By Chris Parker
Cassville softball will be led by a quartet of seniors coming off a 14-14 season.
Those four seniors are: Alyssa Whisenhunt, Macie Walker, Ashlynn Bryan and Kailey Artherton.
“Alyssa is our pitcher who will lead by example,” Cassville head coach Lori Videmschek said. “Macie is our left fielder or right fielder and has such a positive attitude. She is so good with our younger athletes. Kailey our centerfielder and Ashlynn our shortstop or third baseman bring working hard every pitch and working hard every day. These four seniors will set the tone for everyone else. They keep working hard and grind out hits and keep a positive attitude and control what they do on the field.”
Whisenhunt was the lone all-conference selection from that group. She was named second-team all-conference after she threw 66.2 innings with 29 strikeouts and a 4.31 ERA. At the plate, she hit .348 with 22 singles.
Walker hit .263 with a .391 on-base percentage. Bryan hit .292 with a .413 on-base percentage. Artherton played in just six games last year and will compete for more innings this year.
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Freshman Aubrey Stoufer and junior Taylor Smith will also be in the mix to pitch.
Sophomores Elly Ramaeker and Kalee Lowe will be behind the plate at catcher. Lowe earned second-team all-conference honors on the infield last year. She hit .360 tying for the team-high in RBI with 25. Ramaeker hit .323 with 16 RBI.
Around the infield expect to see Bryan (shortstop or third base), Lowe (third base when not catching), Kyler Hayward (shortstop, third base or second base), Lauren Sparkman (second base) and Whisenhunt and Stoufer at first base.
Sparkman could also see time in the outfield along with Walker, Artherton, Kyla Bowling and Aleigha Bryan.
“I feel like our kids are ready to compete in the Big 8 and for a district championship. Last year we got second in districts behind a very good Rogersville team. They are hungry and ready to go. We had a very good summer, so I’m expecting then to step up and be ready to go,” Videmschek said. “I feel if we can compete in the circle and defensively step up, we will do well this season. I know we are fairly young, and we might have a few growing pains early on but I expect us to be ready at districts.”
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Cassville will travel to Bolivar for a jamboree with the host Liberators, Branson and Aurora before opening the season on Aug. 26 and 27 at the Morrisville Tournament.
“My overall expectation is set high,” Videmschek said. “I expect us to come out and compete every day and every pitch. I feel our pitchers will need to throw with a purpose and our defense make the routine plays. I tell the kids all the time keep it simple. When we over think too much we second guess what we are doing offensively and defensively. Just play the game and compete each pitch and everything else will fall into play. Just keep it simple. With our schedule this year, I feel we can build off what we did last year. Softball at Cassville is getting better and the kids have bought into what our coaching staff is wanting. We have a chance when you believe and when you believe in each other.”
