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Softball preview: Game remains the same for Lady Hawks softball team
BENTON -- After back-to-back runs to the Class 2 final four, expectations remain high as ever for the Kelly Lady Hawks entering the upcoming season.
Returning 8 of 9 starters and supported by a healthy incoming class of freshman, the Lady Hawks will once again have their eyes set on securing the school's first state title since 2004.
"The pressure is always on," Kelly head coach Rhonda Ratledge said. "We've made a final four appearance each of the last two years with this group of girls who are now seniors so we'd like to make another one."
Though they've made seven final four appearances in the past 10 years, it's taking that final step to a championship that has been the challenge.
In each of the past two seasons a semifinal loss has ended their title hopes with Kelly finishing in third and fourth place in 2012 and 2013 respectively.
One thing that's working for the Lady Hawks will be that many of the girls who led the charge during each of those runs will be back as seniors. This includes four-year starters Kristi Brucker, Stephanie Worth and Samantha Ratledge along with fellow seniors and returning starters Savannah Ashley and Morgan LeDure.
All five players have seen extensive playing time since their freshman year and were all selected to last year's Class 2, District 1 team helping the Lady Hawks to a 19-9 record. Departed senior shortstop Jade Rampley and returning junior McKynlee Neumeyer were also all-district selections.
"I had lost a bunch of seniors these year those girls came in as freshmen," Rhonda Ratledge said of her senior group. "They were kind of on their own there for a little bit. We had to mold them into believing in the tradition we've had at Kelly. But they've done really well for being so young."
Just as important as the return of their senior core is that of now upperclassman Alexis Dock. The junior was the Lady Hawk's eighth all-district selection last season while serving as staff ace and hitting at the heart of the order.
Dock, Rampley and Samantha Ratledge were the three Lady Hawks last year to receive first-team, all-state honors.
Dock comes back after posting a 10-5 record on the rubber, posting a 2.25 ERA in 102 innings while collecting 98 strikeouts. At the plate she hit for a .513 average.
After stellar freshman and sophomore season, Ratledge expects more of the same as Dock and Brucker serve as the team's primary pitchers.
"The girls have been working all summer long playing travel ball," Ratledge said. "Dock was with us in St. Louis and traveled to a lot of different states playing. She got to see a lot of pitching and face a lot of batters herself.
"She was able to work on a lot of different pitches and improving those. It's very exciting to have her back and Kristi as well."
Along with her experienced group of upperclassmen, Ratledge was pleased to see one of the bigger groups incoming freshmen she's had in recent memory that brings her squad up to 20 players.
"I have 10 underclassmen that came out this year," she said. "That's very exciting, especially since I'm going to be losing six seniors after this year. To have these seniors take those girls under their wing, show them the drills, what's expected and the tradition and pound that into them this season, that's a big thing."
Kelly starts it's season on the road Tuesday against the Chaffee Lady Devils at 4:30 p.m.