2023 Baseball Magazine Preview | Page 61

The Brookland Lady Bearcats had a very young softball team a year ago , and Coach Karen Sanders hopes that her team gained the experience needed to get back to the form the program has successfully built over the years . “ The nucleus and the youth allow us an opportunity to be very successful this season ,” Sanders said . She is hoping they take the lessons they learned last year and continue to grow . “ Practices have been more competitive with several positions up [ for grabs ]. Our hitting has gotten better and more power in the lineup will help ,” Coach Sanders explained . Senior Taylor Reed is back leading the nucleus onto the field . Reed batted . 383 last season while splitting time in the circle . She has improved her velocity and is locating her pitches better . Reed split time with junior Ashlyn McNeese , who has picked some speed on her fastball and even learned a new pitch . Madison Wooldridge is back healthy after battling shoulder surgery and will also see time on the mound . The junior led the team with a . 466 batting average . Seniors Bella Byerly , Jazlyn Baker , and Emily Willett are looking to provide leadership and lead the Lady Bearcats back to the postseason . Byerly hit . 429 and led the team with 17 RBIs . Baker batted . 340 last season and Willett is a utility player who can play multiple positions . Hailey O ’ Quin , Emery Booker , and Laken Carr are all freshmen who could contribute this season . Tradition is hard to tear down , so look for the Brookland Lady Bearcats to bounce back strong and climb back towards the top of the new look 4A-3 conference .

It ’ s a new era for Brookland Bearcat baseball as Wade Brown takes over as head coach . The Bearcats finished 19-9 , 11-3 in the 4A-3 , and earned a berth to the regional tournament . They would finish one win shy of a state tournament berth , but with a new coach , several returning players , and some newcomers to help , Brookland hopes to take that next step into the state tournament . Seniors Cade Collins , Kolin Parker , and David Rubottom look to provide leadership for the Bearcats this season . Collins is a catcher that possesses a good arm , high baseball IQ , and a good bat . Parker is good at getting on base and is a tremendous base runner . The outfielder / pitcher has sneaky pop at the plate and is dependable with a good off-speed pitch on the mound . Rubottom is a crafty right-handed pitcher with four pitches he can throw for strikes . Junior Dax Webb is an outfielder and pitcher with good speed , a good arm , and a good bat at the leadoff position . On the mound , Webb has good velocity and good movement . Arkansas State commit Griffin Duval is a shortstop and pitcher that will bat in the middle of the lineup . The junior is a smooth infielder that will have ample opportunity for RBIs in the middle of the order . On the mound , Duval has good velocity with good movement . Fellow junior Weston Speir will be another Bearcat pulling double duty on the mound and in the infield . Speir is a middle of the order bat that has a good on base percentage . On the mound , Spier has a sneaky fastball with good off-speed pitches . Sophomore Jake Reece is an infielder and pitcher with natural power in the middle of the lineup . Some returnees are looking to expand their role to make an impact . Seniors Jack Morgan , Conner McClain , and John Neldon are looking to fill some gaps left by last year ’ s graduates . Morgan is steady in the outfield and could add some pitching depth . McClain dealt with injury last year but returns to the middle of the order and could be a rotation arm . Neldon ’ s bat showed improvement this fall which could find the second baseman in a key part of the lineup . Junior Jax Findley is a utility player that could play anywhere on the field while helping on the mound . Sophomores Jordan Friend , Hayden Elder , and Caden Chambers will add depth to the roster . Friend is a good defensive player that can play multiple infield positions , while Elder and Chambers could help in the rotation as well as the field . Freshman Cooper Bode could also provide some pitching depth . Coach Brown does worry about depth , but believes in their experience , strong lineup , and steady rotation . NEA Sports predicts Brookland to be at the top of the 4A-3 and will make a strong postseason run .