They say experience is the most valuable attribute a team can have. If that’s the case, Neosho softball is in a position to accomplish great things in 2021 with a bevy of talent returning.
“We do have a lot of experience and I think that plays a big role in knowing how your teammates play,” Neosho coach Catie Cummins said. “You know what to expect from each kid as a coach, and they know what to expect from each other. … And the experience and knowledge of the game is crucial.”
The Wildcats are coming off an 18-9, 5-4 COC season and bring back 11 players with varsity starting experience. More importantly, those varsity returning starters are made up predominantly of juniors and seniors.
“I think we surprised people with what we did last year, and I hope to do that again this year,” Cummins said. “We want to be that team that people talk about when they have that conversation about who are the best teams in the conference or who are the best teams in Southwest Missouri. That is what they want and us as a coaching staff want. We have pride in our school and the Neosho community. … We just want to come out and be that team that other teams don’t want to play.”
The senior returning starters for the Wildcats are Lili Graue (Outfield), Kaitlyn Killion (OF), Maddie Carpenter (UT), Alivia Campbell (UT), while the returning juniors are Baylie Bowers (OF), McKaylie Forrest (C), Maelynn Garrett (IF), Grace Johnson (UT), Abbie Carpenter (IF) and Chloe Patterson (P). Sophomore pitcher Phenix Scott also returns to the varsity squad.
Graue hit .429 last year and scored 28 runs to go along with 13 RBI. Campbell finished with a .418 batting average, bringing back 15 RBI and 14 runs scored. Killion hit .400 a year ago and led the Wildcats in RBI with 30. She also scored 28 runs. Forrest hit .398 and finished with 21 RBI and 23 runs scored. Abbie Carpenter drove in 17 and scored 15 times last season.
“Coach (Morgan) Rodriguez, our hitting coach, has talked a lot about being an impossible out,” Cummins said of her lineup’s mentality this season. “What can you do to not get out? Is that drawing a walk, getting hit by a pitch or seeing seven or eight pitches with two strikes. Just being a tough out.”
Also returning for Neosho are juniors Jordyn Baker (IF), Trinity Drake (UT), Avery Bradford (OF) and sophomore Tatiyana Douglas (OF).
The biggest focus for Neosho this season is winning every phase of the game—offense, defense and pitching. To do that, you have to have an extremely cohesive unit, which Cummins says may be the team’s biggest strength this season.
“We talk about being great on all three sides of the ball,” Cummins said. “You have to hit well, you have to pitch well and you have to play defense well. When we do those things, we are going to be very good. We can’t have times where we only rely on pitching or only rely on hitting. We are going to have to play complete games if we want to play well.”
The only real changes heading into the season for the Wildcats is the need to replace their starting shortstop as well as their starting pitcher from a season ago.
Junior Chloe Patterson and Scott bring back the most varsity experience in the circle for the Wildcats. The two combined for six wins, three losses and one save in 41 1/3 innings last season. Freshman Carleigh Kinnaird is also expected to see time in the circle this season.
“I think we are going to pitch the ball well,” Cummins said. “We have three kids who are going to throw in varsity games, and they are all very different. I am looking forward to getting to use them in a different way than most people see softball.”
Neosho opens the season with a home contest against Monett at 4:30 on Aug. 30.
