(NOTE: This is a part two of the Pearl River softball's season preview. Part one can be read HERE.)
POPLARVILLE, Miss. — As Friday's season-opener against Lake Land College continues to inch closer, Pearl River softball is itching to see what it looks like against competition that isn't itself.
"I feel like when you are scrimmaging yourself, it is hard to know what type of team you are going to be," head coach Christie Meeks said. "I think that we have a lot of powerful girls. We can be a gap-to-gap type of team. I think we will be able to score more runs in situational positions. Defensively, the girls should be really sound. I'm excited to see it all put together."
Although the Wildcats only return five sophomores in the field, Meeks believes their leadership qualities will help the newcomers get more comfortable as the season progresses.
"These sophomores have done an extremely good job leading," Meeks said. "They don't expect anyone to do things that they aren't doing. They've also been very encouraging to our freshmen which has really helped so far. It just feels like they have all meshed really well."
INFIELD
One position that is as sure as any is behind the plate with All-MACCC performer Dallyn Nance (Nanih Waiya) returning for her sophomore season. Not only was Nance valuable offensively last season, but she also caught nearly every inning that NJCAA All-American pitcher Brinson Anne Rogers (Statesboro, Ga.) tossed. At the plate, Nance held a .316 batting average with 22 RBIs, 19 runs, seven doubles, three triples and three homers. Nance will also see time at any of the three outfield positions.
"We hope to have Dallyn split time behind the plate and in the outfield," Meeks said. "She has continued to grow in the weight room and on the field, but she's really grown as a leader. She sees the game at a different speed now. She had a fantastic fall and has rolled into the spring with even more confidence. We're excited to see her play this year."
Splitting time with Nance will be newcomer Marisa West (Citronelle, Ala.; Leroy) who comes to Pearl River after having a very successful career at Leroy High School where she was named First Team All-State and to the AL.com Terrific 20 Team.
"Marisa had a .577 batting average and 10 home runs as a senior," Meeks said. "She's going to be a massive bat in the lineup. She had an injury and missed the fall, so it's going to take some time to get back into the speed of things."
First base has been a battle all spring between sophomore tri-sport sophomore Julianah Overstreet (Vancleave) and newcomers Bryn Daughtery (Vancleave) and Ryleigh Wallace (Petal).
Playing mostly as a designated player a year ago, Overstreet held a .343 batting average and collected 11 doubles and seven homers. She pushed 35 runs across the plate on the season.
"Julianah worked really hard over the break," Meeks said. "She's been able to gain a lot more speed. We will be able to see more than just her power this year. She will be able to give us a little more around the bases. She will definitely be stuck in the middle part of our lineup. She's always finding a way to succeed."
Daughtery, who will also pitch for the Wildcats, held a .439 batting average with 35 RBIs and 12 runs last season for Vancleave. She also belted six homers and doubled 14 times.
Wallace was a major part of Petal's 6A State Championship season last year, hitting .337 with 10 RBIs and six runs scored.
Second base is going to be occupied by freshman CharLee Meadows (Piave, Miss.; Greene County). As a senior at Greene County, Meadows held a .314 batting average with seven doubles, five triples and one homer. She also collected 16 RBIs.
"Charlee is the definition of grit," Meeks said. "She doesn't leave the field with a clean jersey. She's going to hit in the bottom of the lineup because she's gritty and can flip over the lineup."
Meeks is entrusting freshman Morgan Lavergne (Baton Rouge, La.; Central) with the shortstop job as well as a spot at the top of the batting order. In her high school career, Lavergne was named First Team All-District in her freshman, junior and senior seasons as well as 5A All-State as a senior.
"Morgan is a small player, but she plays like she's 6-foot-5," Meeks said. "She has a heart of gold and is going to lay it on the line for her team. She has given us a different feel at shortstop. She makes all the routine plays and she's going to get to the balls that she isn't supposed to. She has a lot of power and a lot of speed. She will be at the top of the lineup."
Third base is another spot where fans may see the Wildcats roll out several different options in the early portion of the season. Newcomers Natalie Toups (Brandon; Clinton Christian Academy) and Ashlyn Dean (Picayune; Pearl River Central) as well as sophomore Jena Pacheco (Vancleave) are all fighting for the starting nod.
"We've got a battle at third base between Jena, Natalie and Ashlyn," Meeks said. "The lineup is going to change based on how each is hitting. Jena has done a great job of leading as a sophomore and knowing what her strengths are. They each know their strengths and weaknesses and they keep building on them."
OUTFIELD
The Wildcats have the luxury of possessing a lot of quality depth for the outfield positions as several players can slot in anywhere.
Left field or right field will be held down by hometown product Cassidy Cartwright (Poplarville) or Northwest Florida State transfer Destiney Gary (Greenwell Springs, La.; Central). As a freshman, Cartwright hit .274 with three doubles, one triple, one home run and 12 RBIs. She also walked 10 times and stole six bases.
"Cassidy has done a great job of leading. Her experience out there is massive," Meeks said. "She knows her different roles and she knows how to judge the ball of the bat of different types of hitters. She has done a great job of setting the tone and being a tone setter out there."
Gary played in 36 games for the Raiders in 2022, hitting .226 with 16 RBIs and nine stolen bases.
"Destiney can really cover ground in the outfield, and she reads the ball well out there. She's going to be a gap-to-gap hitter and she moves really well on the bases. She has a fire under her to continuously get better and keep her spot. She really lays it on the line for her team."
Centerfield will be manned by Nance or newcomers Toups and Klair Cuevas (Poplarville; Hancock). Cuevas held a .304 batting average with 22 RBIs and 22 runs scored last year for Hancock. She also tallied four doubles, four homers and a pair of triples.
"All three girls have really fought for the center field role," Meeks said. "I think you could see any of them out there depending on what our game plan is."
Utility player Kallie Hunt (Picayune) also returns to the Wildcats and could see time in the outfield when Meeks rolls out a more defensive lineup.
GETTING STARTED
The Wildcats will get their season started Friday as part of the Galveston College tournament. PRCC plays its first game against Lake Land at 12:30 p.m. and follows it up with a 3 p.m. game against Navarro College.
TICKETING
Season and single-game tickets for Pearl River softball are available now and can be purchased at PRCCAthletics.com/Tickets.
CASHLESS BOX OFFICE
To help improve traffic flow and fan experience, PRCC athletics box offices are cashless in 2022-23. Only credit and debit cards will be accepted at the box office. Fans are encouraged to beat the lines and purchase their tickets in advance.
TUNE IN
Pearl River livestreams all home games for free at PRCCMedia.com/Gold. Fans who have Roku, Amazon Fire or Apple TV devices can also watch the Wildcat broadcasts by downloading the "Pearl River CC" channel from their app stores.
For the latest on Pearl River Community College athletics, follow us on Twitter (@PRCCAthletics) and Facebook (PRCCAthletics).