer and has looked really good in the cage,” McKee said. “She is a lot of fun to watch at the plate and I’m excited to see her growth this season. She is a solid defensive infielder and can play any position that you put her at.”
Junior shortstop Jocelyn McQueen also earned all-district honors in 2022.
“Jocelyn is a solid defensive player,” McKee said. “You always pay attention to her when the ball is hit her way. She is a lot of fun to watch play defense.”
Senior catcher Kylynn Hall is the only Class of 2024 grad who started for Branson last fall.
“She has improved a lot since last season,” McKee said. “She has hit the weight room really hard and has worked on her game as a whole during the offseason. She is a solid defensive catcher and her bat is coming around each week.”
Jerzi Yacko will be entering her third year as the team’s starting first baseman.
“She has put up some good summer numbers and is looking for it to carry over her junior year,” McKee said. “She has a lot of potential and upside. She could have a big junior season.”
The Pirates also have a trio of returning sophomores who made key contributions as freshmen. Second baseman Brookyn Davis, infielder/outfielder Savi Engel and pitcher/utility player Kallie Hall should be even better this fall.
“I think our biggest strength this season will be experience,” McKee said. “Every starter has at least one year of varsity experience under their belt. Our strength coach Matt Nelson has done a great job with these girls over the past year and the players are starting to see the results of the weight room carry over to the field.”
McKee added “a handful” of former junior varsity players and rising freshmen would also have the opportunity to earn playing time.
“It’s all about who can perform and get the job done when their number is called,” McKee said. “Whoever can rise to the occasion will get the opportunity.”
Following an Aug. 22 jamboree at Cassville, the Pirates will open the regular season at the Aurora Kickoff Classic on August 25. Their first home game is scheduled for Aug. 31 against Logan-Rogersville, while their first conference game is set for September 5 against Ozark.
“Playing in the Central Ozark Conference is the biggest challenge of every season that you head into,” McKee said. “Every school in the conference is very good. Each night you know you are going to go against great players and coaches. You have to bring your best every night in order to compete in the conference. With that being said, it prepares you to make a run in the postseason every season with the quality competition that you play on a regular basis.”
