SHS Lady Cat Softball Team includes (Seniors) Courtney Beesley, Katy White, (Juniors) Amanda Jones, Jamie Farmer, Julie Butler, Sara Ishee, Heather Beesley, (Sophomores) Tessa Dalrymple, Paris Jackson, Crystal Ladner, (Freshmen) Jessica Peters, Kody Beech, Paige Williams, Allye Smith, Asia Roberson, (8th Graders) Morgan Lang, Aleyia Howze, Leslie Puckett, (7th Graders) Makayla Herrin, Haley Free and Clara Williams. The team is coached by Sam Compston
The Stone High softball team needs to set its sights high in order to improve on last year’s 20-6 season.
A trip to the second round of the state playoffs left returning players with a taste of success and they most assuredly want more.
Coach Sam Compston has two seniors and five juniors returning from that squad along with a host of youngsters who he expects to see considerable playing time.
Much will depend on the right arm of junior pitcher/shortstop Heather Beesley.
“Heather has been the backbone of what we’ve been able to accomplish,” Compston said. “She’ll be very important to any success we have this year.”
Beesley will be backstopped by junior catcher/third baseman Julie Butler.
The other three returning juniors are, Amanda Jones (RF/C), Jamie Farmer (OF) and Sara Ishee (LF/RHP).
The returning seniors are first baseman/outfielder Courtney Beesley and center fielder/second baseman Katy White.
Newcomers who are likely to play a large role are Allye Smith (3B/SS), Morgan Lang (2B/CF) and Paris Jackson (3B/DH).
“Those three will see a lot of action,” Compston said.
The Lady ’Cats will benefit from moving to Region 6-5A and leaving a district which included powerhouse East Central.
Compston, in his 10th year as head coach, will not miss facing the Hornets in district play.
“Five out of the nine years I’ve coached here, East Central won the state title,” he said.
This season, Stone will face Picayune, Wayne County and Pearl River Central in league play.
“It’s not going to be a cakewalk,” Compston said. “Wayne County’s got two real good pitchers and didn’t lose a lot of people and Picayune is a solid team that will make you beat them.”
One huge loss from last year’s squad is Courtney Fairley, now playing at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College.
Compston realizes the futility in attempting to fill the shoes left by a player of her caliber.
“You don’t replace Courtney,” he said. “You can’t teach some of the things she could do.”
One thing Compston can do is make sure his younger players get all the experience they can, a manner of preparing for the future while taking care of business today.
“I’ve got to look three years ahead, if I don’t, my program will fall by the wayside,” he said. “Hopefully, we’ll get some of the younger girls a lot of experience.”
The Lady ’Cats have already picked up a pair of wins to start the season, a 3-0 shutout of Bay St. Louis and a 4-1 victory over Poplarville.
Stone was scheduled to host D’Iberville, the team that ousted it from the playoffs last year, on Tuesday, St. Martin on Thursday and Petal on Friday.
The Lady ’Cats travel to Gulfport next Monday.
