Lady Red Devils aiming for fifth-straight conference title

Tracey Brown has built a powerhouse in her 18 years of coaching at Atkins. The softball team has its eye on a fifthstraight conference championship this year. With seven returning starters, she said, the team has a good chance to take the conference. Brown also said the Red Devils’ ambitions don’t stop there. They are aiming for a shot at the state championship. Last season’s 21-8 record gives Atkins confidence, but the team will put two new pitchers on the mound this season. Junior Mary Kate Brown, who has made a verbal commitment to the University of Central Arkansas in Conway, brings a good bat to the lineup and is one of two batters averaging .500 at the writing of this article. She is joined by sophomore Kaleigh Berkemeyer, who has the second .500 average. Berkemeyer is also one of the fresh faces on the mound this year, along with senior Audrey DeLeuil. The coaches have done their best to get the pitchers ready this offseason. “We have spent a lot of time with our pitchers,” coach Brown said. “Neither has much mound time with the varsity, so we’re trying our best to prepare them for that.” The coach said Mary Kate Brown is a versatile player who leads the team in a variety of ways, and she will be key to the team’s success this year. Coach Brown said she is the team’s best power hitter, as well as the team’s best fielder from the shortstop position. But the team needs to play well offensively to have a chance at state. Analyzing and adjusting the girls’ swings has been a point of emphasis for the coaches and players this offseason, the coach said. The Red Devils were relegated to off-field work a lot this offseason because of the record rainfall. “Well, due to the monsoons, I would say we have spent the majority of our time breaking down our swings,” coach Brown said. “We have a few girls who will be hitting in varsity games for the first time.” The young players show promise, though. Berkemeyer is a college prospect, the coach said. Atkins won two of three against rival Perryville last season. The Red Devils beat the Mustangs 6-0 at home March 28 and 6-1 at Perryville on April 20. Perryville took advantage of a meeting in the district tournament to get revenge, knocking off Atkins 6-3. The team still feels that loss. It’s a series to watch for the Atkins this year. The Red Devils will play the Mustangs in Perryville on March 27 and at home April 17. Coach Brown said she wants the team to compete with the two best teams in the state. She recognizes that hard work is the blueprint to that type of success. She said she has been impressed by the work ethic of the team. “We have loved our girls’ work ethic in the offseason,” the coach said.