By Pat Dailey (For OzarkSportsZone.com)
An increase in depth has Lebanon coach Rob Selander optimistic the Lady Yellowjackets can up their streak of winning seasons to four.
This is Selander’s third season at Lebanon and he calls this his deepest team. His first two Lady Yellowjackets teams both won 16 games.
“The last two seasons we have been thin in most positions for backups and (that) creates complacency,” Selander said. “Competition is good for a team. It creates a fire for constant improvement. We finally have quality first-, second- and third-string players. We will be running a platoon-style system to get a lot of the young players varsity experience.
“We have a team full of players that will get the job done,” he added. “From 1-9, we have capabilities to make plays and create havoc on defenses. It will really have to be a team effort to be able to accomplish our goals. The strength of our team is going to be the upperclassmen accepting the talented underclassmen.”
Selander will have senior Kamryn Luthy and junior Kaylee Howerton share the pitching duties.
“Kam has been a solid piece of our success and continues to improve,” Selander said. “She will carry a majority of the pitching load, but has solid relief behind her. Kam and Kaylee should be a dynamic duo. Kaylee has worked really hard learning new pitches and pinpoint control. This will bring a winning recipe.”
Selander is counting on Luthy, Brook O’Cain, McKinley Rodden, Kameron Compton and Mia Gladden, all seniors, for leadership.
O’Cain is fresh from posting a .463 batting average and .674 slugging percentage a year ago. She had a dozen extra-base hits among her 44 hits on her way to being named an All-Ozark Conference Second-Team selection.
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Rodden hit .406 and Compton .325.
Lebanon hopes to take pride in being fundamentally-sound.
“The team has worked very hard on fundamentals, mental strength and becoming one as a team,” Selander said. “If they can play smart and do all the small things right, they will be a tough team to beat.”
Selander and his wife, assistant coach Jade Selander, have worked on upgrading Lebanon’s schedule. They feel it has been necessary, what with the Lady Yellowjackets having been assigned to play post-season ball in St. Louis against the likes of Wildwood and Marquette the past two years.
“This is our third year as coaches and every year it becomes more and more our team, our program,” Rob Selander said. “Since day one we increased the strength of schedule to try and compete in Class 5. It’s tough going up to St Louis (for post-season play) and compete against the arsenal of pitchers — just when you figure (one) out, here comes another quality pitcher.”
Lebanon’s non-conference dates include matchups with COC members Webb City, Nixa, Ozark, Branson, Republic and Willard.
