Senior-heavy Southwest swinging for success

BY KYLE TROUTMAN ktroutman@cassville-democrat.com

The Southwest softball team has six seniors leading the squad to a winning record so far this season at 7-4, including a tournament trophy.

The Lady Trojans began the season with a championship in the Cheri Nash Memorial in Verona, outscoring Verona, Galena and Wheaton by a combined 49-2 en route to the title.

Emily Snyder, Southwest softball coach, said the squad, which returned eight varsity players an 12 total lettermen, has a strong pair of leaders guiding a senior-heavy lineup.

“[Senior] Kaleigh Tull has the best attitude on the mound and has several great spins that are on consistently,” Snyder said. “However, what stands out to me is that Tull can be asked to accomplish a task, and she will accomplish it to the best of her abilities in a calm manner. It is very hard to see if Tull starts to sweat in a close game as she is so calm on the mound, which radiates to the rest of the team.

“[Junior] Jacee Durossette, is an athlete who is so dedicated to this sport and is always wanting to understand how she can improve and excel at the game. Additionally, she has great spins and variations of pitches. Jacee has so much heart and dedication devoted to the team and so that means she will give her all on the mound and in the field. She is a great leader and am very excited to see her excel even more during this season.”

Along with Tull, five other seniors are making their marks this season in Riley Flippo, Rebecca Swanepoel, Addison Keates, Raeli Miles and Addison Cotton.

“Each of these girls embody such devotion and dedication to the game,” Snyder said. “In the past three years of coaching, they all have been to the hitting leagues, open fields and off-season training. [They also have] such a positive attitude/ personality, which radiates to their teammates and myself, as well.”

Snyder said early in the season the team was still tweaking some fundamentals on the field and at the plate.

“Most of all, [we have] to overcome the mental battle of understanding and knowing we can accomplish big things as a team and individually this season,” she said. “The identity for the team has stayed and will continue to remain the same — to simply keep moving and grooving by doing the little things: communicating, having positive attitudes on and off the field and giving it all every single game, no matter the outcome.”

In her third year at the helm, Snyder said she’s excited to see where the season goes.

“I feel incredibly blessed to have this position and get the opportunity to not only coach, but to be around such a great group of girls,” she said. “I am very excited to see the outcome of this season, as I know whatever the outcome will be, the Lady Trojans will continue to work hard and do it with a smile on their face. That is all I could ask for as their coach.”

In their 11 contests so far, the Lady Trojans have either scored a lot or a little. Six of the seven wins were with double-digit runs, and in three of the four losses, Southwest was held scoreless.

The Lady Trojans are in Class 2, District 6, where Diamond and Miller look to be favorites at 16-1 and 13-5, respectively. In district contests this season, Southwest has fallen to Mt. Vernon, 19-0, and Miller, 12-0.

The Lady Trojans played Crane on Monday and travel to Jasper on Thursday. The regular season wraps up on May 5 at home against Marionville.