Ridgeland prepping to defend region crown
Normally, graduating just three seniors would be a small price to pay for a region championship and a trip to Columbus for the Elite Eight.
However, in the case of the Ridgeland Lady Panthers, it’s quality not quantity when it comes to their losses.
Their three departing seniors, Allison Wallin, Cortney Mooneyham and Morgan Crawford, all played huge roles as the team’s starting catcher, the team’s two top pitchers and the team’s starters at first base. All three were All-Region selections, Crawford was the region’s Pitcher of the Year and an AllState first team pick and all three signed to play ball in college.
While the losses were all significant, head coach Richie Wood doesn’t expect anyone to feel sorry for his team, which will have a big target on its back in 2017.
“If you win, you’ll always have a target, so you just go with it and you play your game,” he said. “You go out and prepare and refuse to lose. I think we’ll still be strong, offensively, with what we have returning and some others who have worked hard in the offseason.”
This year’s senior class in anchored by shortstop Haley Sandridge, who will be a four-year starter. She was a unanimous first team All-State and AllRegion pick a year ago after hitting .510 with 14 doubles and 19 RBIs. She went on to bat .667 during Ridgeland’s run in Columbus.
Katie Carruth will man left field and is coming off a junior year that saw her hit .485 in 18 games after missing the first part of the year with an injury. Designated hitter Haley Walker played in 19 games last fall and batted .321, while Cameron Massey started a number of games in rightfield last season. The final senior, Whitney Boehm, is expected to take over at first base. She was limited to just eight at-bats last year with injuries.
The three juniors are all also returning starters. Katie Davis moving from the outfield to take over at catcher, Grayson “Cadillac” James will be back at second base and Laine Hicks returns at the hot corner.
A large sophomore contingent is led by second team All-Region picks Kiera and Ciera Foster. Kiera, a starter in centerfield, hit .333 with 20 RBIs a year ago, while Ciera hit .322 with 17 runs scored. She is working in the infield and the outfield thus far.
Hailey Carroll will go into her sophomore year as the team’s No. 1 pitcher, although her varsity experience in the circle is limited. Carroll pitched just 10 innings last year, most of them coming in a midSeptember tournament game against Class AAAAAAA powerhouse Mill Creek in which she lost only 4-0. She finished the year with an 0-1 record, one save and a 2.80 ERA.
The rest of the sophomores include third baseman Danielle Cross, catcher Kia Wade and outfielders Vanessa Hart, Kay-Lee Wade, Brittany Holder and Alyana Cummings.
Among the freshman, Kelsey Adams could see plenty of action as the team’s No. 2 pitcher and Erin Hughes could also be in the mix as an outfielder or a corner infielder. The rest of the class includes Anna Jenkins and Ally Thomas.
Wood said, despite the pitching losses, experience was still his team’s strength.
“We’re loaded with experience, especially on the infield with the exception of first base,” he said. “Katie (Davis) has caught some in the past and I think she’ll be able to step in for Mooneyham. We’ve got a lot of speed in the outfield and they should be able to make plays while Hailey is getting her pitching legs under her. Hailey will make hitters put the ball on the ground and she’ll serve up catchable balls. We just have to make the plays behind her without mental or physical errors.”
He added that hitting and defense would be two big keys to a successful 2017 season.
“Our hitting really has to come through and we really have to learn to play disciplined, which we didn’t do the last two games of (last) season in the state playoffs,” he said. “We also have to run the bases correctly and make sure Hailey stays healthy. We could use some more pitching, but I still see a lot of upside for Ridgeland softball.”