By Dana Harding (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
Joplin softball struggled a bit with injuries, inexperience and adversity during head coach Brenden Schneider’s second season at the helm.
The Eagles posted a 15-14 record, falling to Carthage in the district tournament.
“Last year we went 15-14 and played well in certain stretches but never could find a good rhythm,” Schneider said. “I think our biggest takeaway was we need to be a complete team. We thought we could bludgeon our way to victory with our bats but that’s just not something you can rely on. There will be games that you don’t hit and we struggled when that occurred.”
Schneider has reason for optimism this season, as a talented quintet of seniors return to lead the Eagles, including all-state center fielder Abby Lowery.
Lowery, an Arkansas Tech University commit, hit .490 last season with 12 home runs, 49 runs batted in and 19 stolen bases.
“Abby had an incredible year in 2023, eventually garnering unanimous all-state honors,” Schneider said. “She has been able to grow her game over the past three years and become a five-tool player. Abby led us in a lot of offensive categories last year and our expectations are for her to pick up right where she left off. She always shows up with a great attitude and energy. We expect her to lead on both sides of the ball.”
She’ll be joined by classmates Riley Kelly, Maria Loum, Libby Munn and Jadyn Pankow.
Kelly, a catcher, hit .347 in 2023 with 3 home runs and 19 runs batted in.
“Riley has been a rock behind the plate for us and only continues to improve her game,” Schneider said. “Last year she only allowed eight passed balls and did a great job converting to second base after we had some injuries. She is a vocal leader and does a great job building relationships with her pitchers and teammates. Her bat has seen steady growth every year and we don’t expect her to slow down. She takes an aggressive approach at the plate, always looking to do damage.”
Loum, a middle infielder, finished her junior year with a .353 average and 16 runs batted in.
“Maria has improved so much over the past three years,” Schneider said. “She has become a dynamic defensive player, and we look forward to watching her thrive as our shortstop. On offense, her contact has improved and her speed continues to make her a problem for opposing defenses.”
Munn, a shortstop and South Dakota State University commit, hit .360 with 3 home runs and 12 runs batted in. She will miss the 2024 season due to a knee injury.
“Libby got injured early last year and missed almost half the season,” Schneider said. “She was a solid bat for us that provided good power in the middle of our order. Unfortunately, she tore her ACL in track this spring and will miss her entire senior season; however, this hasn’t slowed Libby down as she has found a way to contribute positively from the dugout. Having such a talented and knowledgeable player around to help younger players learn is a blessing.”
Pankow, a first baseman, hit .473 last season with 6 home runs and 43 runs batted in.
“Jadyn has been one of our top contributors at the varsity level over the past three years, and we expect that to continue,” Schneider said. “She plays a great first base and has a positive, relaxed energy that she brings to the park every day. She brings a steadying presence to our team that helps us stay focused. She has decided to pursue rowing crew in college and currently has multiple division 1 offers.”
Three juniors also return to the lineup in Caelyn Bobski, Lily Glover and Ava Wolf.
Bobski, a pitcher, finished last season with 7 wins, a 5.63 ERA and 35 strikeouts.
“Caelyn had her first full year as a varsity pitcher last year as a sophomore,” Schneider said. “She has worked hard on her craft in the offseason and will be one half of our pitching staff. She does a great job of staying calm when things are going bad, she moves on quickly and that’s a great attribute to have as a pitcher. Caelyn has worked extremely hard to improve her pitches and we feel she will show significant improvement in 2024.”
Glover, a utility player, hit .244 in 2023 with 4 runs batted in.
Lily had to step into a big role as a sophomore last year when she became the varsity catcher playing half the season behind the plate,” Schneider said. Lily is someone that can play multiple positions and has good speed. She has worked hard all offseason to become a better player.”
Wolf, a pitcher and utility player, hit .309 last season with 1 home run and 16 runs batted in. In the circle, she recorded 8 wins, along with a 5.57 ERA and 52 strikeouts.
“Ava is someone who will find multiple ways to contribute this year,” Schneider said. “As well as playing outfield and first base she is one half of our pitching staff. She has seen growth as a pitcher, and we expect her to be a competitor in the circle. At the plate her ability to get on base is impressive, as she was second in quality at bats and third in walks last year. We look for her to be a tough out and solid bat for our lineup.”
Schneider also expects a trio of varsity newcomers to compete for playing time in junior outfielder Carlie Howard, sophomore utility Taylor Love and junior infielder Gracie Williamson.
With plenty of talent returning to the lineup, Schneider believes Joplin’s bats will be a team strength this season.
“Our biggest strength is definitely our offense,” Schneider said “Last year, we averaged eight runs a game ,which makes you feel like you are always going to have a chance to win. We feel confident that we can score from any point in our lineup. With the majority of our offensive producers returning, we are hoping to maintain a potent attack.”
In the circle, the Eagles will again look to Wolf and Bobski to carry the load.
“[Wolf and Bobski] threw every varsity inning for us last year and will be expected to do the same in 2024,” Schneider said. “They know the pressure that is on them and how crucial their role in the circle is, but they also have worked extremely hard to become better. We know that they will compete and that they want the ball. Asking them to compete as sophomores last year was a tall order and they’ll be better this year because of it. We’re excited to see how they’ve grown.”
For Joplin to take another step forward and contend for postseason success, Schneider believes defense will be a considerable x-factor heading into the fall campaign.
“Our biggest difference maker will be the pitching and defense,” Schneider said. “We need to be able to throw strikes and make the routine plays. If we can do that, we will find ourselves in a position to win lots of games. Last year we averaged 2.5 errors a game and allowed 96 unearned runs. That must improve if we want to win.”
Following an Aug. 27 jamboree at Carthage, Joplin opens the regular season Aug. 30 in the Aurora Kickoff Classic.
