By Shelley Ebbrecht
Expectations are soaring for the Fair Grove Lady Eagles softball team this spring. The team finished 18-8-1 last year and lost in the second round of district play eventual state champion Mount Vernon. Fair Grove returns six varsity starters and first-year coach Tara Whetzell said she expects this season to be unlike any other.
“In my opinion, there is no comparison,” Whetzell said. “Each season is different. We will continue to work hard, compete and set high goals individually and as a team.”
Whetzell took over as head softball coach this past summer after voluntarily serving alongside previous coach Stacy Beckley for two years. It will be Kasey Sekulic’s rookie year as assistant as well.
“Our expectations for this group of athletes are high,” Whetzell said. “I have always expected from them their very best and that won’t change now that I’m head coach.”
The returning core includes two seniors and four juniors—five of whom were all-district and all-conference honorees last season.
Senior Cailey Barnes will once again be competing for a spot at shortstop or third base after hitting .551 with a .628 on-base percentage. She led the Eagles with 38 RBIs and 39 runs a year ago.
THE NEW O-ZONE APP IS HERE!
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD FOR APPLE
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD FOR ANDROID
Senior Lorin Weaver had 35 RBIs with a .382 batting average and .737 slugging percentage. Whetzell said Weaver has been tough behind the plate for as long as she’s been there and expects her to continue in the catcher position this season.
Juniors Jordan Coddington and Shyan Proctor will be splitting time between the infield and the pitching circle. Proctor was an all-district and all-conference pitcher last season with a .476 batting average herself. Coddington was an offensive machine hitting, 5 homeruns and racking up 38 RBIs with a .443 batting average while reaching home plate 35 times.
Taylor Bell and Brandi Bass round out the junior class. Both are expected to appear in the Fair Grove outfield, but Bell could compete for a starting spot at first base.
With so many players returning with varsity experience, Whetsell said their strengths are being tough, hardworking, coachable and leadership.
“Our upperclassmen have experience at the varsity level and the underclassmen have the upperclassmen to look up to,” she said. “They are hungry to compete.”
A host of newcomers will be looked at to fill the vacancies left by short stop Haley Stallings and centerfielder Makenna Hill.
