By Chris Parker
Lockwood softball has improved its record each of the past four seasons up to 13 wins last season, which is the most for the team in its time as a spring program.
This season, 14 players will make up the roster facing down a tough schedule.
“We have 14 girls out this season with six players returning from last year’s season that ended with a 13-11 record. Every player will have an important role on this team,” Lockwood head coach Bobbi Abbiatti said. “Each year this group improves on their wins. Last year they made it to the district championship game. We plan to be over .500 again this year. Our schedule is a very challenging schedule since we are the smallest school in our conference. This provides us with some very competitive games. Therefore, our record doesn’t always show our talent due to the larger, more competitive schools that we play.”
One senior and five sophomores return with experience from last season. That senior is Mekenzie Weimer.
“Mekenzie Weimer played second base for the Lady Tigers last year and will be expected to step into the role as leader on the field with her four years of varsity experience,” Abbiatti said.
Kallie Griffin returns to the circle for her sophomore season. She was second-team all-conference and first-team all-district and all-region as a freshman.
The rest of the returning sophomores include Reese Whitesell (first base/outfield), Jessie Thieman (third base/outfield), Savannah Houtby (outfield) and Gracyn Clawson (utility).
Lockwood has an incoming freshman class of six that includes Peyton Lasater, Asa Lasater, Molly Hedeman, Hadley Abbiatti, Whitney Sangster, and Elizabeth Baugh.
Senior Kalsee Garoutte and sophomore Adriana Price are newcomers to the program.
“The freshman group coming in is very quick and athletic which will help increase our aggressiveness on the bases and ability to cover the field,” Coach Abbiatti said. “As a team, we need to become more disciplined at the plate and make sure that we are consistently getting the ball in play to allow our base runners more opportunities.”
Lockwood opens the season Mar. 21-22 at the Joplin Area Tournament hosted by Purdy.
“We would like to be seen and remembered as a team that doesn’t quit and plays until the end of each game,” Coach Abbiatti said. “We want to be the team that you can’t count out even when we are behind. We always have high expectations in practice and in games. Consistency and drive in practice is what will win us ball games.”
