By Chris Parker
There are many talented softball players across our coverage area. Below are some of the softball players to watch this season.
NOTE: The athletes are listed in alphabetical order.
SOFTBALL CLASS & DISTRICT ASSIGNMENTS – CLICK HERE
TEAM-BY-TEAM FALL PREVIEWS – CLICK HERE
Reese Anderson, Willard
Anderson anchors the Willard lineup out of the leadoff spot. She hit .430 with 49 total hits and 20 doubles while scoring 43 runs and stealing 14 bases as a junior. Her efforts landed her spot on the Class 4 Second-Team All-State team and a unanimous First-Team All-COC honor at shortstop.
Jenna Calhoon, Carthage
Calhoon is a strong defensive player who earned first-team all-conference honors last season. She hit .445 with five home runs and 37 RBI a year ago. The junior coming off a torn ACL from last winter, but that won’t affect her hitting or defensive ability at third base.
Audrey Carlton, Ozark
Carlton’s combination of power and speed make her a force at the plate coming off a season where she hit .336 with six home runs and 36 RBI. Her speed makes her one of the area’s top outfielders. She earned second-team all-conference and first-team all-district honors last season.
Jaylee Daggett, Weaubleau
Daggett can flat out hit. She hit .532 with a 1.399 OPS with 33 RBI and 31 runs scored including six triples and 10 doubles last season. That line along with her defense and leadership at catcher helped her earn second-team all-state honors in Class 1.
Payton Eaton, Nevada
Eaton was a two-way star for Nevada last season. She threw over 200 innings in the circle posting a 2.40 ERA on her way to second-team all-state honors as a pitcher. At the plate, Eaton hit above .400 with 30 runs scored.
Jacie Frencken, McDonald County
Frencken was named the Big 8 Player of the Year last season after she posted a .510 batting average. She helped lead the Mustangs to a 23-10 record and also earned first-team all-region honors.
Beclynn Garrett, Neosho
Garrett was a force offensively on her way to all-conference and all-region honors. She hit .505 with 41 RBI, five home runs and 12 stolen bases. She will play shortstop in her junior season.
Taryn Hagardt, Kickapoo
The all-conference and all-district shortstop hit .398 with a 27 RBI for a 26-win Kickapoo team last season. She brings consistency and leadership to the infield.
Ella Heathman, Nevada
Heathman earned first-team all-state honors in Class 4 as a catcher last season. She hit .365 with 39 runs with five home runs. The junior also earned first-team all-region and all-conference honors.
Abby Jamros, Seneca
Jamros was a Day 1 start for Seneca in the circle as a freshman. She was named Class 3 Second-Team All-State as a pitcher and unanimous First-Team All-Big 8 as a utility player.
Allyssa Joyner, West Plains
Joyner enters her fourth year as a starter for West Plains returning as one of the Ozark Conference’s top pitchers. She was named first-team all-conference and all-region last season.
Autumn Kinnaird, Neosho
Kinnaird earned unanimous first-team all-conference and second-team all-region honors last season. She hit .505 with 33 RBI and five home runs. She brings a lot of speed with that power as evidenced by her 32 stolen bases.
Abby Kriete, Rolla
Kriete was one of just three freshmen named to the Class 4 All-State team. She was honored as a second-team all-state catcher. The sophomore was seemingly always on base last season with a .560 on-base percentage and 14 stolen bases.
Zoe Lockhert, Camdenton
Lockhert is one of the area’s top players coming off an all-state selection in Class 4. The outfielder was also named Ozark Conference Player of the Year and first-team all-region.
Abby Lowery, Jadyn Pankow & Bailey Ledford, Joplin
This trio makes the Joplin softball team go. They all hit between .438 and .443 last season. Ledford led the group at .443 with 21 RBI and 27 stolen bases. Lowery drove in 31 runs with a .441 batting average. Pankow hit .438 with eight doubles and 30 runs scored.
Natalie Morgan, Ozark
Morgan will be a leader for Ozark in many ways coming off all-region, all-conference and all-district honors. The junior catcher hit .404 with eight home runs and 26 runs batted in last season.
Maggie Painter, Morrisville
Painter returns to centerfield for the MCE Panthers coming off a third place finish in Class 1. She is a standout both defensively and at the plate where she hit .454 with 26 RBI and 44 runs scored. Painter earned first-team all-state honors last season.
Hailey Presley, Morrisville
Morrisville has big goals this season and Presley is at the center of all of them. The senior first-team all-state pitcher led the Panthers to third place in Class 3 with 265 strikeouts and a 1.45 ERA across 188 innings. She also hit .546 with eight home runs, 44 runs scored and 63 RBI.
Allison Scott, Kickapoo
Scott was a unanimous First-Team All-Ozark Conference pitcher last season and also was selected second-team all-region. She posted a 22-9 record in the circle with 217 strikeouts and a 2.92 ERA.
Sara Sweaney, Nixa
Sweaney is poised for a big year after Nixa graduated a lot of production from last season’s team. She was named first-team all-region as a catcher last season and also earned first-team all-conference honors. The senior is on the short list for the area’s best power hitter after she clubbed nine home runs with 39 RBI last season. She will play first base this season.
Cayden VonSande, Camdenton
VonSande earned her Class 4 All-State honors as a utility player, but it is in the circle where she really shines. She was named Ozark Conference Pitcher of the Year last season.
