The Webb City High School softball team put together a stellar 2019 season.
And with four returning starters, including the conference’s reigning player of the year, the Cardinals hope to go one step further in 2020.
“We have high expectations for the season,” Cardinals coach Shauna Friend said. “Even though we lost several seniors, we had a lot of depth at nearly every position and plan to carry on, playing at the same level of intensity. I believe this team has the ability, determination, and unity to claim conference and district titles and advance deep into the postseason.”
In 2019, Webb City went 21-7, won the Central Ozark Conference championship, a district crown and reached the sectional round of the Class 4 state tournament last fall, falling to Raymore-Peculiar 2-0 in walk-off fashion.
Webb City lost four all-conference performers to graduation.
“We are certainly going to miss last year’s seniors, and their shoes will be tough to fill, but I know we have the athletes to step up and jump right into those positions,” Friend said. “We have 13 talented juniors and seniors competing for those spots. I anticipate we will have several role players this year to try to utilize the talent to best benefit our team.”
Leading the group of returning starters is senior pitcher Haidyn Berry, last year’s COC Player of the Year.
As her team’s workhorse pitcher, Berry went 18-5 with a 2.46 ERA, fanning 174 batters and walking just 23 in 139.1 innings. At the plate, Berry hit .418 with 29 runs batted in, 13 doubles and two home runs.
Friend expects Berry to once again lead the way.
A DECADE IN THE MAKING: Webb City softball standout Haidyn Berry has goals set high for senior year
The Cardinals feature three other returning starters in senior second baseman Alyssa Jennings, junior shortstop Peyton Hawkins and junior right fielder Emma Welch.
Jennings hit .345 with 23 runs scored and 22 RBI in ‘19.
“She is a defensive asset in both the infield and the outfield,” Friend said. “I expect to see her be an offensive leader on the team.”
Hawkins batted .410 last fall with 25 runs scored and 15 RBI.
“I expect her to be consistent in the field and at the plate,” Friend said. “She hit leadoff for us last season and was able to get things going early. With that experience, I think she will continue to improve offensively. I expect her to continue to go 100% all the time, that is her only gear.”
Welch hit .450 in 53 plate appearances with 13 runs scored.
“Emma developed into an invaluable outfielder for us last year,” Friend said. “She got a lot of action in right field and made some outstanding defensive plays. I expect her to continue to be consistent at the plate and use her speed and arm in the outfield to benefit the team.”
Friend noted there are many starting positions up for grabs in the preseason.
“With only four returning varsity starters and 17 juniors and seniors on the roster, our lineup and positions are wide open,” Friend said.
The Webb City softball program has had plenty of success in recent years, and Friend hopes that trend continues.
“I think there are a lot of factors that keep Webb City softball as a competitive threat year after year,” Friend said. “First, nearly all of our girls play ball all summer and have since they were eight years old. We work on fundamentals every day, but they have good fundamental skills coming into high school. They also get a lot of live at-bats over the summer leading into the fall. A second factor is the parent and community support they have every season. And third, Webb City Cardinals know how to win and have a built-in desire to win. Our focus is competing to win in every situation—every at-bat, every inning, every game. Our seniors came up with our team motto this year ‘All it takes is all you’ve got’ and that is what we, as coaches, expect from them every practice and every game.”
The Cardinals are scheduled to begin the season on Aug. 31 at Nevada.
