(by Don Meador, The Citizen-Times, 2019)
The tradition-rich Allen County-Scottsville Lady Patriot softball program will have a new look when the season starts with a road game at Bowling Green next Tuesday. Several new faces will be on the field and in the line-up---moves made necessary with the loss of six regular faces from last year’s 24-11-2 team.
Gone are Kris-Anne Pardue, Taylor Stamps, Jordan Anderson, KaeLee Stafford, Kassi Bullington, and Alex Coleman. Pardue posted a 16-7 record on the mound while batting .319. Stamps now plays for Transylvania University following a senior season hitting .427 and holding down centerfield duties. Anderson was the team’s shortstop with Stafford, Bullington, and Coleman sharing time at second base and in right field. In addition, the team will be without senior Jaylee Woods who played as a sophomore but lost last season to an ACL injury. An ACL injury on the basketball court in December ended not only her basketball but also her softball days at ACS.
Two seniors will be asked to lead the way---Karley Burchett and Alyssa Jones. Burchett will be the team’s primary pitcher while Jones will look to find time in the outfield. Both will also be asked to lead a relatively young collection of Lady Patriot players.
Hence, AC-S coach Robert Bunton begins his third season looking to find replacements at several key positions, starting with pitching. The good news is that AC-S returns Burchett. The senior worked 73 innings in 2018, finished with a 2.59 ERA, and a 7-4 record.
“Karley brings a lot of pitches,” Bunton said. “She hits her spots. She is tall and long and is everything you want a pitcher to be. She gave us some really good innings last year. We expect her to be our number one this year and help us a lot.”
While Bunton will rely on Burchett quite a bit, his second arm will be Allison Byrn. The junior did not throw a pitch for the Lady Patriots last year but does pitch for her travel softball squad. Two seasons ago, Byrn worked 13.1 innings for AC-S.
“Allie has good spin on the ball,” Bunton added. “She keep batters off balance. Karley and Allie will be our two main pitchers.”
Bunton will ask his pitchers to give AC-S solid innings and ask his offense to push rounds across the plate.
“We return some hitters,” Bunton explained. “We have power hitters and also girls that can put the ball in play and give us good base hits. I think we have six or seven girls that can give us a hit anytime we need it.”
The powerful offense is expected to include junior Madi Gregory, freshman Bailey Ausbrooks, sophomore Jae McReynolds, and Byrn. Gregory batted .342, had an on-base percentage of .427, blasted nine home runs, ripped 12 doubles, and drove home 48 runs. Ausbrooks batted .330, had an on-base percentage of .375, launched six home runs, and drove in 23 runs. McReynolds batted .398 and scored 27 runs. Byrn batted .325, finished with a .372 on-base percentage, and recorded 27 RBI’s.
Not only will Gregory, Ausbrooks, McReynolds, and Byrn be asked to lead offensively, the foursome will anchor the Lady Patriot defense.
Gregory---a first baseman last year---will switch to the shortstop spot. Ausbrooks returns as the team’s catcher after a very solid rookie season with AC-S as an eighth-grader last spring. McReynolds played left field last season and is expected to be a mainstay in the AC-S outfield again. Byrn will play third base when she is not pitching for the Lady Patriots.
As for the remaining defensive positions, Bunton and his staff continues to search for the best options at second base, first base, and in the outfield.
“We have some younger girls that are stepping up,” Bunton said. “We have some options. We are evaluating right now and seeing who will step into some spots. I have a lot of girls that are capable. We have juniors, sophomores, freshman, and even an eighth-grader in the mix.”
The remainder of the Lady Patriot softball players includes Brittany Anderson, Kaylee Bullington, Amber Wimpee, Hailey Scott, Haleigh Steenbergen, Maggie Sadler, Taylor Gregory, Avaree Gens, Riley Swygart, Trinity Duke, Jorja Tuttle, Harleigh Grissom, Hailey Traughber, Daily Wilkinson, Jayleigh Covington, Maddie Stallings, and Aubree Marr.
Bunton is quick to note that the cold and wet weather has limited his team from on-the-field work but his team will be ready to go next week. Their hopes are set on a District 15 championship and a 23rd consecutive appearance in the regional tournament.
“We have been limited,” Bunton said. “We made have been on the field six days. We are fortunate to have the complex so we can do a lot of stuff but it’s not like being on the field. We are excited for this season. We are coming off a district championship season and I think we have the kids to repeat that. I think the sky’s the limit.”