By Chris Parker
Cassville softball returns six starters from last season’s 16-win team. The Wildcats will be led by junior Kyler Hayward and lone senior Taylor Smith.
“Kyler is a junior and will be playing shortstop. She is our vocal leader on the field,” Cassville head coach Lori Videmschek said. “Taylor is our only senior and will be one of our pitchers. Both these two girls have such a positive attitude and are always talking and keeping the girls ready to play. They keep everyone focused and loose in the dugout. They both work extremely hard and lead by example.”
Sophomore Aubrey Stoufer will lead the pitching staff. Taylor went down with an injury early in the season last year but has worked her way back. Freshman Tomi Blankenship is a lefty who could see innings. Sophomore Joei Blankenship gives Cassville a fourth option in the circle.
Stoufer hit a team-best .405 batting average at the plate with 30 runs scored and 23 RBI. She also threw 59 innings with 36 strikeouts. Those numbers helped her earn second-team all-conference honors as a pitcher and first-team all-conference as an infielder.
Juniors Kalee Lowe and Elly Rameaker will share catching duties. Lowe earned second-team all-conference honors last season after hitting .372 with 28 runs scored and 28 RBI.
“Kalee did the biggest part of our catching last year. (She) receives the ball well and has a tremendous arm and a great bat. When Kalee is not catching, she will see time at third base,” Videmschek said. “Elly does a great job receiving the ball but does an outstanding job blocking the ball. She will catch most of our junk ball pitchers. Elly also brings a great bat to the plate and also is my starting second baseman.”
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Sophomore Tyra Sturgell and junior Aleigha Bryan will see time at third base. Junior Lauren Sparkman will play first base. Kyla Bowling (junior center field), Aleigha Bryan (junior right field), Tyra Sturgell (sophomore right field), Neveah Johnson (sophomore left field) and Kierstan Fare (sophomore left field) will look for time in the outfield.
Bowling earned second-team all-conference honors in the outfield. She hit .330 with 26 runs scored and a team-high 13 stolen bases.
The defensive lineup will be a strength for Cassville.
“We will have a lot of speed, but defense is one of our biggest strengths. I was really impressed with our younger kids. They stepped up and competed really well,” Videmschek said.
While the defense will be strong, Videmschek will look for the offense and pitching to find consistency.
“Our pitching and hitting has got to be consistent,” Videmschek said. “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 Seneca team. They are hungry and ready to go. We had a very good summer so I’m expecting them to step up and be ready to go.”
Cassville will host a jamboree on Aug. 22 with Bolivar, Branson and Aurora. The Wildcats open the regular season on Aug. 25 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 routine plays. I tell the kids all the time to 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 with 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 wants. We have a chance when you believe and when you believe in each other.”
