Page 17 - RVO Diamond Roundup March 2017

RIVER VALLEY & OZARK EDITION OF THE ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE BASEBALL & SOFTBALL REVIEW | SUNDAY, MARCH 19, 2017
17VV
GREENBRIER LADY PANTHERS
Lady Panthers bring experience to the diamond
BY TAMMY KEITH
SENIOR WRITER
The Greenbrier Lady Panthers softball team had a good run at a state title last year — and after losing only one starter, the Lady Panthers are ready to try again this season.
Greenbrier lost to Vilonia 5-4 in eight innings in the 2016 Class 5A state championship game at Bogle Park in Fayetteville.
Coach Brian Butler said he has eight returning starters, losing only his shortstop, Maranda Clendenin, who is now playing at the Univer- sity of Arkansas at Monticello. Back this year are seniors Addison Harmon, center fielder; Chasity Gandy, catcher; and Maggie Garrett, third base; juniors Jaylee Engelkes, pitcher; and Natalie Burns, right field; and sophomores Kailey Hamilton, second base; Shelby Coats, first base; and MacKenzie Shannon, left field.
Butler’s best hitters for average are Engelkes, a left-hander, who also is a power hitter, and Harmon, a right-hander.
The team is boosted by the speed of sopho- more MacKenzie Shannon and freshman Lillee Mahan, and blessed with good arms in Gandy, Engelkes and Hamilton.
At least three players will take it to the next level after graduation: Harmon has signed with Lyon College in Batesville; Gandy signed with Williams Baptist in Walnut Ridge; and Engelkes signed with the
Conference: 5A West
Coach: Brian Butler
Assistant coaches: Drew Smyly and
Bailey Reed
2016 record: 20-9
Mascot: Lady Panthers
Returning starters: Addison Harmon,
Chasity Gandy, Maggie Garrett, Jaylee Engelkes, Kailey Hamilton, Shelby Coats, Natalie Burns and MacKenzie Shannon
GREENBRIER SOFTBALL
MARCH 27 ...................................POTTSVILLE MARCH 28 .............................. @BATESVILLE* MARCH 30 .................................@MAUMELLE MARCH 31 ...................................... VILONIA* APRIL 4 .......................................... SEARCY* APRIL 6 ................... ALMA @ARKANSAS TECH APRIL 11 ................................ @MORRILTON* APRIL 13 ......................................MAUMELLE APRIL 14 .................................... NEMO VISTA APRIL 18 .......................... MOUNTAIN HOME* APRIL 21 ............................... @BENTONVILLE APRIL 25 ......................................@VILONIA*
*DENOTES CONFERENCE GAMES
University of Central Arkansas in Conway. Butler said among the not-to-miss games will be March 27 against Pottsville and April 27 at Bentonville. The Lady Panthers also play
MARK BUFFALO/RIVER VALLEY & OZARK EDITION
Greenbrier junior pitcher Jaylee Engelkes practices her pitching during preseason drills.
defending state champion Vilonia on March 31 at home and April 25 at Vilonia.
The coach is upbeat about the team’s chances this season because he said experience counts for a lot.
“We have very high expectations going into the season only losing our shortstop and return- ing most of a team who made it to the finals last year,” Butler said. “We also gained a very good freshman class, many of whom could help us out this year. Hopefully, when it’s all said and done, wewillbeinthemixattheendtogetbacktothe state-championship game.”
GREENBRIER PANTHERS
GREENBRIER BASEBALL continued from 16VV
future in college baseball,” the coach said. Glover also said Russaw, Flake, Paxton Wallace and Cayden Wallace “all have very
good arms as position players.”
Greenbrier baseball should be exciting to
watch this season. Glover said two games stand out on the schedule — Maumelle on April 21 and Vilonia on April 25.
“Maumelle has some great arms, and I think that will be a good matchup. Vilonia is the last conference series of the year, and they will be very well-coached; I know it will be a good matchup,” he said.
The coach, who spent the previous six years as head coach at South Side Bee Branch, has faith and confidence in his team.
“We are always competing for a conference championship and hope to get to the state
tournament, but I think with a little luck, we could be a very dangerous team in the postseason.”