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SUNDAY, MARCH 22, 2020 THREE RIVERS EDITION/RIVER VALLEY & OZARK EDITION OF THE ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE DIAMOND ROUNDUP
39SS
MAYFLOWER LADY EAGLES
Coach: Defense key for Mayflower
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BY SAM PIERCE
STAFF WRITER
The biggest strength for the Mayflower
Lady Eagles this season will be their overall defense and hitting, head coach Steve Herron said.
“There is not a weak arm on the field, and they are good with their gloves and their arms,” Herron said. “And because of the weather, we have spent a lot of time in the batting cages. We have really gotten a lot of swings in.
“So I think our hitting is going to be really good.”
Mayflower finished 17-8 last season but got beat in the first round of the regional tournament by Paris.
“This year, we would like to win our confer- ence and get back to the regional,” Herron said. “Our conference is very competitive, but we would love to get back there to regionals.
“I expect us to be competitive in every game.”
Herron said Mayflower is going to throw sev- eral different girls out in the circle to see who might be the best fit. He said freshman Hannah Duvall can play anywhere on the field and has an extremely good arm.
“But right now, I don’t have one who is just standing out to me,” he said. “I will have several pitchers this year.
“But Hannah has good knowledge of the ball- game and is just a good athlete.”
The coach said freshman Holly Raney could pitch some as well and also play first base.
Senior Lakyn Phillips could pitch some this year but will also play third base. The coach said she is a good hitter and has a good arm.
“Senior Jennifer Berry played right field last year and will play first and third this season,” Herron said. “She also has a good arm and is a good hitter.”
Junior Autumn Fuller returns at third base, but Herron said she can also play left field and second.
“She is a real good fielder, and she is deceiv- ingly quick, and she has a good glove,” Herron
Conference: 3A-5
Coach: Steve Herron
Assistant coach: Jeff Hill
2019 record: 17-8 (4-2 in conference)
Returning starters: Seniors Lakyn Phillips and Jennifer Berry; juniors Autumn Fuller, Fayth Jones and Bailey Francis; and sophomore Kaylee Kennemer
There is not a
weak arm on
the field.”
STEVE HERRON
MAYFLOWER SOFTBALL COACH
said. “We have worked every day since August, and we hit the weight room several times a week, and we are on the field.
“Autumn also works on it on her own a lot — all these girls do.”
Junior utility player Fayth Jones returns after averaging .396 with 15 runs scored and 21 RBIs a year ago. Herron said Jones could pitch some this year.
“She doesn’t have much experience at that, but she can play any spot, and she is working at being a pitcher,” Herron said.
Junior Bailey Francis played shortstop last year, but the coach said she can play any posi- tion on the field.
“She has some speed and is a good hitter,” Herron said. “She’s in basketball right now, but she will start her first day back.”
Sophomore Kaylee Kennemer played center field last year and might be another pitcher this year. She is left-handed, and Herron said she is a good hitter with a good arm.
“She is just a good all-around player and a good athlete,” Coach Herron said. “She has
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MAYFLOWER SOFTBALL
6 ..................................... PERRYVILLE 7 ........ CENTRAL ARKANSAS CHRISTIAN 9 ......................... @LR BAPTIST PREP* 14 ......... JACKSONVILLE LIGHTHOUSE* 17 ........................... @LR EPISCOPAL* 21 ............................... @GLEN ROSE* 23 ............................. HEBER SPRINGS 24 ....................................... CARLISLE
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some speed and has played softball all her life. “She is one of those who goes the extra mile. She works a lot on the weekend and is trying to
get better at pitching and hitting.”
Junior Mason Otts will contribute a lot this
year, the coach said. She is another utility player who can be put anywhere on the field.
“She played a lot of outfield last year,” Herron said. “She is a real strong girl with good size and is a good hitter.”
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