Lady Pioneers hope bad-luck run is in the past

Batesville’s Lady Pioneers are looking for a change of luck in 2018. After last season, they’re due. Batesville stood 14-3 when pitcher Candace Rogers, on the mound against Pottsville, experienced “probably the freakiest injury ever,” coach Scott Hoffman said. “She broke her leg in two places. Her body turned, but her foot stayed there.” Batesville’s senior pitcher, Katie DeBerry, sustained a shoulder injury but tried to pitch through it. A torn labrum was diagnosed after the season. Sophomore Katelyn Langston also went down in the season finale in an extrainnings loss to Paragould. “All three of my pitchers were down,” Hoffman said. “We went from 14-3 to finish 19-10.” But hopes are high for the Lady Pioneers in 2018. Five starters return, including Rogers, who has committed to the University of the Ozarks in Clarksville and is “100 percent and ready to roll,” Hoffman said; Langston, a junior pitcher/ outfielder; senior second baseman Hope Lange, a two-time all-conference player; senior catcher Celsey Wood, a two-time all-conference selection committed to Lyon College in Batesville; and senior outfielder Callie Densmore. “If we don’t make it to state, we’ll be sick,” said Hoffman, in his second season atop the program at his alma mater after seven years as head coach at Pangburn. “We’re hoping for a big year. We’ve had really good senior leadership. They have really stepped up through the offseason with a positive attitude and have taken ownership of the team.” In addition to the seniors, Hoffman said, he has other key pieces back. “Some kids who might not have been regular starters got some playing time, and we’ve got some pretty good freshmen,” he said. Freshman Belen Sanchez will start in center field. Sophomore Ashlyn Blevins, who transferred in from Southside Batesville, “will definitely help in the field,” Hoffman said. “She can play any position but pitch.” Lange’s .458 batting average leads the Lady Pioneers, the coach said. Power hitters include Densmore, sophomore first baseman Carlee Swaim and sophomore third baseman Riley Provence. Sophomore Kira Hill can bunt and slap the ball and has good speed, he said. Wood is solid behind the plate, and Blevins and Hill also have “great gloves,” Hoffman said. “Lange is phenomenal,” Hoffman said. “I’ve been coaching fast-pitch softball for 20 years, 12 at the high school level, and she has the best glove and footwork I’ve coached.”

If we don’t make it to state, we’ll be sick. We’re hoping for a big year.” SCOTT HOFFMAN BATESSVILLE SOFTBALL HEAD COACH

Speed is also an asset. Hill, Langston and Sanchez have “decent” speed, and freshmen Maggie Vanemburg and Kenzie Worley, “who can fly,” will be used as pinch runners, the coach said. The outfield, with Langston, Sanchez and Densmore, “is full of pretty good arms,” Hoffman said. Rogers and Langston combined for 31 strikeouts in a doubleheader last season. Rogers struck out 107 in 10 starts. Team strengths, Hoffman said, will be pitching, catching, defense and improved speed. “We’re a lot more athletic team than we’ve had at Batesville in a few years,” Hoffman said. However, he is a bit concerned about the bats. “We lost some sticks when the seniors graduated last year,” he said. “We kind of know what the top and middle of the order will be. But will those freshmen and sophomores step up in the bottom half and fill those holes? “If they do — if we’re able to score four, five, six runs a game — with our pitching and defense, we’ll be pretty tough to beat.” Last season ended for Batesville with an eight-inning, 5-4 loss to Paragould in the opening round of the 5A-East District Tournament. “We absolutely played our worst game of the year against Paragould,” Hoffman said. “We want to give up four free bases or less a game — walks, passed balls, wild pitches, errors. If we do that, we’ve got a chance to win. “Against Paragould, we gave up 11. They had no earned runs. We absolutely gave them the ballgame.” That experience has served as motivation for the team. “We’ve had a sour taste in our mouth,” Hoffman said. “We’ve kind of got a chip on our shoulder. I would say Greene County Tech is probably the front runner in our conference, but us, Paragould and Valley View should all be in the mix. “I’m hoping we can compete with Tech and chase them for the conference title.” A tough schedule should bode well for the Lady Pioneers in the postseason. “I don’t care if we win four games or 24 — I want us prepared at the end of the season for the playoffs,” he said.