By Chris Parker
Wheatland softball won 17 games last season and has the potential for even more this year with eight starters returning from 2022.
First-team all-conference seniors Taylor Gant and Chloe Pearson lead the returning players. Gant plays first base and hit .507 with 31 RBI and 38 runs scored as a junior. Pearson will be behind the plate at catcher after hitting .412 with 27 RBI, 36 runs scored, 13 doubles and 17 stolen bases.
Sophomore Jaycee Dampier returns to the circle after throwing all but one inning for Wheatland last season. She won 17 games with a 3.04 ERA and 108 strikeouts. At the plate, she hit .429 with 27 RBI and 21 runs scored. Dampier was named second-team all-conference in her freshman season.
Sophomore Charley Crouch could also see time pitching. She will play shortstop when not pitching. Last season, she hit .317 with 18 RBI and 18 runs scored.
Senior Hannah Roberts will play second base. She was named honorable mention all-conference after hitting .439 with 20 RBI and 18 runs scored.
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Freshman Kate Murphy and sophomore Taylor Rauscher will vie for time at third base.
Jaz’Myn Baldwin (senior), Bailey Kennedy (senior), Hannah Claunch (junior), Macy Pearson (sophomore), Alyssa Roberts (sophomore), Jayla Wilkerson (freshman) and Shelby Shaddox (freshman) are all in the mix for time in the outfield.
Baldwin did not play last fall but hit .373 with 18 RBI and 19 runs scored in 2021. Kennedy played mostly in the outfield and hit .254 with 11 RBI and 18 runs scored. Claunch was a breakout player last season with a .342 batting average and 14 runs scored. Pearson, who hit .250 with 11 runs scored, has made big improvements in the offseason. Roberts is a fast player who stole 11 bases. Wilkerson and Shaddox both had strong summers.
“We should be pretty decent,” Wheatland head coach Pat Dougherty said. “We have a couple of pitchers that will throw strikes and mix it up. Our defense should be pretty good. We have everyone back, except for one. Offensively, we should be able to score some runs, if we will swing the bats like we are capable.”
Wheatland will jamboree at Hermitage on Aug. 22 with the host Hornets and Humansville before opening the regular season Aug. 25-26 at the Humansville Tournament.
“Once again, we will expect to be in the mix and battle for conference and district titles,” Dougherty said. “Halfway will be very good again, as well as Weaubleau and Walnut Grove. It should be another exciting season in the Polk County League.”
