By Chris Parker
Jasper softball has made back-to-back appearances in the Class 1 final four. The Lady Eagles were state runner-up two years ago and finished fourth last season.
There is a good amount of talent returning for Jasper this season, but the Lady Eagles will have a new pitcher in the circle.
“We will have a lot of depth,” Jasper head coach Justin Sentlinger said. “We will have around 12 girls who have all had experience on the varsity level, as well as the talent to produce on the field. We will look for our offense to carry the load early in the year, while we are working out some of the kinks that comes from switching positions.”
Senior leadership will be key for Jasper as the team aims for another deep postseason run.
“We will be relying heavily on our seniors for leadership this year. We will have a group of five seniors who have all had varsity experience. They are Livia Dumm, Annleigh Sentlinger, Bri Haddock, Taylor Hinds, and Madelyn Hatfield,” Coach Sentlinger said. “They all have the experience coming back after making to the final four two years in a row. We will look for them to keep us together and set an example for the underclassmen to follow.”
Dumm returns behind the plate at catcher where she was named second-team all-state last season. She hit .462 with a 1.185 OPS in 2023 with a team-high 66 runs scored and nine stolen bases. Haddock will also see some time catching as well as seeing time around the infield after she hit .333 with 34 RBI and 36 runs scored last season.
Emersyn Bass will hold down first base coming off a first-team all-state selection on the infield last season. Bass hit .551 with a 1.273 OPS last year. She drove in 40 runs and scored 42 more.
Annleigh Sentlinger along with Paige Sentlinger, Aspen Lehman and Crystal Smith will also see time on the infield.
The outfield will feature Hinds and Hatfield along with Alivea Roberts (sophomore), Chloe Storm (sophomore), Addison Atnip (junior) and Smith. Hinds drove in a team-high 45 runs last year and scored 33 more.
In the circle, all-district shortstop Shiloh Storm will get most of the innings this season. She will be backed up by Chloe Storm who pitched on the junior varsity level last season.
“We have to come together as one unit and believe in ourselves,” Coach Sentlinger said. “We will have a different look, and a different philosophy from the years past, but as of right now the girls are buying in, and I really expect great things out of them. If the girls can all come together and realize their full potential, it will be a successful season.”
Jasper opens the season Mar. 15-16 at the Joplin Area Tournament hosted by Purdy.
“I expect them to come and just play hard,” Coach Sentlinger said. “I expect them to give their maximum effort at all times and realize that mistakes are going to happen. They need to learn to play without fear, and just be aggressive at all times, whether that be in the field, in the circle, in the box, or on the base paths. They also need to know that this is a game and it’s supposed to be fun. If you are not having fun with what you are doing, success won’t follow.”
