Lady Birds Look to Use Speed to Manufacture Runs

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By Mark Requet

  The South Shelby Lady Birds will look to build from last season’s 14-16 record when they open the season in the Moberly Tournament on Saturday, August 31.

  “I am very positive about the season. I feel that we can achieve a higher win percent this year than last and grow as a team along the way,” said South Shelby Head Coach Sarah Elliott. “The Clarence Cannon Conference is always hard competition but that does prepare us for some of our harder district games.”

  The Lady Birds graduated some key seniors from last season’s roster, but have nine returning lettermen, including seven returning starters.

  Key returning starters this season are Senior Sophia Eleazarraraz at catcher, Senior Callie McWilliams as starting pitcher, Senior Madison Wilt at centerfield, and Junior Bella Cook at shortstop.

  Top newcomers are Freshman Gracynn Lanpher. “She is really stepping it up and filling in some key sports on varsity,” said Elliott of her freshman.

  The strength of the team this year will be its speed. Coach Elliott is hoping this year’s team can use its speed on the bases to manufacture runs.

  “One of our biggest strengths is our speed.  Our speed around the bases, but also on defense and the ability to cover ground,” said Coach Elliott. “A weakness we have would be in our numbers this year and the fact we don’t have very much depth when it comes to catchers, but the catchers we do have are very good at what they do.  So, we value that we have quality of quantity.

  Offensively, the Lady Birds want to use its team speed to create havoc on the defenses.

  “On our offensive side, we are very quick around the bases,” said Elliott. We also have girls that are very versatile in what they can do in the short and long game, so we like to keep defenses on their feet and do whatever we can to manufacture runs.”

  In the field, the Lady Birds will have a group of seniors who will lead the defense.

“We have Sofia returning behind the plate and Callie returning in the circle.  Jayda is returning at third and Bella is sliding over to shortstop,” stated Elliott. “Jayda’s little sister, Gracynn, is coming in as a freshman at second base and Senior Maicyn Ratliff is starting at first base.  Then we have a stellar and speedy outfield with Wilt in center, Kylie Million and Reese Maupin on the corners.

  The Lady Birds were 14-16 overall and 2-4 in the Clarence Cannon Conference last season.