Russellville girls motivated to return to postseason
After coming up one game short of qualifying for the 2023 Class 5A State Softball Tournament, Russellville’s Cyclones are aiming for more in 2024. Robert Edwards’ second Cyclone squad finished 13-14, including 7-7 in the 5A-West.
“We want to keep improving and put our team in a position to make the state tournament,” said Edwards, in his fifth season as a head coach. “Finishing one game out last season has kept the team motivated.”
The Cyclones return seven starters, including five upperclassmen: seniors Brenna Burk and Tiarah Crawley; and juniors Ava Brock, Abigail Blythe and Kaiya White; and two sophomores: Addison Crain and Zaira Thomas.
The coach said Brock should lead the Cyclones at the plate, for both average and power.
“Her patience at the plate and her ability to battle and get her barrel on the ball on close pitches tend to give her a lot of base-hit opportunities,” Edwards said. “She is a very resilient player. Her hand-eye coordination, combined with her strength and patience, make her a threat to go deep every time she’s up at bat. She is always just a swing away from changing a game.”
Burk leads the defense. “Brenna [Burk] is a true asset in the outfield,” the coach said. “Any area that she is patrolling is a true no-fly zone. Her ability to read the ball coming off the bat is tremendous.”
Crawley, Thomas and freshman Emma Prater provide the team its best speed.
“All three of those young ladies have absolutely elite speed and help us out tremendously both on the base path and in the field,” Edwards said.
Crawley in the outfield offers the best arm for the Cyclones.
“She has the ability to catch it at the fence and get that runner at home on an absolute dart,” Edwards said. “She has one of the strongest arms I have seen in my years of coaching.”
Blythe will lead the pitching corps. “Her focus on mechanics and her overall pitching arsenal make her a highlevel pitcher,” the coach said. “She is not necessarily overpowering, but she does the little things right to always give us a chance to win whenever she is in the circle.”
Edwards said Brock, junior firstbaseman Raegan Skiles and freshman shortstop Aribella Garcia will be college prospects.
The 5A-West also includes Siloam Springs, Greenbrier, Greenwood, Van Buren, Mountain Home, Harrison and Alma.
Greenwood reached the state semifinals last season, falling to Benton, the eventual champion, 1-0. Van Buren also fell in the semifinals, losing to eventual runner-up Greene County Tech, 2-1. Harrison and Mountain Home also reached the state tournament.
Edwards said games to watch this spring will include Greenbrier on March 26 and at Van Buren on April 30.
Overall, intangibles could be the Cyclones’ secret weapon in 2024.
“The girls spend a lot of time together throughout the offseason,” Edwards said. “Many of them play travel ball together. It is a very tight-knit group with a blend of freshmen through seniors.”