Pleasant Grove softball coach Becca Collom is hoping the Lady Hawks’ playoff appearance in 2018 creates a positive start to the 2019 season.
“We lost to Emory Rains in the first round; they had a very good team,” said Collom. “Rains was a second seed out of its district, and I thought there were a lot of good things that came out of that playoff series. Hopefully we’ll take those positive things into this season. We’ve got a lot of experience, having lost only one girl (Faith Dossey) to graduation.”
Pitching always plays a big role in a softball team’s success. Collom understands that factor, considering her own schoolgirl career. She enjoyed an outstanding career in the circle at New Boston High School, and the University of Texas-Arlington.
“I don’t like to speculate on who will be starting at each position right now,” said Collom. “We’ve got a core group that we’re building around. Maddie Horn threw a lot of innings for us last year, and we’ve got a couple of freshmen (Leslie Snyder and Harley O’Neal) behind her.”
Lady Hawks loaded with experience in 2019
Look for Zoe Smith to handle chores behind the plate. Other returners include junior Presley Hargrove, junior Bre Jones, senior Kristin Key, senior Emily Hilton, sophomore Natalie Nickolson, senior Kaylee Kelley, senior Hanna Snyder and sophomore Alex Norton.
Filling out the Lady Hawks’ roster are senior Madison Allen, junior Mikayla Crenshaw, and senior Lisa Gann.
“I think we’ll be off to a good start if we have the aggressiveness and fearless attitude we had at the end of last season,” the Pleasant Grove coach said. “It’s hard to balance that in softball.”
Pleasant Grove’s season begins Friday at home against Tyler Chapel Hill.
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