FAYETTEVILLE — Just four seniors stepped on the field for the Fayetteville softball team last season. This year, the Lady Bulldogs boast a roster with 12 upperclassmen leading the way.
Whether or not the new wealth of veterans means more success for Fayetteville this season remains to be seen.
“We have a lot of kids who haven’t played a lot,” Lady Bulldogs softball coach Jason Shirey said. “But it’s their turn to step up and see what they can do.”
Fayetteville won 27 games and advanced to the Class 7A state quarterfinals last season, and several pieces from a year ago are back again this year. Ace pitcher Ashlye Pool is back for her senior season after compiling 14 wins and a 2.52 earned run average as a junior. Fellow senior Brittany Hoskins and sophomore Courtney Pool will also be back on the mound. The Lady’Dogs also return regular position players at several positions, including seniors Taylor Barginear, Emily Benjumea, McKenzie Miller and Aubrey Edie and junior infielder Taylor Crockett.
But replacing big holes in the lineup will be key for Fayetteville. Departed seniors Sara Wilson and Rebecca Cantu were two of the Lady Bulldogs’ biggest bats in 2012, while Wilson also served as Fayetteville’s No. 2 pitcher for most of last spring.
“We’re going to move a lot of people around,” Shirey said. “I like what that does for us. It allows us to get more kids involved. But it might take a few games before we get a set nine or 10 out there.”
Wilson was Fayetteville’s leadoff batter and leading hitter in 2012 and Cantu led the Lady Bulldogs — along with Hoskins — with nine home runs. But if Fayetteville can find the enough offense to go along with its experienced pitching, the new season could produce even better results than the year before.
“Like any coach you’re concerned about things,” Shirey said. “But we’ve tried to focus with these seniors about how this is their last year, and you just hope they take advantage of that.”
Schedule
Fayetteville Lady Bulldogs
Date Opponent Time
Feb. 26 Prairie Grove 5 p.m.
March 1 Elkins 5 p.m.
March 7 at Farmington 5 p.m.
March 2 Tulsa Union 12 p.m.
March 8-9 at Siloam Springs Invitational TBA
March 12 at Van Buren* 5 p.m.
March 14 at Springdale High* 5 p.m.
March 15-16 Fayetteville/Farmington Invit. TBA
March 26 at Rogers Heritage* 5 p.m.
March 28 Rogers High* 5 p.m.
April 2 at Siloam Springs* 5 p.m.
April 4 at Springdale Har-Ber* 5 p.m.
April 5 Farmington 5 p.m.
April 9 at Bentonville* 5 p.m.
April 11 Van Buren* 5 p.m.
April 12 at Gravette 5 p.m.
April 18 Springdale High* 5 p.m.
April 19 Rogers Heritage* 5 p.m.
April 20 Fayetteville 4-Team Tournament 1 p.m./3 p.m.
April 25 at Rogers High* 5 p.m.
April 26 Siloam Springs* 5 p.m.
April 30 Springdale Har-Ber* 5 p.m.
May 2 Bentonville* 5 p.m.
May 6 at Greenwood 5 p.m.
May 9-11 7A State Tournament at J.B.Hunt Park, Springdale TBA
'*' 7A/6A-West Conference game