Let’s Take a Look:
Lady Cards Softball
How Will They Do?
Over the years sometimes folks will ask me to predict how a certain Cardinal team will do as the season approaches. I usually stall and beg off, but I thought I might try to be more thoughtful with the 2023 Cardinal softball team. So here goes.
Seniors: The Lady Cards are going into their season with several key positives. First, they have eight solid seniors, most of them with varsity experience. The seniors are: Lyn Brauer, Annabelle Clifton, Makenna Goth, Allie Goucher, Kayla McCanles, Ava Potter, Corynn Sowers, and Briley Wishard. Seniors are a clear predictor of success on any sports team. It is hard to win without skilled seniors and their leadership. Looking at other rosters Harrisonville has seven seniors, Oak Grove has six, and P. Hill has five. The other MRVC teams are very short on seniors. Note: The Cards have only one junior, Addison Markham, but she will be key in this coming season. Also, keep an eye on the seven storming sophomores, led by Kennison Crispi and Kenadie Austin.
Pitching: Softball is of course dominated by pitching. The Lady Cards were blessed with experienced pitching from 2012 through 2017, but the well ran dry. The Cards only won 11 games total over the next four years, (‘18-’21). Senior Briley Wishard has been fighting hard on the mound getting valuable experience. She helped her team capture 12 wins last year. Now as a senior with a stronger hitting team around her things are looking up.
Coaching: Sydney Snyder came on board last year and you could feel the energy level raise immediately. She has made it clear the lowly Cards were a thing of the past. She now has a great coaching staff that includes: Krista Adams, Kelly DeHaan, Dailee Sewell, and Gentry Wishard. You may remember Gentry (Briley’s older sister was an outstanding pitcher for the Lady Cards from 2014-2017). Coach Snyder has been building community support and finding a variety of ways to help her girls strive to get better during the summer. The softballers are, of course, doing summer lifting. They also had scrimmages vs common foes like P. Hill, Odessa, and putting on camps, etc.
Learning How to Win: Learning how to win is a skill all by itself. The Cards have gone from one win in 2018, one in 2019, four in 2020, five in 2021 then 12 in 2022. Their ‘22 record was 12-15. They have more confidence now and are learning how to stay in a game. Last year they either won or were close in 21 of their 27 games. They also won both the Warrensburg, and the Weaubleau Tournaments. Not bad.
Strength of Schedule: Generally the MRVC West is still a strong softball conference. But, there is reason to be hopeful that the competition will not be overpowering. For example, both Odessa and Harrisonville have had their troubles the last two years. The Cards should also grab some wins in their non-conference games (Boonville, Lexington, Sherwood, Weaubleau, Knob, and Marshall).
Young Cards: More girls are going out for softball than in the past years. Also, more are coming into the program with travel experience. Most good teams are filled with players with travel experience. The Cards not only have a full roster (Varsity and JV) but have some younger players that can already contribute at the varsity level.
Middle School Softball: The new CMS softball program had a great first year. The program may not make a significant contribution at the varsity level this year, but it will in the years to come.
So, with a little luck, our Lady Cards should have a good year, maybe even a great one. Go Cards!
Until next time.
