Lady Colts hope late season 'Mo' translates into quick start
BYESVILLE − Meadowbrook High's 2023 softball roster was littered with freshmen and sophomores. The team’s pedestrian-seeming 15-12 record playing with that roster should be applauded.
That’s after a surface-level glance. Upon closer inspection, a few of those wins came in the postseason as the young Colts got hot at the right time, riding a wave of momentum into the regional semifinal round.
It was a slowish start, needing a major offensive output to knock off struggling St. Clairsville, 11-10, in the sectional semifinal.
Wins against Bellaire and Claymont followed, pitting Meadowbrook against Edison in the district finale. The Colts held on for a 5-4 win to keep rolling.
That wave ended abruptly in a 12-0 regional loss to defending Division III champion Wheelersburg.
No shame there, especially considering the regional semifinal lineup consisted of only one senior and more than half (five) were making their postseason softball debuts.
A pedestrian record? Far from it, and there’s no reason the Colts, now a year older, wiser, and more seasoned, can’t make a similar, if not better run.
“Our starting nine, or eleven, are pushing each other and the final starting roster could change many times to find that winning chemistry and propel us deep into the tournament,” said Meadowbrook head coach Sean Frizzell, who noted after that loss to the Pirates that Meadowbrook would, in fact, be back.
It’s hard to fault his optimism.
Sophomore Addy Sichina, the winning pitcher against always dangerous Edison in the district finale, returns. She’ll be joined by promising freshmen McKendell Boyer. The tandem provides the Colts a talented 1-2 punch.
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“Our potential one/two strength on the mound will be instrumental as we look to better last year’s success which was finishing as East District champions,” Frizzell said.
The Colts get it done with defense, but the team isn’t too shabby at the plate either.
Leading the way is sophomore shortstop Sommer Ginn, a first-team all-Ohio performer as a freshman.
Considers these numbers. Her first varsity season, Ginn hit a robust .451, with 41 hits, 13 doubles, six homers, five triples and 27 RBI.
She also swiped 19 bases and, perhaps more impressively, upped her batting average for the postseason, hitting .667.
A cornerstone to be sure, but Ginn is far from the lone brightspot in the MHS lineup.
Sophomore Jordy Varguson also swings a solid bat and she’ll move to centerfield this season.
Addy Wiggins returns at second and Frizzell is looking for big things from her offensively after she was lost late in the season to injury.
“Summer and Jordy look to lead the offense again at the plate and after losing Wiggins last year to injury, we are hoping she returns to be a force at plate.”
That’s not even accounting the likely offensive output from Hailey Fordyce, who’s already signed on to play collegiately next spring.
Fordyce, one of three seniors on the team, will handle third base, with classmates Taylor Sichina splitting between first and left field, and Mackenzie Krenisky slotted in right.
Junior Alexx Combs returns for her third season behind the plate, and will provide a steadying influence to both the younger Sichina and Boyer.
Plate production should also increase.
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“Both Sichina and Combs all posted very respectful batting averages (last season) and will definitely see more success at the plate this year.”
Also look for returning letter winners Asie Poland, Kim Muncy, Addy Randles and Hailey Arnolid to continue to provide big at bats and solid spot duty defensively.
Two other freshmen will round out the roster in Natalee Norman and Chloe Calihan. Both will likely see their roles increase as the season progresses.
This article originally appeared on The Daily Jeffersonian: District champ Meadowbrook optimistic behind lots of firepower
