Defending state champions face no easy task
It is even tougher at the top. That’s the motto or lesson that Rose Bud head coach Scotty Starkey has been preaching this entire offseason to his team. The Lady Ramblers knocked off Bald Knob to win the 3A state championship last year, so now, the target is on their back. “For a couple years, we have been the ones doing the chasing,” Starkey said. “And as hard as that was, it is going to be even harder this year. “We can’t go out there and be happy about winning a state championship. If we go out there with that attitude, we will lose. “The target is definitely on our back this year, and there are some very good 3A teams that are bringing back a lot of talent. So it is going to be a tough road.” Luckily, the Lady Ramblers, who finished 30-5 last season, return eight starters, including seniors Lauryn Swaffar, Jenna Hipp, Gena Cartwright and Nikki Blacksmith. “We have a lot back,” Starkey said, “but also, we have a lot of overall talent. The sad things is, I have some very good players that don’t start but could start for a lot of schools. “These players have bought into the team concept and understand their roles. That’s how we get to do what we do. They are all pretty good teammates.” Hipp, who has already signed with Harding University in Searcy, has muscled up a little bit this offseason. As a junior, she appeared in 22 games, finishing with a 12-4 record with an ERA of 1.60. She struck out 119 batters with 22 walks. “She should be able to put some speed on her pitch,” Starkey said. “She can spin it and put it anywhere you want the ball to be. “Gracie Hartle and Hope Hartle are power pitchers and throw a little bit harder than Jenna. All three of them are pretty similar, so it is hard to separate them. We are comfortable with whoever.” Starkey said Hipp is already doing the program that she would be doing if she was playing at Harding this year. “That’s why she has gained some muscle,” he said, “which is going to help us a whole lot.” As a sophomore, Gracie appeared in 20 games, finishing with a 13-1 record with a 1.47 ERA. She struck out 115 batters and walked 29. Her sister, Hope, appeared in nine games, finishing with a 5-0 record and a 2.57 ERA. Hope struck out 28 batters and walked just 7. She led the team with 52 RBIs last season. She also tallied a .472 batting average with 6 home runs and a team-high 16 doubles. “The last two years, Gracie and Jenna have started, and we are comfortable with either one, no matter who we are playing,” Starkey said. Rivers Edition Swaffar returns at first base after batting .346 last year with 31 RBIs, 2 home runs and 20 runs scored. She also had a fielding percentage of .993, committing just 1 error in 35 games. “She is a tall kid, right under 6 feet,” Starkey said. “A couple of years ago, she led the team in home runs, so she has some power behind the plate. “She is a very good first baseman.” Junior Joley Mitchell, who was named this year’s Three Rivers Edition Player to Watch, returns after batting .578 with 33 RBIs, 65 runs scored and 13 home runs. “She is one of the hardest workers I have ever seen,” Starkey said. “I feel like she is never satisfied with where she is at.” Outfielders Cartwright and Blacksmith have played together all their lives. “They have good chemistry, and they know each other well,” Starkey said. Cartwright batted .344 last season with 23 RBIs and 20 runs scored. In 10 games, Blacksmith batted .444 with 8 hits, 7 runs scored and 6 RBIs. “The problem is, I still don’t have everybody back yet,” Starkey said at the time of the interview. “I have four starters who are still playing basketball. “But something we have done is gotten in the weight room a little bit, more than last year. “We are also a year older than last year and a year more mature. These girls play all the time, and they are always working on their game.” Possible underclassmen expected to see some playing time this year include freshmen Kyann Hays and Shelbie Walker; and junior transfer Hailey Vaughn. “We are pretty good offensively,” Starkey said, “but teams know how to pitch to our girls from scouting. “We need to learn how to get better at hitting their toughest pitches, so our approach at the plate is something we need to work on.”