While Carl Junction has to replace, perhaps, the most-important position on the infield after losing four-year starting shortstop Sammie Sims to graduation, the Bulldogs are in a prime position to build off of last year’s record with several integral players returning in 2023.
Carl Junction is coming off a 10-17 record last year, which was an eight-win improvement from the previous season. Coach Zak Petty is excited for the opportunity his team has this season with all but one starter back in the fold.
“We are coming off of our first double digit win season since 2015,” Petty said. “We are bringing all but one starter back this season, and are adding in some freshmen that we feel will be able to contribute right away. Expectations are always high, and we hope to exceed that win total from last season.”
Coming back for Carl Junction is junior catcher Madi Olds, who hit .397 a year ago and earned all-district, conference and region honors, junior P/UTL Hannah Cole, senior 2B Hannah Cantrell, who hit .449 at the top of the order and stole 29 bases, and senior 1B Izzie Southern, who hit .301 last season. Also back for the Bulldogs—sophomore 3B/UTL Georgia Arnold, sophomore P/UTL Kiley Spencer and sophomore CF Ryleigh Palmer, who hit .346 for CJ last year. Junior INF Taylor Sassin also brings back varsity experience.
“I expect this group of girls to compete every game,” Petty said. “So far in working with this group, I can see that they have high expectations of themselves, and they are ready to go out there and show what they’ve got.”
New faces expected to make an impact this season on varsity include freshman OF Kinley Spindler, freshman SS/C Kady Hunt as well as senior P/UTL Grace Kirk and freshmen OFs Cienna Rodriguez and Elsa Dogotch.
“I think our biggest strength this season will be our defense,” Petty said about his team. “We put a big focus on defense in our practices, and I truly believe that we will improve on defense tremendously from a season ago.
“We will need to continue to improve offensively,” Petty added. “There were times last season where we struck out way more than what I deem is acceptable. So in order for us to obtain the goals we have set out for ourselves, we will need to make an improvement in this area.”
With so much experience back, Carl Junction is looking to build off of last season. In order to do that, the Bulldogs need to play with consistency early on in the season in order to reach the goals they want to accomplish as a team. With so much continuity, it’s going to be an exciting season for CJ.
“We need to come out at the start of the season ready to roll, and continue an upward trend as we head into the postseason,” said Petty.
Carl Junction opens the season in the Aurora Classic on Aug. 25-26.
