Competition.
That is the theme for Joplin as the 2020 softball season approaches.
The Eagles bring back three seniors — Brittany Shryock, Tatum Stogsdill and Kami Manning — and three juniors — Ryleigh Surridge, Elizabeth Snider and Madisyn Tracy — to this year’s squad, which means there will be plenty of opportunities for the six underclassmen (two sophomores and four freshmen) to see extensive playing time on the diamond.
“We have an open competition at every spot, and we are going to play the best nine girls,” Joplin coach Manny Flores said. “If it’s nine freshmen, it’s nine freshmen. We just want to build a competitive atmosphere amongst our girls. We have some younger girls who are really pushing our older girls, and that is nice to see.”
Flores, who enters his second season at the helm of Joplin softball, said last year’s end to the season, when the Eagles won four of their final eight games, was invaluable for the team moving forward.
“That first year, we were really just feeling each other out,” Flores said of his first season leading the Eagles. “They really began to understand the expectations towards the end of the season. I think the end of last season meant a lot to them because it showed we were getting better every single day. I think that carried over into the summer, and we have a great group of girls coming in to push some of our older players.”
SIGNIFICANT SUMMER
This summer was special for the Joplin softball program in particular because Flores established Talon softball, a summer program dedicated to the Joplin area for several age groups.
“What we wanted to do was have a program for every girl in Joplin who wanted to play softball that will be competing together at the high school level,” Flores said. “We want them to play together as long as possible. We had an 18u, a 14u, a 12u and a 8u team this summer. It was just a way for us to go out and compete competitively.”
What made the Talon softball program even more special was the willingness of Missouri Southern softball to help in any way possible.
“We had Missouri Southern players coach our 14u and 18u teams, and I think that was a huge benefit,” Flores said. “One of my goals coming here was to bridge the gap between our college athletes at Missouri Southern all the way down to our youth teams. I really wanted continuity, and this summer was a great start to that. (MSSU) Coach (Hallie) Blackney did an awesome job helping us out and allowing us to use her field. I think it is going to benefit us greatly moving forward, and it is going to help us develop a strong relationship with Missouri Southern as well.”
IN THE CIRCLE
Shryock, Tracy and sophomore Jill McDaniel figure to see the majority of the innings in the circle for the Eagles this season.
“Honestly, we have an open competition right now,” Flores said. “We’re just going to let that play out. Each girl is going to get her opportunity to showcase what she has. If it’s pitching-by-committee to start out before someone steps up, then that is what happens.”
NEWCOMERS
Freshman Bailey Ledford figures to be a strong contributor at the varsity level for the Eagles this season.
“She is a girl who has some speed,” Flores said. “She can slap, she can power slap, she can steal bags and we can move her all over the field defensively. She is going to fill any role that we ask of her this year.”
Freshman Abby McGinnis is a left-handed first baseman that will be relied on to drive in runs. Freshman Kirsten McMillen could see time at catcher or in the outfield, while freshman Ashley Phillips will see varsity time in the outfield this season.
Obviously, starting as many as four freshmen and two sophomores invites the chances of growing pains, and Flores is well aware of that possibility. His focus is making sure the girls have the right mentality heading into the season.
“We as coaches have to make sure we do a good job of making sure we don’t get caught up in results,” Flores said. “One of the things with this generation is they want to see immediate results. We can’t get caught up in that. We have to have tunnel vision, focusing on getting better every day. I picked something up from Joplin baseball where we are now charting ways our girls are helping the team by doing the little things correctly.
“The biggest thing I want the girls to do is play aggressive,” Flores said. “If we make mistakes, that is fine as long as we are being aggressive. If they are doing that, and we are getting better every day, this group has a chance to be special.”
HARD WORK PAYS OFF
When asked what his team’s strengths would be this season, Flores was adamant that the work ethic for his girls will be second to none. With the prospects of having a very young roster, he wants to instill what it takes to compete at a high level early in his players’ career.
“We are not going to get outworked,” Flores said. “We are going to make sure we are doing the little things correctly, outhustling the other team and putting ourselves in the correct position.
“I want us to be a team that is flexible. I want to try and take away other teams’ strengths. I think we are going to have a little more speed and be able to play small ball. We will be adaptive.”
SEASON OPENER
After taking on Carthage in the jamboree slated for Aug. 25, the Eagles open the regular season on the road with a Saturday twinbill at Glendale, taking on Nixa at 11:30 a.m. before battling the Falcons at 1:30 p.m.
