3/1/23
By Kevin Taylor
Alma Schools
It’s not how you start but how you finish.
Alma coach Charla Parrish’s team learned that the hard way in 2022. After winning seven of 10 conference games to start 5A-West play, the Lady Airedales felt like they were a lock.
But the Lady Airedales dropped four in a row and missed the post-season all together. Things don’t tend to get any easier in 2023.
Alma returns only player who pitched in one game in 2022.
MacKenzie Gwinn, you’re up.
“We have some young kids who don't have the experience of high school ball yet, but they're going to have to step in and be ready to play," Parrish said. "We lost our ace pitcher from last year, McKenzie (Martin), who is doing well at Eastern (Oklahoma State College) hitting and pitching. We have a young pitching staff; that's one of the things we're going to look at in order to be ready for conference play."
Parrish didn’t just lose Martin and her nine home runs and 18 extra-base hits to graduation, she lost another big bat in Taelynn Perry, too.
Fortunately, Lady Airedales have some experience from which to build.
Juniors Julia Nutt and Jada Wallas are coming off big seasons. Seniors McKenzie Erwin and Jocelyn Harless are ready to step up as well.
"We have McKenzie Erwin and Jocelyn Harless, who are seniors," Parrish said. "Jada and Julia, who are both juniors, and we picked up Jenna Williams, who is a senior who hasn't played since ninth grade. She's going to help us out, too."
Wallis, the team’s catcher, batted .359 with 13 extra-base hits in 2022, including four homers and 30 RBIs. Wallis, Perry (31), and Martin (30) combined for 91 RBIs last season.
Harless batted .343 (24-for-70) with 15 RBIs. She appeared in all 25 games. Nutt batted .329 in 2022.
Parrish said she expects Erwin to pitch some, too.
The Lady Airedales open the season with three straight games, including Wednesday’s opener at Hackett. They travel to Huntsville and Clarksville next week, too, before opening 5A-West play with Harrison at home on March 14.