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SOFTBALL: Joplin ready to build on success from last season under new coach, Brenden Schneider

After a resurgent season a year ago that saw the Eagles finish with a winning record for the first time since the 2015-16 season, Joplin is under new head coach Brenden Schneider and returns all but two starters in hopes of taking its success one step further in 2022.

“I think the girls are really excited,” Schneider said. “They have set themselves a high bar. They want to succeed. Their goal that we talked

Joplin softball coach Brenden Schneider. Courtesy photo.

about in the team meeting is to win more games than we did last year and to win a district game because we haven’t won a district game since 2015 either. That tells me that they feel confident that we have the ability to win a lot of games if we play hard, and it shows me they’re willing to put in the work.”

Schneider takes over the program after serving the last five years as the assistant/pitching coach for the Joplin baseball team. Schneider, who was an assistant softball coach at Joplin for four years prior to last season, also spent three years as an assistant baseball/softball coach at Kickapoo (20015-17) and was an assistant baseball coach at Bolivar (2013-14). 

“I am really excited,” Schneider said. “It has been a fun transition because a lot of the girls already know me because I have coached a lot of them before. So, I really couldn’t have asked for a better group in my first year. 

“We return so much experience because so many of these sophomores played as freshmen last year. These kids are hardworking, have a lot of fun and bring the energy every day. I am really excited because everybody has the same goal—win more games than we did last year. They are all on the same page, and that doesn’t happen very often.”

Depth will be one of the biggest assets for the Eagles this season with 11 players returning who either started regularly or saw extensive time on the diamond in varsity games. What makes the situation even better is only two of the returners are seniors. 

“I think our depth and experience is huge,” Schneider said. “Especially in a season that happens so fast and you play so many games, that can lead to kids breaking down. I think it gives us some security to know we have the flexibility that if someone does get hurt, we have other kids who can step up into those roles. … I think it’s invaluable.”

Joplin junior Bailey Ledford returns to third base for the Eagles this season. Photo by Israel Perez.

Joplin’s returners by class are seniors Jill McDaniel (P) and Izzy Yust (SS), juniors Ashley Phillips (OF), Kirsten McMillen (C), Bailey Ledford (3B) and Taryn Casey (OF) and sophomores Jadyn Pankow (1B), Riley Kelly (C), Libby Munn (UTL), Maria Loum (2B) and Abby Lowrey (OF).

With a young roster already, Joplin will also see an influx of talent coming in at the freshman level with players such as P/OF/1B Ava Wolf, P/OF Caelyn Bobski and INF Alissa Owens expected to contribute at the varsity level to some degree.

“Bobski and Wolf are some freshmen pitchers we are working pretty hard to develop,” Schneider said. “Ava is a pretty versatile player, too. She is left handed and can play first base and in the outfield, too. And Alissa does a good job for us doing a lot of the little things right.”

Aside from depth, the team defense figures to be a strength this season. With nearly the entire starting defense back, along with McDaniel back starting in the circle for the third straight season, the Eagles will be riding strong defensive play to stay competitive in an always-tough Central Ozark Conference.

“Jill pitched 145 innings last year and had an ERA of 3.40,” Schneider said. “That is significant for someone starting 18 games and appearing in 25. With Jill throwing strikes consistently and our defense, I think we will be in a position to win a lot of games.”

Joplin’s Izzy Yust applies the tag at second last season. She is set to return to shortstop this season for the Eagles. Photo by Shawn Fowler.

What will be the biggest area of growth for Joplin this season? It will come in between the ears. With so many players on the roster who are at the varsity level for their first or second season, continuing to grow their confidence is a must.

“I think our softball IQ needs to continue to improve,” Schneider said. “We have a lot of experience but only two seniors and two juniors who have played significant varsity time. For us, making sure that we understand where to go with the ball or what the situation is will be huge for us. If we can improve on that, it gives us a leg up because it makes our defense, which is already good, even better.”

Of course, just because the Eagles had a bounce-back season a year ago doesn’t mean they can come into the season expecting to repeat that success. In his first year, Coach Schneider is making sure he sees the hunger and fight Joplin displayed last season.

“It’s really important for us to keep it in the back of our heads that even when things aren’t going well, we have the ability to turn things around quickly,” Schneider said. “In order to keep progressing from last year, we have to keep working hard and can’t take any game for granted. We have to win the games we are supposed to win and put ourselves in a position to be right there against good teams at the end of those games. … Our conference is tough and other teams are aware that we have a little bit of talent now and won’t take it easy on us. That is a good thing. We want to play our best and compete against (other team’s) best.”

BOYS SOCCER: Carl Junction returns seven with youth infusion with eyes on a bounce-back season

After a 5-19 season a year ago, Carl Junction returns seven starters with the goal of using that experience to orchestrate a bounce-back season in 2022.

Aside from the seven starters returning, the Bulldogs bring back two more players with varsity experience and welcome a large group of underclassmen to the program for an infusion of youth that is expected to make an impact on varsity this season. 

“Our numbers are good,” Carl Junction coach Ed Miller said. “We have 37 players out so far and 16 of those are freshmen. With those numbers it should provide us with a lot of competition for playing time and depth at multiple positions. With 16 freshmen, the future looks bright as well.”

Returning starters from last season for Carl Junction are senior fullback Jaydan Arzett, senior CM Carsten Bittner, senior FB Jaxon Blackford, senior F JT Foulk, senior FB Nevan Challenger, junior OM Quinn Vogel and sophomore CM Gavin Cowger. Also back at the varsity level are senior FB Jayden Wingo and senior FB Owen Numata.

“I think our midfield will be our strength this year because of the experience players in

those positions and the depth we have there,” Miller said. “We bring back 7 starters from last year and with the number of players we have this year, we feel that we will be more competitive night in and night out.”

New to varsity this year is junior MF Carter Gau, who played club soccer in Arkansas the past two seasons, senior MF Xavier Perkins, who is returning to soccer for his senior season, and junior MF Nolan Blackford. As Coach Miller noted, the Bulldogs also welcome several talented young players to the varsity level this season to help build the depth. Freshman Blake Miller is slated to be in goal this season and he is joined by freshman MF Nolan Couk and freshman FB Zack Teeter.

Carl Junction opens the season with a home match against Webb City on Aug. 30 before traveling to Parkview on Sept. 1.

“Coming together, trusting, and playing as a team,” Coach Miller said when asked what the keys to success will be for the Bulldogs this season. “We have to have players buying into their roles and responsibilities in the system of play on the field. Our motto has always been ‘play hard, score goals, and have fun’. If they can do that it will be a successful season for us as a team and them as individuals.”