The Parklane Lady Pioneers may be lacking seniors on the softball field, but coach Steve Sasser is hardly concerned.
“A lot of people say, ‘Well gosh, your team is young,’ and really, we are young, but we’re experienced. These kids have been in the fire for the last two years. They’re tested,” Sasser said. “Last year, we only had two seniors, and we came in state runner-up. We know what it takes to be a champion, and age, to me, is not as important as experience.”
After graduating two girls last year — pitcher Hannah Moak, who accepted a scholarship with William Carey, and catcher Kaylin Coney — Sasser has six juniors scattered across the field and ready to lead the team of 24 to a state title after coming so close against MAIS AAA district favorite Copiah Academy last season.
“We lost a pretty good catcher and pitcher last year, but that just means we’ll have to step up and fill their shoes,” junior third baseman Callie Snow said.
Sasser said junior Mikaela Smith would lead the Lady Pioneers from the mound, filling the gap left by Moak, followed by sophomore Mary McLean Lindsey and freshman Hannah Creel.
The team’s strength, Sasser said, lies in their defense, especially in the outfield. Sophomore Destini Brown in center, Morgan Webb in left and Kymberli McDowell in right combine for a strong defensive presence to keep the team out of trouble.
“I feel like we’ve got one of the best outfields defensively in the state of Mississippi, public or private,” Sasser said. “I’ve been in this business a while, and that’s the best total outfield I’ve ever coached.”
Along with the strong outfield, freshman Lana Moak returns to second base after only two errors out of more than 70 plays last season as an eighth grader.
Webb said the team has to make improvements this year to battle in the strong MAIS AAA division, especially in hitting. With many low-scoring games last season, Webb said the girls need to focus on hitting to accompany the strong defense.
The Lady Pioneers are returning a number of strong hitters, including third-slot junior shortstop Taylor Murray who led the team with eight home runs last season.
Sasser said Brown, Webb and McDowell also were strong hitters last season and expects a high number of runs from each this year if they’re going to defeat Copiah.
Last season, the two teams met six times and ended the season in a 3-3 split, and Sasser said each team scored 31 runs against the other throughout the games. Copiah did come out on top last season, however, pulling the state title away from Parklane by one run.
“Our kids — we beat them last year. We know what it takes to beat a good team, and it’s going to come down to execution,” Sasser said. “We’re looking forward to the challenge, to getting back in there and go at it again.”
Parklane’s first chance on the field is a tournament this weekend in Baton Rouge, and the Lady Pioneers return to their home field Monday, with the seventh grade team at 6 p.m. followed by varsity play at 7:15.
