Page 19 - RVO Diamond Roundup March 2017

RIVER VALLEY & OZARK EDITION OF THE ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE BASEBALL & SOFTBALL REVIEW | SUNDAY, MARCH 19, 2017
19VV
MAYFLOWER LADY EAGLES
Lady Eagles want to get back to postseason play
BY MARK BUFFALO
STAFF WRITER
Ayear ago, the Mayflower Lady Eagles
had a winning season but did not get past the first round of the regional tournament.
Mayflower finished 17-9 but lost to eventual state runner-up Rose Bud 11-1 in the first round of regional play.
This year’s Lady Eagles return six starters from a year ago. They include senior second baseman Victoria Copeland, senior short- stop Ashley Scott, senior center fielder Amber Abernathy, senior pitcher Taylor Fugatt, senior first baseman Katie Jeffery and junior third base- man Reagan Brinks.
“I really expect to be competitive in every game,” Mayflower coach Steve Herron said. “Our defense is going to be pretty good.”
Herron said he hopes his team can consistent- ly hit throughout the lineup this season.
“That is my concern, being able to hit through the lineup,” he said. “As we go, I’ve already seen improvement, and I think we’ll be OK by the end of the season.”
Herron said he’d like to see his team in post- season play.
“That is always our goal — to do well in our conference and our district tournament so we can get back to the regional and, hopefully, state tournament,” he said.
Conference: 3A-5
Coach: Steve Herron
Assistant coach: Jeff Hill
2016 record: 17-9
Mascot: Lady Eagles
Returning starters: Victoria Copeland,
Ashley Scott, Amber Abernathy, Taylor Fugatt, Katie Jeffery and Reagan Brinks
The Lady Eagles have two key hitters this year, Herron said. They are Fugatt and Scott.
The Lady Eagles have some pop in their bats as well.
“I would think that would be Taylor Fugatt and possibly Katie Jeffery,” Herron said.
Herron said that Scott, who played second base a year ago before moving to shortstop, is his team’s best fielder. She also has the team’s best speed.
As far as an arm defensively, Herron has several good players, he said.
“I’d have to say I have several good arms, but Reagan [Brinks] would be there among the best,” he said. “I’m blessed with some pretty good arms, including Fugatt, Scott and Abernathy. They are all throwing the ball pretty well.”
Scott is going to play at the next level at Arkansas State University, where softball is a club sport.
MARK BUFFALO/RIVER VALLEY & OZARK EDITION
Mayflower senior pitcher Taylor Fugatt warms up.
“It’s not your normal-type program, but it’s a pretty good school,” Herron said. “I have anoth- er player (Fugatt) who could play collegiately, but she’s chosen not to.”
Mayflower is playing in a blended Class 3A/4A conference this year. The team’s op- ponents include Bauxite, Lonoke, Baptist Prep, Central Arkansas Christian, Little Rock Episcopal, eStem and Pulaski Robin- son. Mayflower will return to the 3A-5 for the district tournament. Those schools include
MAYFLOWER SOFTBALL
MARCH 27 .............................ABUNDANT LIFE MARCH 28 ... @CENTRAL ARKANSAS CHRISTIAN MARCH 30 ............................... BAPTIST PREP MARCH 31 ............................... @NEMO VISTA APRIL 3 ................................... LR EPISCOPAL APRIL 4 ...........................PULASKI ROBINSON APRIL 6 .........CENTRAL ARKANSAS CHRISTIAN APRIL 7 ......................................NEMO VISTA APRIL 11 ......................................... @ESTEM APRIL 13 ...................... @PULASKI ROBINSON APRIL 14 ....................................... CONCORD APRIL 18 ........................................ BAUXITE* APRIL 20 .................................. @PERRYVILLE APRIL 21 ............................................ESTEM APRIL 25 ........................................LONOKE*
*DENOTES CONFERENCE GAMES
Bismarck, Episcopal, Glen Rose, Haskell Harmony Grove and Rose Bud.
“We’re going to be playing some teams that I’m not familiar with,” Herron said. “From the ones that I know that we’ll see in district play, Harmony Grove, of course, and Rose Bud will be tough. They have moved into our district this year.
“Bauxite will be tough, I’m sure.”
VILONIA LADY EAGLES
VILONIA SOFTBALL continued from 15VV
With the Arkansas Activities Asso- ciation’s realignment cycle for 2016-17, Vilonia remains in the 5A West, along with Alma, Clarksville, Farmington, Greenbrier, Harrison, Maumelle and Morrilton. The league will play a district tournament for the first time, and first-round winners will advance to the Class 5A State Tournament.
Sullivan said Greenbrier will be the early favorite from the 5A West.
“They lost one kid,” he said. “She was a good one, but they’ve got everybody else back. I wouldn’t be shocked to see them in the [state] final again. I hope we’ll be up there with them in the conference. Morrilton is getting better, and Clarksville is, too. Alma has come back down to [Class] 5A and is traditionally very good, and the
Farmington coach always does an amazing job. It’s a tough conference.”
For the regular season, the Lady Eagles will play in the combined classification 5A/6A District 2, along with Batesville, Beebe, Greenbrier, Morrilton, Mountain Home and Searcy.
So the season is tilted heavily toward the end.
“Obviously, we’re going to try to com- pete, but how you start is irrelevant,” Sulli- van said. “It’s how you finish that counts.”
So even with his team’s inexperience, he is optimistic.
“I like the group,” Sullivan said. “They’re fun, and I think they’ll compete. I’m anxious to see how it goes.”
WILLIAM HARVEY/RIVER VALLEY & OZARK EDITION
Vilonia junior Karli Thompson takes a cut in the batting cage.
as leaders. Some of that will be vocal, and some of it will not.
“I really just try to lead by example,” Wade said. “I don’t really get caught up too much in seniority. If there is a bucket of balls sitting there, I’m still going to pick it up. I’d rather just be there as a friend and mentor for my younger teammates. I strive to be someone they look up to.”
Wade has committed to play for Crowder College in Neosho, Missouri, and Eary to UCA. Sullivan said junior outfielder Faith Johnson has committed to the University of Arkansas at Monticello.
“Other than those three, it’s too early to tell who else could play at the next level,” he said.