SOFTBALL PREVIEW: Park Hill South ready to win on day one

Day one. Minute one. That’s when coach Josh Walker’s players started talking about winning their conference and district titles. After a 19-9 Park Hill South softball team finished one game behind Belton for a second place finish in conference and a heartbreaking 13 inning 1-0 loss to Truman in the district championship, there’s no doubt where the Panthers have set their goals for the 2011 season.

“We had a very good season, but it left us a little hungry,” Walker said. “We’ve got a great core of juniors and seniors coming back and we should be ok.”

South returns five starters with considerable talent and experience. Sophomore shortstop Courtney Todd, junior third baseman Mallory Land, senior leftfielder Brandi Weymuth, junior centerfielder Courtney Land, and senior rightfielder Kaleigh Burlington return for what develops as a team with a strong outfield and left side both offensively and defensively. Letterwinner Jessica Lee will look to take over the reins at catcher while Madison McDowell and Jordan Woodworth battle for the starting role at first play. Senior transfer Corinne Listenbee will be a solid presence at second. Makala Walker looks to be the favorite to take over the pitching duties for South ahead of four freshman pitchers who will compete to un-seed her.

Overall, the Panthers have a flexible lineup of athletes which will come in handy if the unfortunate case of injuries strike the team during the course of the season.

“We only have one girl that doesn’t play multiple positions,” Walker said. “If someone goes down to injuries, we’ll be able to fill-in and not miss a beat.”

Walker expects the defense and hitting to be there for his team based on the talent coming back from last season. This will be a team that will rarely make defensive errors and will just as unlikely to find themselves short on runs, which leaves a lot up to how well the pitching goes.

“Defense and hitting are supposed to be our strong suits,” Walker said. “I think both will be there, we just have to make sure the pitching is there. That’s the ultimate thing.”

With a strong schedule of conference competition, Walker knows it will be a tough road towards accomplishing their goals, but is impressed with the attitude his players have brought into the season, especially from his veterans.

“They’re just go getters and many have been playing varsity since they were freshman,” Walker said. “They’re taking it on themselves and taking ownership of it (their goals) before I even was able to say something about it.”

South will find out real quick what kind of team they have as they kick the season off at the Joplin Tournament against Bartlesville (Oklahoma), Carl Junction, and Neosho, two teams of which they’ve never beaten. Nonetheless, the Panthers hope they’re in a position come October to execute on the goals they’ve established so early in this 2011 season.