By Pat Dailey (For OzarkSportsZone.com)
East Newton’s transition to playing spring ball for the first time a year ago saw the Lady Patriots go 24-6 and outscore their opponents 333-90. They handed Class 2 state champion Skyline its lone defeat.
Coach Johnica Jones is expecting more of the same this year.
“We have a year of spring competition under our belts,” said Jones, who was named the Big Eight Coach of The Year last season. “We want to learn from last season and grow. I genuinely believe this group of seniors is hungry.”
East Newton has six seniors who will fill prominent roles and a junior pitcher who showed plenty of promise last season.
The Lady Patriots’ hitters put up big numbers a year ago, while averaging more than 10 runs a game. Returning starters include Kenzie Massey, Alexa Harris-Schmidt, Makenna Brasier, Josie Guinn, Gracie McMahan, Shaw Coburn, Liz Barrat and Kaityn Cook.
Massey, an outfielder, accounted for 105 runs a year ago, scoring 56 runs and collecting 49 RBIs to earn Class 2 All-State First-Team honors. Among her 39 hits were 12 doubles, 14 triples and seven home runs. She batted .511 and hit .622 with runners in scoring position.
“Kenzie was outstanding,” Jones said. “She has put in a lot of time in the off-season to only improve more. I am expecting her to put up numbers at the plate similar to last season. She is a next-level player.”
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Harris-Schmidt delivered 14 two-out RBIs while posting a .424 average.
“Alexa was solid at the plate,” Jones said. “But her biggest asset was holding down first base (194 putouts).”
Brasier batted .511 with runners in scoring position, drove in 30 runs and scored 46.
“Makenna is a ‘head-down-get-work-done’ type of player,” Jones said.
Guinn, a catcher, turned in a .327 batting mark with 33 RBIs, Coburn batted .356, McMahan hit at a .321 clip, Barrat hit .279 and Cook batted .241.
McMahan shared the pitching duties with Katie Kester last season and drew the starting nod in the center circle for East Newton’s Class 2 District 5 championship game against Diamond.
McMahon’s sophomore season saw her throw 62.2, compile an 8-1 W-L record with a 3.24 ERA and notch 46 strikeouts and 20 walks.
McMahan assumes the Lady Patriots’ role as ace.
“Grace put up a pretty good stat line,” Jones said. “I have complete confidence in McMahan picking up right where we left off.”
