The softball season kicks off February 1 with a scrimmage against Teague. Josh Stephenson will take over the head coaching position this year after assisting Kerry Hand last year. Stephenson has coached for 17 years and has coached softball for eight of those years. 

“I am very excited to take over as the new softball coach,” Stephenson said. “We hope to win district this year and make it to the playoffs.”

Senior Rebecca Dunlap will return as pitcher for her last year. She has been playing for 12 years starting with t-ball. Hand has coached Dunlap for years and has coached her for all of high school.

“Coach hand was a great coach and I wish she could have finished out my senior season, but I am excited to see what Coach Stephenson has planned for this year,” Dunlap said. “I think he will do a great job!”

Senior Bailey Jones will also be returning and has played since t-ball. Hand has also coached her for all of high school.

  “Coach Hand really pushed me and she’s half the reason I am able to continue my softball career,” Jones said. “Coach Stephenson was also one of my coaches last year, and I think he will still help in the success of the team and will continue to push me, now than ever.”

Jones will continue her career at the Division I school, Missouri Valley College next fall.  

“Even though I am nervous about playing college softball, I am mostly excited to play at such a high level,” Jones said. “It is going to be a lot different and much harder but I’m ready for it.”

Freshman McKinna Brackens will play her first year of school softball after playing for select teams like “Glory Adkins Gold” and the “Knockouts”. 

“It’s gonna be interesting going from select to high school because they are just so different,” Brackens said. “I am most looking forward to playing with my best friends instead of just meeting a whole new group of girls and playing with them like I usually do.”