Softball: Neal happy to contribute in any way for Har-Ber

File Photo or NWA Democrat-Gazette/BEN GOFF Morgan Neal fields a ground ball April 17 at shortstop for Har-Ber last season. Neal will mostly be used as a designated hitter this spring while recovering from an arm injury.
File Photo or NWA Democrat-Gazette/BEN GOFF Morgan Neal fields a ground ball April 17 at shortstop for Har-Ber last season. Neal will mostly be used as a designated hitter this spring while recovering from an arm injury.

SPRINGDALE -- Morgan Neal will still play a major role this season but not in the capacity everyone at Springdale Har-Ber had envisioned.

Instead of returning for her fourth year as the starting shortstop, Neal will spend much of the spring as the designated hitter for the Lady Wildcats. That decision was reached recently after an MRI revealed Neal had a torn labrum in her throwing arm.

Morgan Neal

SCHOOL Springdale Har-Ber

CLASS Senior

HEIGHT 5-7

NOTABLE A top-fielding shortstop who batted .447 last year for Har-Ber, which reached the state semifinals. … Voted NWA Newcomer of the Year for softball as a freshman. …. Three-time all-state and all-conference player. … Signed with Tulsa.

The labrum is the tendon connected to the rotary cuff, and continued use could lead to more serious problems. Doctors have told Neal she can begin throwing again in July before she continues her softball career at Tulsa.

"I heard my mom talking on the phone to the doctor; I just started crying," said Neal, who was the NWA Newcomer of the Year for softball as a freshman. "At first, they said I was going to have to have surgery, then later I was told I wouldn't, so that's kind of good news. I still get to hit, and I'll try to help as much as I can and support my teammates."

Losing Neal in the field is a blow to Har-Ber, which reached the state semifinals last year and finished 21-9 overall. She's anchored the Har-Ber defense since breaking in as a freshman, and she's a top hitter who batted .447 with five home runs, 12 doubles, and seven triples.

"Morgan will definitely play a role," said Har-Ber coach Lynn Lawson, who is obviously relieved Neal won't miss the entire season. "When she is involved in any instance of the game she is a difference maker."

Being allowed to play her senior season is important to Neal, who's developed friendships with many of the girls on the team. Neal, pitcher Emily Stockalper and catcher Tiffani Ray are seniors who joined the Har-Ber varsity as freshmen.

"My brother, Bryce, put it in my head that you don't get to play with your best friends forever," said Neal, who plays summer ball with the Tulsa Elite. "So, I'm going to take advantage of the opportunity this year and make the most of it."

Ray said getting Neal back is welcome news, even if her friend will be contributing in a limited role. Having Neal in the dugout is a plus for Har-Ber, which must replace some top players from last season.

"It was a shock when we heard about Morgan," said Ray, who hits behind Neal in the cleanup position. "I've played with Morgan and Emily probably since I was 10. It's definitely good to have her back. We're just glad her shoulder is not as bad as we thought it was going to be."

Har-Ber is picked to finish second in the 7A-West behind Bentonville in a preseason poll, but the Lady Wildcats will face some challenges with breaking in some new players.

"We made it to the state semifinals last year, so it was a good year," Neal said. "We hadn't been a tight-knit team in years past, but we spent a lot of time together outside of school and bonded. It was a season I'll never forget."

Sports on 03/02/2015

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