By Chris Parker
Nevada softball won the program’s third district title in four years last season going 20-11 overall. The season ended with a state quarterfinal loss to Platte County.
The key to Nevada softball’s success starts well before players reach the ninth grade.
“We’re fortunate to have some parents that are very knowledgeable about softball and have been willing to coach some of our youth teams,” Nevada head coach Danny Penn said. “They’ve done a good job of teaching the game to their daughters and other players. Our players buy into our program and do a good job of pushing themselves and each other to be their best.”
The Lady Tigers graduated Bailey Ast and Claire Pritchett from last season’s team. Ast was an all-state selection on the infield and is now playing at Crowder. Pritchett was named first-team all-conference on the infield.
Seven starters return for Nevada led by sophomore pitcher Peyton Eaton. Eaton earned second-team all-state honors as a freshman. She posted a 19-9 record with a 3.08 ERA and 108 strikeouts in 147.2 innings pitched.
“(Peyton) has grown up around softball and has an advanced maturity. She came into our program as a skilled pitcher, and our team did a nice job making plays behind her,” Penn said. “She is very even-keeled in the circle, while being extremely competitive. She doesn’t show any emotion and this keeps her from getting too high or low, which is great at such an important position. She is able to throw multiple pitches to any of the four corners of the strike zone. She’s been working to add another pitch to her arsenal and has added some velocity as well.”
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At the plate, Eaton hit .316 with 16 doubles, eight triples, 20 RBI and 18 runs scored.
Seniors Kirstin Buck and Teresa Dawn along with sophomore Ella Heathman will be team leaders.
Buck, a shortstop, was a second-team all-conference selection last year. She hit .398 with 10 doubles, four triples, 35 RBI and 31 runs scored. Dawn will be a utility player who had a .308 on-base percentage last year. Heathman was a second-team all-conference selection at catcher in her freshman season. She posted a .424 on-base percentage with eight doubles, 21 RBI and 23 runs scored.
Both Buck and Heathman could see time in the circle when Eaton is not throwing. Dawn will see some time at catcher.
Joining Buck on the infield will be junior Skyler Burns at first, sophomore Caylee Holcomb at second and sophomore Kaleiah Johnson and senior Caiden Blake at third. Burns was a second-team all-conference selection in the outfield on the strength of a .395 batting average with nine doubles, 21 RBI and 23 runs scored. Holcomb scored 25 runs last year with a .262 batting average. Johnson stole three bases as a courtesy runner last year.
The outfield lineup will feature Kara Phillips (junior centerfield), Hope Hearting (junior left field), Teresa Dawn (senior right field), Caiden Blake (senior right field) and Addison McInroy (freshman right field). Phillips hit .315 with 18 RBI, 24 runs scored and nine stolen bases on her way to second-team all-conference honors last year.
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Nevada returns a mostly balanced lineup, but replacing the leadership of the graduated seniors will be key.
“I feel like our athleticism and desire to get better are our biggest strengths. We’ve got speed and we’ve got some slug, which I think will allow us to be successful,” Penn said. “We graduated two starters that had been four-year varsity players. They leave some big shoes to be filled.”
Nevada will travel to Carthage for a jamboree on Aug. 23 with the host Tigers, Carl Junction and Joplin before opening the regular season on Aug. 26 and 27 at the Morrisville Tournament.
“We hope to compete for another district championship,” Penn said. “We have a big portion of our team back from last year’s squad; we just have to keep pushing ourselves to improve every day. If we do that, I have faith we’ll have a successful season.”
