Nevada softball loaded with experience and young talent

Saturday, August 28, 2021
Nevada High School sophomore Skyler Burns throws to first base while teammates (from left) Caylee Holcomb, Peyton Eaton, Hailey Hearting, Mariska Buehler, Bailey Ast, and Caiden Blake look on during infield drills at a practice earlier this month at Bushwhacker Field.
Photo by Hank Layton | Daily Mail Sports Reporter

After his team’s performance at its softball jamboree in Leeton, Nevada High School head coach Danny Penn said if the Lady Tigers are playing at the same level on October 1 as they are today, they won’t be doing things right.

After (unofficially) shutting out both Leeton and Sherwood in those preseason scrimmages, that would mean Nevada will have not allowed a single run for the entire opening month of the season.

Not bad, right?

It just goes to show how high expectations are for NHS softball this season.

“I think when teams see Nevada on their schedule, they’re going to know they’re in for a fight,” Penn elaborated. “We hope to be a relentless, non-stop team that keeps coming at an opponent for seven innings.”

The Lady Tigers finished with a .500 record last season, were bounced from the first round of districts by Fatima, and lost four seniors — but have added at least three freshmen to their starting lineup with several more at the ready off the bench. A loaded and athletic class of 2025 brings with it hope that Nevada can regain its glory from back-to-back district titles in 2018 and 2019, not to mention that triumphant state championship from 2010.

“We have a lot of talent in our freshman class that can really help us. You just never really know how long it takes for freshmen to mentally realize that, yes, they can compete at the varsity level and they belong there,” Penn stated. “Varsity softball is much faster than what many of them are used to. But on the other hand, our freshmen have the talent and tools that make them capable of performing at the varsity level.”

There are a dozen ninth-graders on Penn and assistant coach Mackenzie Wolfe’s roster, led by Peyton Eaton (who is expected to be team’s ace in the circle), Ella Heathman (who will call the signals behind home plate), and Caylee Holcomb (who won the starting job at second base).

It’s not all freshmen, of course.

Sophomore newcomers Katie Johnson and Hope Hearting will patrol the outfield while Skyler Burns and Kara Phillips will put their experience as freshmen last year to use with power in the batter’s box and speed around the bases; juniors Caiden Blake, Teresa Dawn, and Kirstin Buck can — and will — play just about anywhere; and seniors Bailey Ast and Claire Pritchett will lock things down at shortstop and first base, respectively, as well as get the offense going in the leadoff and clean-up spots in the lineup. Jerica Collins, the team’s third senior, will also fill in at multiple positions.

For anyone worried about all those personalities clashing, Pritchett was quick to offer optimism.

“I’m super excited for the upcoming season,” she stated. “I think we have a great lineup. The 2021 Lady Tigers have a lot of potential. I’m pumped. We’re blessed with great coaches, awesome community support, and great team chemistry.”

Buck agreed.

“I think we have the potential to be really good this year,” stated the team’s other primary pitcher. “We know we still have work to put in on the field to reach our potential. Our goal as a team is to make our weaknesses into strengths and our strengths even stronger.”

NHS head coach Danny Penn (left) and assistant coach Mackenzie Wolfe feed ground balls to infielders.
Photo by Hank Layton | Daily Mail Sports Reporter

For Penn, accomplishing that goal will mean getting better each game — and not staying complacent.

“We have to continue pushing each other to be the best players we can be and play all-out,” he stated. “We just can’t get content and think we’re already good enough. The best teams may not start on fire, but they continue to work and get better throughout the season, ensuring they are peaking at the end.

“Even if we start out well, we still have to chase that higher peak, working hard to improve every day. We have to have fun and enjoy each other and the game. But it’s definitely more fun when you’re winning.”

Respond to this story

Posting a comment requires free registration: