By Pat Dailey (For OzarkSportsZone.com)
Warsaw coach Megan Daleske is emphasizing the importance of her players making the most of every practice and every game, as the Lady Wildcats try to improve on last season’s 21-7 record.
“We have high expectations for the team, but we want to make sure to take the season one practice and one game at a time,” Daleske said. “Last year, we started the season hot and just didn’t see the growth and adjustments we would like offensively. The goal this year would be to see some new players crack the lineup and make a big impact. We want to continue to improve throughout the season and be playing our best softball by the post-season.
“The girls have high expectations every day and the culmination of that will hopefully lead us to our long-term post-season goals,” she added. “We have a large group of underclassmen and their leadership and knowledge really helps us keep practices high tempo. We don’t want to overlook any game or opponent. We have several girls on the team with varsity experience, so our expectations are that we enter big games with more maturity and confidence.”
Warsaw’s 28 games last season almost doubled the number of contests the Lady Wildcats had the previous two years, when they played 15 games in 2022 and 18 in 2021.
The added games tested the durability of Class 2 All-State First-Team pitcher Brylee Brewster. She didn’t have many easy outings, either. Warsaw played 18 games against teams with a winning record.
“Last year was a bit of a challenge with 28 games because Brylee pitched nearly all of them in their entirety,” Daleske said. “This year we have a few more arms that we are planning to take some innings.”
Brewster gave notice of the kind of pitcher she can be while tying Warsaw’s single-game school strikeout record with 20 K’s at the Buffalo Tournament.
“She really showed that she can bear down and dominate in big games,” Daleske said. “I expect her to continue to be a team leader with her play. Brylee has improved over the last two years by gaining confidence and maturity in tight games.”
Hailey Ferguson, Briana Fellers and Sara Miller will help take some of the pitching duties away from Brewster.
Warsaw welcomes back middle infielders Haylee Cobb and Olivia Strange.
“Last season Haylee played shortstop for us and played a key role in our offense,” Daleske said. “Olivia battled an injury most of the season and fought through pain to stay in the lineup. We really needed her defensively because she is a sound second baseman. We are hoping both girls will continue to fill their leadership roles and tighten up our defense behind Brylee.”
Catcher Tanna Howe is a bright sophomore star. She was a Class 2 All-State Second-Team selection as a freshman.
“Tanna had a phenomenal freshman year behind the plate and at-bat,” Daleske said. “Her love is for the middle infield and we are hoping freshmen Mady Riemund and Sara Miller will be able to do some catching for us this season as well.”
In all, Warsaw has its Nos. 1-6 hitters back in Addison Sherill, Cobb, Howe, Brewster, Carly Price and Jaylen McCullick.
The Lady Wildcats also have returnees in Autumn Walton and Hayley Ferguson.
Reimund, Miller and Elizabeth Winters headline a freshman class Daleske is high on.
“We have a large incoming freshman class with a lot of talent,” she said. “Our middle school softball program has helped us to hit the ground running with practices and the freshmen are competing for positions. We will likely see freshmen Sara, Elizabeth and Mady fighting for starting spots in the infield. We have several players that will be fighting to crack the varsity roster in the outfield this season, including some promising freshman talent.”
Warsaw will not have a jamboree. The Lady Wildcats will open at the Harrison (Arkansas) Lady Ozark Classic March 15-16 and will also play in tournaments at Adrian and Buffalo, as well as the Ozark Highlands Conference Tournament.
