Athletic Portageville softball taking it one day at a time

Portageville softball has improved its win total in each of the past two seasons, and the team hopes to continue that trend this season with several key contributors returning.

“It is great to finally get back on the field with the girls,” said Portageville coach Kelsey Snider. “I’m sure all of the girls would agree. For weeks they were telling me they couldn’t wait to get back into softball.”

The Lady Bulldogs' top returners are seniors Libbie Jo Priggel, Jessica Priggel, Jayla Coger, Bree Harless, Kaylee Womack, juniors Laney Stone, Jayla Weddington, Aubrey Greenwell and sophomore Ja’niya Smith.

Libby Jo Priggel is a great power hitter and played well on the middle infield; Jessica Priggel is a great outfielder with a great arm and has a ton of speed; Coger is a powerful hitter; Harless is a great hitter and pitcher who is almost guaranteed to make contact every time she is at the plate; Stone is a left-handed hitter and utility player with a lot of speed; Weddington is probably the fastest player on the team, a great slap-hitter and a great outfielder with powerful arm; Greenwell is a great hitter and pitcher and can fill in wherever needed; and Smith has a ton of talent and athleticism.

Junior Mackena Swilley, sophomores Bryleigh Adams, Karlie Johnson, Taryn Partin, Kate Murphy, Reece Rone and freshman Mia Scherer are also expected to contribute to the varsity squad.

Swilley plays catcher and corner infield and is one of the team’s most improved players. Adams has a great arm and can read any ball hit her way. She has a ton of speed, has stepped up at the plate and has developed some lofty expectations from her coaches.

Johnson will contribute on the mound and in the infield. Partin will also contribute on the mound after some big improvements over the past year.

Murphy is another utility player and has a great read on the ball. Rone plays catcher and blocks the ball well. She also has a solid arm and is one of the team’s most powerful hitters.

Scherer is a utility player who can fill in anywhere.

“We have to take each day one at a time,” Snider said. “Don’t stress about what is not going right today. Each day we have to work to better ourselves and use our mistakes as fuel. We have a ton of speed this year that I plan on taking advantage of. These girls are some of the most athletic girls I’ve ever had. Each day I have a goal in mind for what I want these girls to achieve during practice. I have goals set for bunts, hits, fielding, running, literally everything. When the girls have hit those goals I don’t make them run. This has made them hungry to want to do well because they know we’re always paying attention, even when they think we’re not. These girls are going to be in different positions than they’re used to. So we’re taking each day as a learning opportunity to get better and better in those positions.”

Portageville hosts Campbell for its season opener on Monday, March 20.

“We are going to get better and better,” Snider concluded. “This group of girls are some of the most athletic girls I’ve ever had the pleasure of coaching."