Greenfield softball won six games last year, but went 5-3 in the last eight games to finish the year strong. The Lady Wildcats will look to build off that strong finish with a full roster returning this season and a new head coach in Jennifer Roberts.
Senior Lauren Jones leads those returning players after earning first-team all-conference honors in the outfield as a junior. She led the team with a .620 batting average last season.
Kiarra Mai returns to catcher in her senior season after being named second-team all-conference at the position and hitting .574 as a junior.
Mai will catch for a host of different pitchers with senior Rendie Burns, sophomore Morgan Wright and Jones all seeing time in the circle. Mai could also see time pitching as well. Burns is the top pitcher after earning honorable mention all-conference honors last season.
Wright will be at second base, but has the versatility to move around after earning honorable mention all-conference honors as a utility player. She is a fast player who led the team with 40 stolen bases in just 16 games last season.
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Team speed will be a strength for Greenfield.
“Strengths for the season will be our offense at the plate in combination with base running. This team loves to steal bases with the speed in the top of the lineup,” fourth-year assistant coach Melissa Hull said.
Sophomores Ashley Daniel (first base) and Jaden Baker (third base) will also see time in the infield.
Hull will look for her defense to be stronger this season.
“Defense always needs to improve. We need to be able to get out of inning with the least amount of batters getting to the plate. We struggle sometimes to the innings with two outs,” Hull said.
Overall, excitement is high for the Greenfield softball team.
“We did not lose any players from last season. I’m excited about this team. They should have a successful season with all the starters returning. (We are) hoping to have a great season and have fun with the seniors being in their last season. The entire field will be strong this season,” Hull said.
Greenfield opens the season on Mar. 15 at home against Ash Grove.
