By Dana Harding (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
2024 proved to be a successful season for Sparta Softball and second-year head coach Jamie Holmes.
The Trojans finished with an 18-8 record, falling to Forsyth in the district championship game.
“I had no expectations walking into the 2024 season, and I like to think we did everything we were capable of,” Holmes said. “I think the biggest development moment was for them to learn to have confidence in themselves that they were capable.”
Holmes will need to find replacements for a quintet of graduated seniors.
“This group was an incredible group all throughout their career,” Holmes said. “They worked hard, had fun and were a group for the young ones to look up to.”
Sparta will be led by a talented senior duo in Addie Humble and Layne Forgey.
Humble, an all-conference, all-district and all-region pitcher, returns after throwing all 145 innings for the Trojans last season.
“Addie Humble will bring a year of experience at the varsity level in the circle after a breakout season last year,” Holmes said. “She is more excited than ever to take on her senior season, and I know she will do a great job.”
Forgey, an all-district infielder, is expected to switch positions in 2025.
“(Forgey) is a very talented athlete who the girls look to who I think will do a great job moving over from second to shortstop and lead our infield who has lots of varsity experience,” Holmes said.
Senior designated player Erica Todd and junior utility Sydney Willis also return to the lineup.
“Erica Todd did an excellent job last year stepping into her own and earning a spot in the lineup, and we are hoping we can get her bat hot again for her senior season,” Holmes said. “Sydney Willis is a team player and will do anything for her team. She played multiple positions for us last season and being one of the older ones, will be a great leader holding down the hot corner. Good chance she’ll be seen behind the dish.”
Holmes also expects a talented group of varsity newcomers to step in and compete for playing time this season.
“We are looking for our group of sophomores Addison Finney (OF), Raylee Dorman (P/UT), Claire Rains (IF/OF), Addison Kessinger (OF) and freshmen Paisley Phillips (IF/OF) and Charli Hyde (UT) to step up and fill some key roles,” Holmes said. “I am also keeping my eye on some of the other girls who may step up as well. I think it is going to take some time for them to gain some confidence at the varsity level, but I have full confidence that they will work hard and do a great job for us.”
With a host of new faces in the lineup, Holmes believes it may take some time early in the season to develop chemistry and confidence.
“The biggest X-factor heading into the softball season is growing confidence in our young, inexperienced players and not allowing our experienced players to not feel too much pressure,” Holmes said. “We are going to be very young and inexperienced this year so it will take some time to find a lineup that best works for us to see who steps up.”
Fortunately for the Trojans, plenty of experience returns to the circle with the senior Humble.
“We are returning our pitcher, Addie Humble, from last season and we are looking for her to pick up where she left off last season,” Holmes said. “We are looking for sophomore Raylee Dorman to step up and gain some confidence in the circle for us this year. She has all the potential to be able to help us in varsity games.”
While Sparta will be young and relatively inexperienced heading into the spring campaign, Holmes believes team chemistry should get a huge boost from an abundance of multi-sport athletes in the lineup.
“I would say that our biggest strength is the fact that the girls are a family,” Holmes said. “They know they can trust each other on the field because most of them have played other sports (basketball and volleyball) together with each other already this year.”
Sparta opens its season March 21 with the Summit Conference Tournament
