Three seasons ago, Tyler Gunelson unexpectedly took over as head coach of the Barton softball in the fall of 2017. That team had just two players back and were basically starting from scratch.
Coach Gunelson and the Cougars made it through that season with a 14-14 conference record and an 18-25 overall mark.
Last season, the first full season knowing he was in charge, Barton made huge gains, going 20-6 in the Jayhawk and 33-17 overall while Gunelson earned Co-Coach of the Year in the conference.
Barton will begin season three under Coach Gunelson today when Lamar visits Cougar Fields for a doubleheader.
First pitch is set for 1 pm.
"I know we are all tired of practicing," Coach Gunelson said. "We are ready to go. We are ready to get out and play some games. The weather looks like it will be good so hopefully it is a successful opener for us."
Three years in, now, Coach Gunelson is looking to build off the Region VI runner-up spot his team finished in last year.
"We set the bar pretty high last year," Coach Gunelson said. "We want to at least get back to that. If we go under that bar at all, it will not be a successful season. We want to get better."
Offensively, the Cougars have several faces back from last season. Several key faces. Included is the Freshman-of-the-Year.
That would be Barton's leading hitter from last season, Betsy Parmley, who is back at shortstop. The sophomore from Baldwin City hit .427 last season with an on base percentage just a tick under .500 (.494).
Parmley led the Cougars with 64 hits and was second on the team with eight home runs. She led Barton with 53 RBI.
Right behind Parmley in hitting last season was Jade Phillips. The lefty outfielder from Colorado hit .406 in her first season as a Cougars and finished with 63 hits, one behind the team lead.
Phillips stole a team-high 16 bases for Barton and scored a team-best 48 runs from her second spot in the battting order.
Brooke McCollough is back to man first base. She hit clean up much of last season for the Cougars, hitting eight home runs to tie Parmley for second best. The Oklahoma native drove in 41 runs and hit .313.
Demi Kunkel and Lia Chan return after splitting time at catcher last season. Kunkel hit .354 in her 28 games while Chan hit .382 in 16 games.
"We have a good mix back," Coach Gunelson said. "Betsy is the returning freshman of the year and both Brooke and Demi provide us with some pop.
"Jade and Kaliegh (Peak) bring speed back for us. That is a good solid group. Then you mix in some freshmen and we think we have all the pieces here to go get it done."
The new pieces Coach Gunelson will look to help will have to prove themselves between the lines.
"It's really hard to say until we get into games which freshmen will be in the lineup for us. They are going to get the opportunity to play and how they do in the games will determine what we do with them."
The Cougars will be looking for some new faces to help in the circle.
The top two pitchers for Barton – Tia Kohl and Emma Horsch – were both sophomores. Karsyn Smith is back after starting a handful of games and appearing in 28 contests. Smith, a left-hander from Missouri, posted a 4.57 ERA and a 6-4 record.
Coach Gunelson looks for Smith and freshman Ashlee Lucero to provide a bulk of the innings for the Cougar pitching staff.
"I feel like Karsyn did some good things for us last year and did some growing up as the year when along," Coach Gunelson said. "She is going to be in the mix for us this year."
Lucero went 8-5 last year at Piedra Vista High School in Farmington, NM. She posted a 3.04 ERA and brings with her a lot of movement on her pitches.
The Cougars will spend most of February in Texas, Arkansas and Oklahoma with a trio of home doubleheaders sprinkled in.

Barton will open Jayhawk Conference action March 7 when Independence comes to Cougar Fields.Three seasons ago, Tyler Gunelson unexpectedly took over as head coach of the Barton softball in the fall of 2017. That team had just two players back and were basically starting from scratch.
Coach Gunelson and the Cougars made it through that season with a 14-14 conference record and an 18-25 overall mark.
Last season, the first full season knowing he was in charge, Barton made huge gains, going 20-6 in the Jayhawk and 33-17 overall while Gunelson earned Co-Coach of the Year in the conference.
Barton will begin season three under Coach Gunelson today when Lamar visits Cougar Fields for a doubleheader.
First pitch is set for 1 pm.
"I know we are all tired of practicing," Coach Gunelson said. "We are ready to go. We are ready to get out and play some games. The weather looks like it will be good so hopefully it is a successful opener for us."
Three years in, now, Coach Gunelson is looking to build off the Region VI runner-up spot his team finished in last year.
"We set the bar pretty high last year," Coach Gunelson said. "We want to at least get back to that. If we go under that bar at all, it will not be a successful season. We want to get better."
Offensively, the Cougars have several faces back from last season. Several key faces. Included is the Freshman-of-the-Year.
That would be Barton's leading hitter from last season, Betsy Parmley, who is back at shortstop. The sophomore from Baldwin City hit .427 last season with an on base percentage just a tick under .500 (.494).
Parmley led the Cougars with 64 hits and was second on the team with eight home runs. She led Barton with 53 RBI.
Right behind Parmley in hitting last season was Jade Phillips. The lefty outfielder from Colorado hit .406 in her first season as a Cougars and finished with 63 hits, one behind the team lead.
Phillips stole a team-high 16 bases for Barton and scored a team-best 48 runs from her second spot in the battting order.
Brooke McCollough is back to man first base. She hit clean up much of last season for the Cougars, hitting eight home runs to tie Parmley for second best. The Oklahoma native drove in 41 runs and hit .313.
Demi Kunkel and Lia Chan return after splitting time at catcher last season. Kunkel hit .354 in her 28 games while Chan hit .382 in 16 games.
"We have a good mix back," Coach Gunelson said. "Betsy is the returning freshman of the year and both Brooke and Demi provide us with some pop.
"Jade and Kaliegh (Peak) bring speed back for us. That is a good solid group. Then you mix in some freshmen and we think we have all the pieces here to go get it done."
The new pieces Coach Gunelson will look to help will have to prove themselves between the lines.
"It's really hard to say until we get into games which freshmen will be in the lineup for us. They are going to get the opportunity to play and how they do in the games will determine what we do with them."
The Cougars will be looking for some new faces to help in the circle.
The top two pitchers for Barton – Tia Kohl and Emma Horsch – were both sophomores. Karsyn Smith is back after starting a handful of games and appearing in 28 contests. Smith, a left-hander from Missouri, posted a 4.57 ERA and a 6-4 record.
Coach Gunelson looks for Smith and freshman Ashlee Lucero to provide a bulk of the innings for the Cougar pitching staff.
"I feel like Karsyn did some good things for us last year and did some growing up as the year when along," Coach Gunelson said. "She is going to be in the mix for us this year."
Lucero went 8-5 last year at Piedra Vista High School in Farmington, NM. She posted a 3.04 ERA and brings with her a lot of movement on her pitches.
The Cougars will spend most of February in Texas, Arkansas and Oklahoma with a trio of home doubleheaders sprinkled in.
Barton will open Jayhawk Conference action March 7 when Independence comes to Cougar Fields.