KELLY GIRLS TOP SPRING CAST FOR SOFTBALL

With so many of the schools -- particularly the larger ones -- having switched to an exclusive fall schedule, the list of area high school softball teams that play in the spring continues to dwindle.

Still, there are several of them left, with Kelly, Scott City and Chaffee heading up the spring teams in the immediate area.

The 1999 spring season gets under way this week. Following is a brief look at the aforementioned squads.

Kelly

The Lady Hawks, the only local team that still competes in both the fall and the spring, are by the far the area's dominant small-school squad.

Kelly lost just once last spring. And the Lady Hawks advanced to the Class 2A state quarterfinals in the fall after having captured the state championship in 1997.

Coach Rhonda Evans believes she has a solid squad, although it's a young team because most of the Lady Hawks' seniors don't choose to participate in the spring and some other athletes compete in track.

"We mainly use the spring as a conditioning time, to help us get ready for the fall," said Evans. "A lot of teams don't play in the spring anymore so its gets harder and harder to find teams. But we've got a pretty decent schedule.

"The girls should get some good experience this spring and that will help us have a good group for the fall."

Kelly returns several starters from its strong fall team, including two juniors: third baseman Julie Milam and Audrey Burford, who will play either first or second.

Another junior, LeShae Simmons, will help out.

Sophomores who started in the fall are shortstop Megan Beggs, catcher Nicole Kern and pitcher Marissa Essner, who figures to be one of the area's best over the next two years.

Also being counted on is freshman pitcher Natalie Lewer, the first lefthanded hurler Evans has coached.

"Our pitching should be strong," Evans said.

Kelly opens the season Monday at Egyptian, Ill.

Scott City

The Lady Rams have several holes to fill after losing five seniors off last year's team that went 8-5.

"We've only got one senior on the team, so we'll be very young," said coach Sally O'Brien. "We lost some good players from last year."

Scott City does return several starters, including the team's lone senior, Tara Phillips. She played in the outfield last season but might be switched to the infield.

Other returning regulars are juniors Becky Edmondson, who played shortstop last year but will now catch; Kristen Burton, last year's designated hitter who will likely play the infield this season; and Heather Gresham, an outfielder.

Doing the pitching will be junior Tricia Clubb, who saw limited action a year ago, and sophomore Lindsay Baker.

Rounding out the five-person junior class is outfielder Dana Adams. O'Brien will also be counting on sophomore infielder Jessica Arnzen.

Scott City opens the season March 26 at home against Meadow Heights.

Chaffee

Chaffee has had a strong program in recent years and the Lady Red Devils expect to be solid again, with seven starters returning from last season's 15-2 team.

"We've had some injury and health problems so far, but if we can get everybody back healthy, we should be real solid," said Chaffee coach Mark Devenport.

The Lady Devils are bolstered by four seniors who have been starters basically since their freshmen seasons.

"This is one of the best senior classes I've had," Devenport said.

Chaffee should be strong on the mound with senior Jamie Duncan and junior Amy Burnett, who combined to do all the pitching last year.

Other returning starters are junior Jill Little at first base; Burnett at second; senior Jennifer Siebert at shortstop; senior Abby Seyer in center field; senior Emily Siebert in right field; and sophomore Jodi Pfefferkorn, who moved behind the plate after playing third base last year.

Chaffee plays its first game March 29 at Meadow Heights.