Published: March 26, 2008 04:28 pm            

Lady Fox softball going with youthful look

By CHARLES PENDELL

Sports correspondent

McLEANSBORO — Former Hamilton County softball standout Chrissy (Allardin) Cockrum begins her third season as the Lady Foxes' head softball coach.

The team only returns three upperclassmen but has a slew of youngsters to build on.

The Lady Foxes lost a foursome to graduation in pitcher Sarah Becker, catcher Jessica Hastings, first baseman Erin Prince and centerfielder Danielle Rapp. Cockrum will rely heavily on two seniors, one junior, five sophomores and seven freshmen.

“I’m looking forward to this season," Cockrum said. “I’ve heard and seen the incoming freshmen, and I believe they are going to be a valuable asset to the building of our team. Adding them in with my returning players and I believe we will have the makings of a pretty solid team.

"The weather has played havoc on our practices. If we could play our first couple of games in the gym, we would be awesome. We’ve been on the field only a few times since starting at the end of February. I believe most of the coaches around here have the same sentiment. It’s hard to see how our chemistry will work until we get outside more.

"We have all the right elements, but need to find the right combination of players. All of my players have the ability to play more than one position. They are all very adaptable."

Returning for their final season will be two seniors with lots of experience. Sam York and Nikki Ojala will be the Lady Foxes' co-captains.

“Sam has been a three-year starter for me in the outfield," Cockrum said. "She has really improved her hitting and her overall game. She is an asset in the outfield, because although she may not be the fastest on the team, she reads the ball off the bat really well. She also has a very strong arm in the outfield and will probably be batting in the heart of the order. She is a great leader, too.

"We were very fortunate to have Nikki Ojala transfer from Nokomis last year. She had big shoes to fill when Taylee Spicuzza graduated. She has done a nice job, and she is a good clutch hitter and always wants to be the person to make the play in pressure situations. She handles pressure very well and is a smart player at that.”

The lone junior this season is Kait Sloan.

“Kait has been a three-year starter for me," Cockrum said. "She will have a new role this year. After playing two years in the outfield, she will play some at second base. She will be a good leadoff or No. 9 hitter for me. She is quick and almost always comes up with a clutch hit.”

The real backbone of the Lady Foxes squad this season will be its youth.

“I have five sophomores, three of which saw substantial playing time," Cockrum said. "Chelsea Steele was a starter at third base. She has one of the best gloves I’ve ever seen. She makes the hard plays look routine. She’s always in the right place at the right time. She’s natural and she’s consistent in fielding and batting.

"Alexis York saw many games behind the plate last year, and she’ll see time back there again and also at first base. She’s quick for a catcher and very aggressive.

"D.J. Zachman saw quite a bit of playing time in the outfield. She is very fast; you can’t teach that. She recently switched being a right-handed batter to a left-handed slapper. D.J. is always ready and willing to do what needs to be done. She has the “Let me play" attitude that I really admire. D.J. will see substantial time in the outfield.

"Ashtynn Braden will be stepping into Erin Prince’s shoes at first base. She has great potential, and I think with more games under her belt, she will definitely be beneficial to the team.

"Lindsey Ojala will see some time at second base and in the outfield. Lindsey knows this game well and is a quick learner. She has the tendency to be a little timid of the ball. Our goal (hers and mine) is to get rid of that timidness this year. She will be a great asset in the future.”

Both Lady Fox pitchers come from the freshman class, and neither have pitched at the high school level before. But Jacqueline McGill has played for the Southern Illinois Rippers and Kayla Kreher for the Southern Envy for a few years.

“They are both very experienced and disciplined for freshmen," Cockrum said. "We flipped a coin to see who was going to pitch the first game.

"They aren’t the same kind of pitcher, but I have confidence in both of them. Jac will overpower you; she has quite a selection of pitches. Kayla throws hard but I believe is more of a finesse pitcher. She hits her corners and keeps the batters guessing.

"They’ll be a very effective 1-2 punch. Not only are they effective pitchers, they are very balanced hitters. Both will be hitting in the top of the order. When one isn’t pitching, they will either be a position player or a DH. They both have the ability to play anywhere. They are very versatile.

"Kelsey Bowman will see plenty of time in the outfield and as a catcher. She is very talented and a very natural, versatile player. She can track down a ball in the outfield or frame a pitcher behind the plate. She has a very strong arm, and man, can she hit the ball. She’s a competitor that hates to get beat.

"Mariah Barr will see some playing time in the outfield and at second base. She is a good short-game hitter and she will outhustle her opponent. She will be our silent force, a force to be reckoned with.

"Kira irons, CeJay Phillips and Brittany Shelton will see some time as substitutes, pinch runners and as motivators. They are good assets to the team. They will probably see time in the outfield and definitely in JV innings.”

The Lady Foxes and Cockrum will also welcome two new assistant coaches this year. Former Lady Fox softball player Jenny (Rubenacker) Allen and former Fox baseball star Jerry McGill have been added to the staff.

“They have made such an impact for me and the team. Teaching and instructing when I may not be there at that station, they are another pair of eyes, so to speak. It takes a lot of pressure off of me to try to be everywhere at once," Cockrum said.

The Lady Foxes play in the Black Diamond Conference and will have a tough nonconference slate with the likes of Benton, Harrisburg and Mt. Vernon, to name a few.

“I look for Carterville and Johnston City to be the top two teams," Cockrum said. "Then Carmi and Fairfield next. We want to be able to play with Carterville and JC and play good games with Carmi and Fairfield and get a couple of wins from them, to be optimistic. If we can win some games, our confidence can carry over to the next games.

"We have to cut down on our errors. We are young and a little inexperienced, but hopefully we can cut down on our mistakes. I have always been a defensive coach, and the girls are really working hard. We really need to get on the field and play a game and mold these younger players with the three upperclassmen and just go out and show our talents. Hopefully, we will be competitive.”

        

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