By Chris Parker
Buffalo softball has a new head coach entering its fifth season as a spring program. Former Fair Grove head coach Tara Whetzell takes over this season. She was the head coach at Fair Grove for eight seasons where she posted a 90-69 overall record with a pair of conference and district titles to go with a third-place finish at state in 2023.
She inherits a program coming off a 13-12 season with five varsity starters returning in juniors Leah White (pitcher), Brooklyn Righter (catcher) and Addie Armstrong (centerfield) along with seniors Olyvia Williams (first base) and Madi Sapp (designated player).
White enters her third year starting in the circle.
“Her strongest asset as a pitcher is that she’s built to throw for speed,” Whetzell said. “She has natural velocity and leadership amongst our team. Her teammates look up to her in the circle.”
Righter is a key leader at catcher.
“Brooklyn Righter will lead us behind the plate. Her leadership, calm demeanor, and framing capabilities are what make her stand out,” Whetzell said. “The relationship between her and Leah White is the most important part of what makes them a dynamic duo.”
The lineup is wide open entering Whetzell’s first season.
“Going into this season as my first year at Buffalo, I do not have an infield or outfield lineup,” Whetzell said. “The competition is wide open, work ethic is expected, and team culture will be high on our list. We will look at our players to do a lot of little things right. We will see where it gets us.”
This team will have several strengths.
“Our strengths this season will be a combination of our sticks, the leadership and relationship in the circle and behind the plate, and developing a new culture,” Whetzell said. “We are working on improving our mentality on and off the field. That’s a huge part of sports. Our biggest thing is working to improve our relationships as athletes. When the girls jump on board to build culture events like Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Galentine’s, that’s what it takes to begin a path to success.”
Buffalo opens the season Mar. 24-26 at the Mt. Vernon Tournament.
“This is my first year with the girls, so it is going to take time to learn what our identity is and for the girls, well I’m just different. It will take some give and take and some tough love to build what we want to build, but I know it’s there,” Whetzell said. “Our overall expectations will be to buy in to the new, work hard, and be sponges. The rest will work itself out.”
