Former Springdale Standout Has Hot Start At Missouri Southern

BENTONVILLE -- Chloe Brown's senior season with Missouri Southern's softball team started with a little more than a blast.

She returned to Northwest Arkansas for the UAM 8-State Classic and belted an opposite-field home run and a three-run double during the Lions' first win of the season, an 8-4 decision over Ouachita Baptist at the Tiger Athletic Complex. She currently sports an impressive .450 batting average, good for second on the team, and already has two home runs through Missouri Southern's first 10 games -- one more than she had all of last season.

It speaks volumes about the former Springdale High standout, who wasn't guaranteed the same starting role she had earned last season despite finishing it on a promising note.

"I like the competitive edge," Brown said. "And I know that if I go out and play hard, I know I deserve a spot on this team if I'm fighting every game and every play, doing what I know to do."

Brown ended her junior season on a hot streak and may have offered a prelude to what might transpire this spring. She smashed a pair of walk-off RBI doubles and helped the Lions earn victories in two of their final four games against Central Missouri and Southwest Baptist.

Despite that hot finish, Missouri Southern coach Bill Gray let Brown know during the offseason that nothing was guaranteed, even if she was a returning starter. Brown would have to fight for her spot in left field if she wanted to keep it, and she was up to the challenge.

"She hit crazy during the fall," Gray said after the win over Ouachita. "It was good to see her come out and hit the ball like she did and make some good things happen.

"She just has to learn to maintain herself. She grew up a lot last year, and she got comfortable. She earned that position and believed it was hers, and she hit the ball well at that point. That confidence did well for her."

Brown, who also is tied for the team lead with eight runs batted in, will spend the season hitting in the lower third of the Lions' batting order. She batted eighth in the lineup when she had her big game against Ouachita, while she batted seventh when she belted a home a run against Drury.

The key to her latest success has been the ability to spray the ball around to all fields. Her home run against Ouachita went to right field, while she turned on the pitch against Drury and put it over the left-field fence.

"I've done a couple of tweaks on my bat," Brown said. "I'm trying not to wrap my bat as much and make my hands quicker. I've been focusing on that outside pitch because most of what I saw last year was outside.

"When I came in as a freshman, I was a 100 percent pull hitter. When I took that one over the right-field fence, it felt good. I've also been hitting balls up the middle a lot. I'm doing that more often than not. Coach is on his toes when I'm hitting front-toss because I'm hitting the net a lot."

Although there are plenty of games left in this season, Brown has already looked toward her future. She hopes softball can continue to be a part in it, particularly if it means a return to Northwest Arkansas.

"I know once we start conference play and come Senior Day, it will be hard," she said. "This has been my sport. I've played it since I was 7, so it will be weird.

"After graduation, I hope to come back here. Hopefully I can come out and help the team at Springdale out a bit, whatever they will let me do. What is it they say: if you can't do, then coach. So that is still in my cards."

Sports on 03/02/2014