WEST PLAINS, Mo. – Three players from the inaugural season of Missouri State University-West Plains (MSU-WP) Grizzly Softball will lead the charge during the team’s upcoming sophomore campaign, Head Coach Don Long said.
They include shortstop Kenzie Massey, Grandby, who earned honorable mention All-Region 16 and All-Missouri Community College Athletic Conference (MCCAC) honors last season; utility player Madalyn Ivy, Mansfield; and pitcher Anabelle Hitt, Lynchburg.
“These three are going to be excellent leaders for our team,” Long said. “They had a solid first year competing at the collegiate level and have gained valuable experience.”
Long also expects a lot from the newcomers to this year’s squad.
“We are excited about the incoming freshman class. We have high-caliber, talented signees who we believe will be able to step in and play competitively at the Division I level,” Long said.
These include several players from the southwestern Missouri region:
- Chloe Kelts, infielder from Mtn. View
- Jordyn Foley, pitcher from Ozark
- Zoey Williams, infielder from West Plains
- Ellie Mitchell, utility player from Dadeville
- Allisyn Vance, outfielder from Reeds Spring
- Brooklyn Hasler, pitcher from Reeds Spring
- Karissa Roberts, outfielder from Ozark
- Kaydyn Bond, outfielder from Doniphan
- McKenzie Hamilton, utility player from Hollister
- Kennedy Evans, catcher from Lamar
- Gloria Alvardo, infielder from Rogersville
- Anna Minge, outfielder from Willow Springs
- Lexie Gastineau, outfielder from Ava
- Jessee Latham, outfielder from Gainesville
- Keeley Akers, infielder from Ava
- Mackinley Goss, catcher from Ava
Other incoming freshmen include:
- Brydon Maddox, catcher from Malden
- Kennedy Cogdill, pitcher from East Prairie
- Alexis Funkhouser, infielder from Sullivan
- Emily Suttles, infielder from Booneville, Arkansas
- Sidney Myler, infielder from Carrollton
“My goal for this second season is to be competitive in every game, play hard and be good representatives of our community, college and team,” Long said.
Season starts Aug. 19
The Grizzlies second season, which will see them move from NJCAA Division II to Division I competition, will begin Aug. 19 with a double header against the Arkansas Chaos club team from Cotter. Games times are 9 and 11 a.m. at the West Plains Parks and Recreation Department softball fields adjacent to the high school parking lot, the home field for the Grizzlies.
The team’s annual tailgate event will take place Sept. 9 during the Grizzlies’ home double header against the Mountain Home (Arkansas) Diamonds club team.
“We will have food trucks, recreational bounce houses and more fun planned,” Grizzly Team Coordinator Ashley Cooley said.
Game times on Sept. 9 will be 2 and 4 p.m.
Other home games this fall will be held on the following dates:
- Sept. 10 vs. Baptist Bible College, Springfield, game times 2 and 4 p.m.
- Sept. 18 vs. Arkansas State University-Mtn. Home, game times 2 and 4 p.m.
- Oct. 7 vs. Arkansas State University-Newport, game times 2 and 4 p.m.
- Oct. 28 vs. Moberly Area Community College and North Arkansas College from Harrison, game times noon, 2 and 4 p.m.
For more information about the Grizzly Softball team, visit the team’s website at MSUWPGrizzlies.com.
Missouri State University-West Plains empowers students to achieve personal success and to enrich their local and global communities by providing accessible, affordable and quality educational opportunities. Missouri State-West Plains offers associate degrees and credit and non-credit courses and serves as a delivery site for bachelor’s and master’s degrees offered by Missouri State University in Springfield.
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