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Sports

Prep Softball Preview: Pirates Think This Could Be Their Year

McGhee and Utley should be anchors for Pattonville squad in search of a conference title.

As coach Doug McGhee begins his 13th season at the helm of Pattonville Pirate Softball, the team appears poised to have a season that could be one of the best in school history.

Pattonville returns eight seniors, including five position players on a squad that finished 10-15 last year (4-3 in Suburban North Conference play).

"Most of the girls we have back this year as seniors have been playing together for several years and they have come from winning youth programs before they got to us," McGhee said. "They feel like this is their time to make their mark and they are very confident that they can do something special this year."
    
Offense

The Pirates will definitely be able to swing the bat with some pop as McGhee welcomes back his daughter, senior Mikala McGhee to the lineup. The younger McGhee, who played center field last year, is a three-time Suburban North first team selection and turned in her best season-to-date in 2010 hitting .507 with 23 RBI. "She's a vocal leader out there and she's got a strong arm and she has gotten better and better with each season," McGhee said.

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Another four-year starter back for McGhee's club is senior Kailey Utley. Utley was a first-team all SNC player a season ago while playing second base hitting .377 and scoring a team-high 25 runs. "She did a great job for us playing second base but I think she is going to be in the outfield to start the season for us," McGhee said.

Utley will also be a catalyst as the team's leadoff hitter. "Obviously, it would be great to win the conference going out as a senior," Utley said."We've got big goals for this year and I need to be consistent at the plate and do the little things well on the field to help us win."

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Three other key senior hitters who will add punch to the Pirates lineup include all-conference first baseman Kristin Hannah, who hit .356 last year, catcher Mallory Hannah (.327), and two-year starter Kacie Hulse who hit .264 as a junior.

"Our hitting should be solid up and down the lineup," McGhee said. "I don't think we'll have a lot of trouble getting people on base and scoring runs most games."
 
Defense
  
On the infield, the younger McGhee should be the key player up the middle as she could see some time at shortstop."She's got a strong arm and great range and if we can't find another shorstop I may have to play her there some," McGee said. Utley will be in the outfield and she has the speed to cover plenty plenty of ground.

First base will be handled by Hannah and Jacobson will run the defense behind the plate as the catcher and that's a major plus for the Pirates. "Mallory has been a three-year starter and it us such a comfort to have someone behind the plate that can not only handle the pitchers well but manage the game and make plays behind the plate," McGhee said. "It's a luxury for us."

Hulse, is slated to played second base while freshman Kiersten McCormack is a versatile utilty player who gives the Pirates flexibility when needed. "Kiersten can play almost any position on the field and she is showing a lot of promise," McGhee said.    

Other players expected to chip in defensively include junior outfielder Anna Hoppaw and senior third baseman Kim Roethmeyer. 
 
Pitching

Skyler Rodgers is back as the club's top returning pitcher. Rodgers was 3-6 a season ago. "She's the type of girl who wants to be the best she can be," McGhee said. "She has worked very hard in the offseason and I hope she continues to improve."

Sophomore hurler Lauren McAdon went 2-1 with a 2.83 ERA last season and McGhee is also high on freshman pitcher Kayla Blank.

McGhee believes this group has the stuff to bring home the Suburban North crown and feels it will boil down to hitting, pitching and defense all working consistently each game. "I think we've got the experience and if the pitching holds up along with our defense and hitting then I think we've got a great chance to win the conference," he said.

Pattonville opens the season Monday in the Parkway Invitational with a first-round game against Marquette at the Ballwin Athletic Association fields.
   

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