The Gosnell Lady Pirates went on a magical run to end last season, winning the regional tournament and fighting their way to the state semifinals. This season, Coach Denise McHan feels with the experience they have coming back and some new faces that should make an immediate impact, the Lady Pirates can make another run deep into the postseason. It starts in the circle where sophomore Avery McHan returns after a season where she struck out 145 batters and posted a 1.09 ERA. She has great control on several pitches and can bring it in at 59-61 MPH. McHan is also a power hitter in the heart of the order where she hit. 416 with four home runs a year ago. Senior Cheyanna Trapp has a great glove at third base and will hit second in the lineup with a good average and lots of speed on the base paths. Classmates Leilah Prude and Hallee Griggs will help bring the leadership. Prude is an outfielder that can cover a lot of ground and brings power to the plate where she hit. 407 with four home runs last season. Griggs is a utility player that will see a lot of time at second base where she will showcase a good glove. She is a good base hitter that will be somewhere in the middle of the lineup. Junior Sarah Thompson will handle most of the catching duties. She also has some pop in her bat, hitting two bombs last year. Charlee Gentry is a sophomore outfielder with lots of speed and will lay out to take away what should have been a base hit. She will also be a great spot in the line up to bunt or hit away, with her speed it will be hard to throw her out. Coach McHan and the Lady Pirates will benefit from some new faces in the lineup as well. Senior Brooklyn Moore was at Gosnell as a freshman and is back to lead off and play shortstop. Sophomore outfielder Emme Weldon has a high IQ of the game and will contribute on offense and defense. Freshman Braelyn Creecy will flash her glove at first base and hit high in the Gosnell lineup.“ I expect lots of success for the team,” Coach McHan said.“ The girls play like they have been together their whole life. Our weakness last year was stamina. When we played in the heat several days in a row at state, we fell short. The other team was in better shape than us. We have worked really hard on fixing that this year and we expect to make a run for the finals.” Expectations are high in Gosnell but the Lady Pirates are ready for the challenge. Look for the Gosnell Lady Pirates to be in the mix come postseason.
After finishing 17 – 11 and reaching the first round of the regional tournament a year ago, the Gosnell Pirates enter 2026 looking to take the next step under Head Coach Aaron Coots. With a mix of experienced upperclassmen and promising freshmen, the Pirates have the pieces to be dangerous— especially if their style of play dictates the tempo. Chase Perkins returns as one of the area’ s most accomplished hitters. Slotted in the three-hole and playing first base, the senior has been a varsity starter since ninth grade and brings both production and experience. Last season, Perkins hit. 346 with four home runs and 23 RBIs, giving Gosnell a proven run producer in the middle of the lineup. At the top, Grant Glintborg will set the table in the leadoff spot while patrolling center field. With 33 hits and 14 stolen bases last year, Glintborg excels at grinding out quality at-bats and applying pressure to opposing defenses. Jake Riggs will hit in the two-hole and anchor shortstop. His ability to draw walks and consistently get on base makes him a key piece in setting up the middle of the order. In the five-hole, Easton Dickson provides power to the opposite field from right field. Dickson hit. 324 with 24 hits and 21 RBIs last season, showing the ability to drive in runs and extend innings. Gosnell’ s success will also hinge on a steady and versatile pitching staff. Hunter Riggs returns after posting a 4 – 3 record with 55 strikeouts and only 12 walks, holding opponents to a. 279 batting average. His ability to pound the strike zone and keep hitters off balance makes him a reliable option. Perkins adds strength to the rotation with a 5 – 1 record, 59 strikeouts, 13 walks, and a 2.85 ERA. His mix of off-speed pitches and command on the mound— including controlling the running game— gives the Pirates another dependable arm. Camden LaCotts provides flexibility, highlighted by his ability to change arm slots and disrupt hitters’ timing. He finished last season 2 – 2 with 27 strikeouts. Two freshmen are expected to step into key roles. Bryan Hernandez will start at third base and hit cleanup, bringing early impact potential to the heart of the lineup. Kellso Hallsel will take over at second base and slot into the seven-hole, adding youthful energy to the infield. The Pirates’ identity will center on small ball and aggressive, intelligent base running. If Gosnell can score early, apply pressure, and create chaos on the base paths, they have the pitching and experience to close out games. The biggest question mark may be youth in high-pressure moments. With freshmen in key roles, composure in big games will be tested. If the Pirates’ young players mature quickly and their veterans set the tone, Gosnell has the ingredients to compete for a deeper postseason run.
2925 S. Caraway Rd. Jonesboro, AR 72401 870-932-0990