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SUNDAY, MARCH 22, 2020 THREE RIVERS EDITION/RIVER VALLEY & OZARK EDITION OF THE ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE DIAMOND ROUNDUP
23SS
MCCRORY LADY JAGUARS
Coach counts on rising pitchers to propel Lady Jags
BY MARK BUFFALO
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
The McCrory Lady Jaguars had a banner season in 2019, finishing 23-4 and advancing to the second round of the Class 2A State Tournament before falling to Poyen 9-1. Poyen finished as state runner-up to Quitman.
“We have a chance to be competitive this year if our pitching comes through,” longtime McCrory coach Ronnie Massanelli said.
Carlie Whitehead, the Lady Jaguars’ top pitcher from a year ago, has graduated.
Massanelli said sophomore Hannah Taylor, freshman Natalie Creasey and junior Jenna Sablotny are the top prospects to replace Whitehead.
Sablotny saw limited action in the circle in 2019. She was 3-0 in four appearances.
“We have some girls who are willing to work hard and do what it takes to be successful,” Massanelli said. “We have good senior leader- ship in Blaire Kennon, Kylee Hicks and Layla Hedden.”
Massanelli said his team will be without junior all-state catcher Kyndal Dollar, due to a knee injury.
“But we have some young girls who will have to step up and get the job done,” he said. “Our main objective is to be better today than we were yesterday. If we do that, then everything else will take care of itself on down the line.”’
The coach said McCrory returns six starters from a year ago, including Kennon at shortstop, Hicks at second base, Hedden in the outfield, Madie Hankins at third base, Sablotny in center field and utility player Ashley Miller.
Conference: 2A-6
Coach: Ronnie Massanelli
Assistant coach: Bobby Keen
2019 record: 23-4
Returning starters: Seniors Blaire Kennon, Kylee Hicks and Layla Hedden; juniors Jenna Sablotny and Ashley Miller; and sophomore Madie Hankins
MCCRORY SOFTBALL
APRIL 3 ............................................ SALEM* APRIL 4 ................ TOURNAMENT @HARRISON APRIL 11 ..... @VARSITY MARMADUKE CLASSIC APRIL 13 ....................................... @SALEM* APRIL 14 ......................................@QUITMAN APRIL 17 ...................................... ROSE BUD APRIL 20 ................ @SOUTHSIDE BATESVILLE APRIL 21 ........................................... @VIOLA APRIL 24 ..................................... @RECTOR*
*DENOTES CONFERENCE GAMES
Massanelli said his team’s best hitters for average are Kennon and Hannah Taylor. Kennon hit .354 a year ago.
The coach said the best power hitter is Taylor, the best fielder is Kennon at shortstop, and the best speed belongs to freshmen McKenzie Miller, Chandler Reynolds and Natalie Creasey; and Sablotny.
The best defensive arms, Massanelli said, belong to Sablotny, Miller, Kennon and Reyn- olds, who is slated to play catcher because of the injury to Dollar.
The Lady Jaguars are members of the 2A-6 Conference with East Poinsett County, Barton,
PHOTOS BY STACI VANDAGRIFF/THREE RIVERS EDITION
McCrory’s Kylee Hicks tosses the ball back to her teammate while running drills during practice on March 2.
Clarendon, Cross County and Marked Tree. Massanelli said games with East Poinsett County and Palestine-Wheatley will be ones
to watch this season.
McCrory’s Ashley Miller reaches to catch a fly ball.
TASTE THE VICTORY
Nat #23
Good Luck To Three Rivers Area Teams!
GO JAGS!
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870-731-2361
McCrory’s Jenna Sablotny gets ready to catch a fly ball during practice.