Lady Beavers counting on senior core, freshmen

For Glen Rose head coach Brett Haley, it doesn’t matter if a player is a freshman or a senior — the better player will get the start. “I’m going to put the best players on the field,” Haley said. “If they are going to play and do the job, then I’m going to put them out on the field.” Sophomores Nikki Schneider and Katelyn Kester started as freshmen last year. “Katelyn, she’s a go-getter. She will do whatever you ask of her; she is very determined,” Haley said. “She would run through a wall if you asked it of her. “She is a hard worker and determined.” In 28 games, Kester batted .247 with 15 runs scored and 22 RBIs. Schneider split time at pitching with senior Holly Crutchfield. Schneider finished the season with a 5-3 record with a 3.67 ERA with 47 strikeouts and 16 walks. Schneider has also received interest from the University of Arkansas at Monticello. “She just has good control,” Haley said of Schneider. “She doesn’t throw as hard as Holly, but she has good control, and she moves her ball well. She’s got a lot of good spin on it.” Crutchfield, who has signed with Arkansas Tech University in Russellville, made 23 appearances last year and finished with a 12-8 record with an ERA of 1.59. She struck out out 138 batters, walking just 47. “We’ve got good pitchers who are coming back,” Haley said. “They both shared the equal load last year, and they will share it again this year.“Glen Rose lost its third baseman and center fielder to graduation, but Haley said he has enough people in place to fill those positions. “Ninth-grader Maddi Carver will take over at third, and Holly and Nikki will probably play center field when they aren’t pitching,” he said. “Holly could also play third base. “We have the luxury that we have several players who can play several positions.” The coach said freshman Emma McJunkins will also work as a third pitcher and will play outfield as well. Haley said the team’s biggest strength this season is going to be the group of his four seniors, including Crutchfield, Hannah Jester, Kerri Williams and utility player Kim Farber. “They are a close-knit group,” Haley said. “We’ve got several coming back from last year’s team, and they know they have got to work at it to get [to the state tournament]. “We have a good group who are coming up that are mixing well with our older girls.” Jester, who has received interest from Lyon College in Batesville; Mississippi College in Clinton, Mississippi; and Briar Cliff University in Sioux City, Iowa, batted .293 last season with 20 runs scored and 16 RBIs. Williams batted .297 with 17 runs scored and 16 RBIs. “We need to hit better top to bottom and be consistent with it,” Haley said. “We will have a few hits in one area, and the other half [of the lineup] not hit. “We need to be consistent with it every day.” Glen Rose finished fourth last year, losing to Bald Knob in the semifinals of the state tournament. “We believe if we can score five runs, we can win the game,” Haley said. “There were several times when we left people in scoring position and couldn’t get them in. “If we want to make it to the finals, that’s our goal. I have no doubt that we can make it there. We just have to do the little things right.”