By Pat Dailey (For OzarkSportsZone.com)
With Nevada having won a combined 51 games over the past two seasons and a Class 4 District 7 championship last season, coach Danny Penn is confident his Lady Tigers are as hungry for success as ever.
Penn doesn’t take for granted his players’ desire to win and win some more.
“One of the things that definitely makes my job easier is that the players are never content,” said Penn, who also coached Nevada’s baseball team to a district championship last school year. “They are always working to push themselves and get better. They know we have had good seasons the past 2-3 seasons, but are definitely hungry to have their best season yet.”
Pitcher Peyton Eaton is a prime example of Nevada’s refusal to rest on past laurels. Eaton is fresh from posting superlative numbers that include 163 strikeouts over 195 innings and a 1.47 ERA in the center circle, along with a .415 batting average, 44 hits, 54 RBIs and 41 runs scored.
“She has received All-Conference, All-District, and All-State accolades multiple years, but like the rest of our team, she is not content,” Penn said. “She is hungry to be even better. Peyton is excited for her senior year to be here. She has worked to expand her repertoire this summer, adding a couple of pitches. Now, as we work into the season, it will be vital that she is able to locate those pitches. While she can overpower some hitters, her demeanor in the circle and variety of pitches are huge for her.”
Also wanting to make her senior season special is catcher Ella Heathman. What a combo Eaton and Heathman have been. Heathman hit .429 with six home runs and 36 RBIs last season.
“One of the things that often goes unnoticed in Peyton’s success is how well Ella works for her behind the plate,” Penn said. “Ella does a great job of receiving and blocking balls. Peyton is confident she can throw any pitch in any situation because of the trust she has in Ella. Offensively, Peyton and Ella will probably hit 3-4 for us and be our major run producers. Both are talented hitters and complete players.”
Nevada also features veteran starters in senior second baseman Caylee Holcomb, senior shortstop Kaleiah Johnson, senior outfielder Mariska Buehler and junior third baseman Addison McInroy.
Last year, Holcomb hit .451, with 46 hits, 47 runs scored and 39 stolen bases, Johnson batted .356, with five home runs and 32 RBIs and McInroy collected 23 hits and 18 RBIs.
“Like Peyton and Ella, Caylee has started since she was a freshman and has tons of experience,” Penn said. “She will hit at the top of our lineup and be a primary table-setter, using her speed and instincts to wreak havoc on the bases. Kaleiah really burst onto the scene last year, gaining confidence both in the field and at the plate as the season progressed. Mariska is a huge glue player who will do anything she can to help the team. Addison really improved into a strong third baseman (last year). She has gotten stronger over the summer and has worked hard to improve her swing.”
Nevada receives a boost with the return of center fielder Hailey Hearting. She transferred to Nevada for her senior season, after previously playing for the Lady Tigers her freshman year.
“She has great instincts in the outfield and a powerful swing,” Penn said. “Like all of our other players, she is extremely coachable and truly wants to be great.”
Nevada welcomes aboard Halle Richmond, a senior who is out for softball for the first time and likely will be at first base.
“No doubt she will have some growing pains early in the season, but I know she will work hard to be the best player she can be,” Penn said. “She’s a very athletic player who has made tremendous improvements over the summer.”
The corner outfield spots will likely be a combination of Buehler and sophomores Kadence Warner and Kaniyah Johnson.
Naturally, Penn is thrilled to have so many experienced players.
“I think experience and hustle will be two of our biggest strengths,” Penn said. “We have a large number of seniors who have played a lot of softball. They have developed high softball IQs and know when they can use their aggressiveness to take an extra base, etc. They have also been through lots of tense moments and have succeeded in those moments, so they have confidence to know that no moment is too big.”
Penn is also pleased with Nevada’s combination of speed and power.
“We have speed with Caylee, Hailey, and Kaleiah. We have power with Ella, Peyton, Kaleiah, and Hailey,’ he said. “We also have some players that’ll likely hit at the bottom of our lineup that will put together tough at bats and really make a pitcher work.”
Nevada will jamboree at Carthage on August 27, before opening at the Morrisville Tournament Aug. 30-31.
“I don’t want to make any big predictions, but I think we have a lot of potential,” Penn said. “We are really excited to get this season started.”
