By Dana Harding (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
2023 proved to be another successful season for Carthage softball, continuing an upward trend of five-straight seasons with at least 18 wins under longtime head coach Stephanie Ray.
“We finished last season 18-16, losing 1-0 to Ray-Pec in the second round of districts,” Ray said. “There were times we struggled offensively and defensively throughout the year, but our girls are gritty competitors. They still continued showing up daily and putting in the work because they wanted to show everyone that wasn’t who they were. That was evident with how we finished the 2023 season.”
Ray hopes to build on her program’s recent success, and has high expectations heading into the fall campaign with a bevy of returning talent and experience.
“Even though we graduated three from last year (Brooklynn Dolon-Main, Shelby Hegwer and Alexis Smith), we still have nine returners who played in a lot of games at the varsity level,” Ray said. “We have a fairly strong senior class this year who have put in the time during the off-season and summer to improve every aspect of their game. We look for all six to make some huge contributions this fall.”
Five of those six return to the lineup in Addie Wallace, Ashlyn Brust, Jenna Calhoon, Lexa Youngblood and Aven Willis.
Wallace, a pitcher, recorded a 16-13 record in 171 innings with a 3.23 ERA and 129 strikeouts.
“Addie did a great job leading us on the mound last season,” Ray said. “She is very composed under pressure and can handle any situation thrown her way. Our defense sees this and feels very comfortable playing behind her. Addie is very disciplined and a leader on the mound. She does a great job getting ahead in counts and doesn’t issue a lot of free passes. We are excited to see her out there leading us from the mound as a senior.”
Brust, a shortstop, hit .271 last season with 26 hits, 18 walks and 13 stolen bases.
“Ashlynn is a super athletic kid who has tons of heart and grit,” Ray said. “She’s a young lady who has great speed out of the box and on the bases and is always looking for ways to put pressure on the defense. Ashlyn has a great eye at the plate and always puts the ball in play which makes her a great leadoff hitter for us. Defensively, Ashlyn is gritty and not afraid to get dirty. She has been working hard on faster transitions on the infield.”
Calhoon, a third baseman, hit .337 with 3 home runs and 18 runs batted in as a junior.
“Jenna is entering her third year as our third baseman,” Ray said. “She has quick hands and a lot of pop in her bat, and we look for her to help lead our offensive attack this fall. Jenna is solid at third and reads the bunt well. She has a cannon for an arm and can whip it across the infield. She also possesses the ability to lay down bunts in crucial situations.”
Youngblood, a center fielder, hit .345 with 4 home runs, 22 runs batted in and 10 stolen bases last season.
“Lexa found herself in several different spots in our lineup last year,” Ray said “At times we used her as the leadoff, as well as in the heart of our order. She is capable of driving balls over the fence, as well as legging out infield hits. Lexa will be our everyday centerfielder and leader of the outfield. She came up with some huge plays last year with big catches and throwing out runners at the plate. Her speed will allow us the ability to do a lot of things offensively and defensively this year.”
Willis, a left fielder, hit .333 last season with 29 hits and 16 stolen bases.
“Aven spent the season last year as our DP,” Ray said. “She is a lefty who is capable of laying down a bunt, slapping a grounder through the infield or driving one to the gaps in the outfield. Aven is one of the fastest girls we have on our team. We look for her to maybe transition to the leadoff role this season and help set the table for what is to come after. She has developed into a consistent outfielder, adding even more speed to what is already out there.”
Juniors Lottie Youngblood and Jaycee Bayless also return for the Tigers.
Lottie Youngblood, a second baseman and pitcher, hit .304 with 2 home runs and 29 runs batted in last season.
“Lottie is another kid on our team who is super athletic and can play pretty much any position on the field,” Ray said. “She is a strong middle infielder who will also receive plenty of opportunities on the mound this fall. Lottie has a lot of pop as well as speed on the base paths. We look for her to drive in a lot of runs this season.”
Bayless, a first baseman, hit .258 with 8 runs batted in as a sophomore.
“Jayce has tons of power at the plate and is one of the strongest kids we have on our team,” Ray said. “She stepped in after a big injury and gained experience for this year.”
Sophomores Emmy Stark (.231 BA, 1 HR) and Alizabeth Willis (11 SB) round out Carthage’s returning corps.
“Emmy is super athletic and versatile,” Rays said. “She can be used on the infield, in the outfield, as well as on the mound. Her bat is really starting to come around. Emmy has tons of speed and will be another option we can utilize throughout the season.
“Last year, Alizabeth gained some valuable varsity experience in the outfield as our flex as well as a courtesy runner. She has tons of speed, which makes her a valuable asset on the base paths for us.”
Ray also expects a trio of varsity newcomers to compete for playing time this fall in senior catcher/outfielder Ali Wicklund, junior outfielder Abbie Bardon and sophomore infielder/catcher Kaytlin Olinger.
“Ali has spent the last three years catching at the JV level,” Ray said. “She has moved to the left side full time and has proven to be a great contact hitter capable of moving and driving in lots of runs. Abbie brings consistency in all aspects of the game and is a team first player, while Kaytlin brings power (whether it be at the plate or her arm while catching) and could eat up some innings for us behind the plate or in the DP role.
“The girls are excited to get back on the field in August after taking a few weeks off before the first day of practice,” Ray said. “We have the capability to apply pressure on other defenses with our speed. I think if we approach this season one game at a time, we could still finish the season in the top half of the conference and make a run towards the end of the season and into districts.”
In the circle, Wallace and Lottie Youngblood will anchor the Carthage defense and pitch the lion’s share of innings this season.
“We are returning all of our pitching options from last year with no new additions,” Ray said. “We are hoping the different styles of pitching between Addie and Lottie could really pack a 1-2 punch and keep opposing hitters off balance. Emmy Stark is our 3 rd pitcher who I am excited to watch develop. She will help eat up some innings on the mound for us at the JV level, but I won’t rule her out for some innings on the mound at the varsity level as well.”
At the plate, the Tigers’ speed will be able to pressure defenses into mistakes as long as the team’s overall plate discipline continues to develop.
“Our ability to limit strikeouts at the plate will be key,” Ray said. “This year we will have the option to throw a little bit of everything out there all while utilizing our natural speed. We have several girls that have begun to develop some power as well.”
Following an Aug. 27 home jamboree, Carthage opens its season Aug. 30 in the Morrisville Tournament.
