Lady Bulldogs faces uphill battle in 2018
The Conway St. Joseph softball team is facing an uphill battle to start the 2018 season. “Both of our pitchers are hurt right now,” coach Debra Wilhite said. “[The injuries] are not serious. Gracie Keathley has a bruised bone and should be back next week. “I just don’t know how tough she will be at that point.” Junior pitcher Hope Hardgrave is having issues with her pitching arm, so the Wilhite said the coaches have been diligent in keeping a watch on her. “They bring two different styles,” Wilhite said. “Gracie is more of a control pitcher. She is going to pitch the edges, and her fastball isn’t as fast as Hope’s. “Hope relies on her speed, as she throws hard. Gracie takes her time in her delivery.” Wilhite said sophomore Emily Briggler, who normally plays shortstop, may have to pitch some until the two are healed. “[Briggler] is an all-around good player,” the coach said. “She hit several over the fence last year. She will do whatever she needs to do to help this team. “Hopefully, we will get the girls back, but [Briggler] would be the one to do it.” The second biggest challenge for St. Joseph — and other schools in the state — has been the rain. “We have been on the field twice,” Wilhite said at the time of the interview. “We have been practicing in the gym with safety balls, but we have been practicing. “There are batting cages behind the gym, and we have been working on our throwing and other drills, but the ball bounces differently off the dirt.” Wilhite said the players have also been working out a lot, so “hopefully, we are physically ready.”
“But I’m sure we will make some mental mistakes,” Wilhite said. “It is part of the learning process.” Almost everyone coming back from last year’s team started. St. Joseph did pick up a pair of freshmen in Savannah Mooney and Emma Pasierb. “They will be a great asset to us,” Wilhite said. “The rest of the girls have played together and kinda know what we are doing. “I think the thing we are going to be behind on is our hitting. We haven’t gotten near enough hitting in so far.” The coach also said she feels strong about the team’s fielding ability. “We need to pay attention and know where we are going with the ball,” Wilhite said. “We just need to make sure we have our head in the game.”