Spoofhound softball wraps up camp, eyes first practice

By DAVID MERRILL Sports Editor
Jillian Partridge swings at a pitch during the MHS Softball camp on Thursday.

The Maryville Softball team finished up its four-day camp on Thursday.

The players and coaches are looking forward to the practice window officially opening on August 1.

MHS coach Chandra DeMott, who is in her second year at the helm, had the players alternating days with hitting and fielding drills.

The Spoofhounds ended the week with hitting drills.

DeMott feels she is starting to see some progress out of the team.

“Skill level-wise, we’re a step or two ahead of where we were at this point last summer,” DeMott said. “The girls have really put in some work. A lot of the girls played summer league. That was probably the best decision I have made and the team has made since I’ve been here. High school girls are tough because their emotions are going in 1,000 different directions, so getting that extra playing time was key.”

DeMott is anticipating having around 18 players on the roster come the start of the season, with nearly half of them being seniors.

This isn’t cause for concern in DeMott’s eyes however.

“I’m gaining three freshmen that I know of and I have one junior,” she said. “I’ve got some great talent coming up. My freshman and sophomore class is looking really strong. While we’re losing a lot with those seniors, it’s not going to be super detrimental to us. We’re replacing talent from talent.”

Heading into DeMott’s second season the team’s main goal is to make it past the first round of the district tournament.

The Soofhounds were eliminated in the first round of districts last season.

“The girls gave it their all and looked really good, but it just came down to a couple errors at the end,” DeMott said. “We obviously want improve our win-loss record, but our main team goal is to make it past the first round of districts. If we can do that, we will have accomplished what we set out to do.”