Inexperienceshouldnotbe near as big an issue for the Madill Lady Wildcat softball team this season as they welcome back eight starters that gained valuable time a year ago.
Coach Jared Hayes’ club opensthe2024campaignthis week with a district battle at Dickson before traveling to Pauls Valley for a festival on Friday. The Madill home opener is slated for Monday with Pauls Valley in town at 5 p.m.
Hayes is excited about his crew which has outstanding numbers with 22 total players and has steadily improved during preseason scrimmages.
“We have really good numbers and multiple girls that can step in and play, both in the outfield or on the infield,” Hayes commented. “We seemed to get better and better in each scrimmage we had. I thought the girls competed really well and hopefully we can feed off that.”
Eight position players are back for the Lady Wildcats with the only graduation loss coming at first base. Hayes will be moving a few players into new roles this year while lookingforanewcomerortwo to step in and contribute immediately, including likely at least one freshman starter.
The team’s top five hitters are back in the lineup and will be relied on heavily to take on even more offensive production. That group is led by seniors Dahlia Marris and Ireland Groeber, who each notched batting averages right around .400 while leading in most offensive categories.
Junior Laila Pickens and sophomore Jade Soto were in that group of catalysts as each hit well over .300 a year ago. Soto is expected to move from the outfield to first base.
Also back in the lineup are juniors Brooklyn Washington and Zeplyn Thomas, senior Lauren Campbell as well as sophomore Lucianna Douglass.
MarrisandThomasreturn as the team’s top two pitchers and provide a different mix for Hayes to utilize. Marris is the harder thrower with movement while Thomas adds a change of pace with a range of off-speed pitches.
“I think we will have more competitive at bats and limit strikeouts offensively,” Hayes said. “We are a little olderthaninrecentyearsand I think that will bring more consistency. We have a few girls buying into roles that we might need to manufacture runs. They know we may havetobuntandputpressure on the defense, especially the bottom of the order, which is getting better every day.
“Our pitchers are experienced, and I feel like our defense will be one of our strengths. We moved Ireland to shortstop, and she has looked good in the off season. That will allow Marris to pitch a little more. Overall, we have matured quite a bit, and I believe have gotten a lot better.”
District play will be another challenge for the Lady Wildcats with a slate that includes Ada, Byng, Dickson, Pauls Valley, Plainview, Purcell and Sulphur.
Five of those will be challenged in doubleheaders between August 20 and September 10 with three coming on the road. Madill will also participate in the Sulphur and Wright City Tournaments.
“Our district will still be really tough,” Hayes added. “We are just looking to hopefully compete a little better and sneak out some of those close games last year that didn’t go our way. I feel more confident that we have the ability to do that. We just have to show up and get it done.”