With nine departed seniors from last season’s 17-5 team and no seniors this spring, one might think that the Great Bend High School softball team is in for a rebuilding year.
Not so fast, according to GBHS Lady Panthers head coach Carrie Minton.
“We have 14 girls returning from last year’s roster,” Minton said. “We have four girls who are returning with some varsity experience, one of them being (third baseman) Stephanie Morrison, who was honorable mention all-state (Class 5A by the Kansas Softball Coaches Association).”
Last season, Morrison tied Courtney Friess (2008) for the GBHS school record for batting average (.554).
“We have a two outfielders in Samantha Dreiling and Bonny Boultinghouse, along with sophomore McKenna Mauler,” Minton said.
“McKenna is coming back with some varsity experience as she is very athletic and helped us with some catching and this year she is playing shortstop.”
The Lady Panthers open the season this afternoon at 4, playing host to Larned in a doubleheader at the City of Great Bend Sports Complex. It will be the first games played at the brand new facility.
That said, Minton says her team has a good, youthful nucleus to build around. The Lady Panthers lost to Valley Center in a regional championship last spring at Harms Field. Two key losses from last season include the versatile Abbie Morrison, who is playing at Fort Hays State University, and pitcher Jordan Haney, who is playing at Kansas Wesleyan in Salina.
Abbie Morrison batted .435 with three home runs and 17 runs batted in, and Haney hit .431 while leading the team in homers (4) and runs batted in (29). The graduated Kaitlee Spray hit .516 while leading the team in hits (36).
“That’s just our thing,” Minton said. “We did lose a big group of girls, but we have so much talent from top to bottom this season. We have zero seniors, six juniors, nine sophomores and nine freshmen.
“We may not have the seniors, but so many of these girls have played for so long, through the Quicksilver program, that them being young is not a concern.”
Bailey Tracy figures to the No. 1 pitcher in the rotation.
“Bailey was our JV pitcher last season and she went 18-0,” Minton said. “She’s got a good changeup and fastball. She’s only a sophomore.
“With Bailey, we throw in three freshmen that have been working at pitching in Hunter Middleton, Braylin Bretz and Peyton Burkhart. All three have strong arms. I’m really excited about them, and I’m really excited about our expectations for this season.”