Published: March 17, 2008 11:56 pm         

Young Patriots, Warriors ready to challenge Tigers

Continuing a series of high school softball previews with Class AA Independence (13-11 last season) and Wyoming East (21-6):

Independence

The Patriots’ freshmen and sophomores have another year under their belts, while right-hander Sarah Brown is back on the mound for her senior season.

“I expect us to be competitive with everybody we play,” coach Tom Poe said. “We have more team speed and we’ll put the ball in play with more sting up and down the lineup.”

Brown, a hard-luck 9-8 last year, also led the team in batting with a .439 average and 28 runs batted in.

“She’s looking a little faster, and her breaking pitch was really good Saturday (a 4-1 win over Class AAA Parkersburg),” Poe said.

Senior first baseman Ashley Justice (.324) and speedy junior center fielder Sheena McKinney (.312) are three-year starters.

Junior catcher Jacinda Ward (.392), sophomore third baseman Summer Adkins (.180) and junior left fielder Scarlet Lawson (.254) also return.

Poe will choose between freshman Kayla Epling and junior Hillary Shupe at second base, freshman Kayla Saunders and sophomore Amanda Ward at shortstop and freshman Whitney Hill and juniors Summer Hicks and Shasta Huybert in right field.

Wyoming East

The likewise youthful Warriors are pitching-rich, led by all-state junior right-hander L.B. Mills (12-2).

“L.B.’s a get-’em-out pitcher, not a strikeout pitcher,” coach Doc Warner said. “We’ll have to play good defense behind her.”

Warner can also choose from sophomore Chelsea Whitten, senior Natasha Roberts, sophomores Kayla Brooks and Lindsey Cook and freshman Brandi McGraw.

Sophomore right fielder-first baseman Selina Simmons (.429) tops the potent East attack, followed by senior second baseman Brittany Allen (.377), outfielder Brooks (.355), Mills (.333), senior catcher Chelsea Thompson (.328), third baseman Roberts (.317) and outfielder-catcher Cheyenne Graybilll (.277).

Sophomore utility player Christian Mullins has hit well in the preseason.

“I think we’ll hit even better this year,” Warner said. “But we’ll still be young.”

— E-mail:

dstillwell@

register-herald.com