Andrews softball looking to capture region 6 AA title.
Andrews softball looking to capture region 6 AA title.
By Neill Kirkpatrick
Special to the HSSR
Andrews – When you think High School softball in the state one school that probably does not cross your mind: the Yellowjackets of Andrews High School. Andrews is fifth all-time in state history with five state championships (Last one in 2018), they have also finished runners-up three times and in fact won the first two class AA state championships (80&81) over 19 times state champions Crescent. The 19 titles is a national record.
Last season the Yellowjacket’s finished second in region 8 AA which earned them a spot in the district 8 tournament where they finished 1-2 to end their season. Head coach Joy Weisner only lost three seniors from that team so expectations are higher heading into this season with a lot of talent returning.
“My expectation for this team is to continue to build a strong program, and to play further in to May than we did last year,” said coach Weisner.
Andrews is currently ranked sixth in the HSSR class AA poll and can wrap up the region 6 AA title with wins over Woodland in their next two games. They are loaded with underclasswomen talent as the entire starting line up is made up of that talent.
Starting in the circle is junior Addison McCants. She continues to get better each game and leads the team in innings pitched and strikeouts. She has a solid been solid at the plate hitting around .300.
Junior Addyson Davis and freshmen Tori Smith have also started pitching some games. Which gives coach Weisner a solid rotation. “They both work hard and bring competitiveness to the mound that is unmatched,” coach said.
Davis and Smith’s man the left side of the infield and shortstop and third, respectively. Davis led the team in almost every offensive category last season and has picked up where she left off. She is hitting at a .500 clip and has a team high four doubles. She is tied for the team led in runs scored with 11. She is tied for the team lead with Smith in runs scored. In the field she has been solid and a team leader.
Smith has been on fire at the plate this season, leading the team with a .611 average. She has also been solid in the field committing only one error this season. She led the team in steals as a freshmen and is tied for the team high in steals with Davis and the team’s lone senior Samiya Holloway.
The right side of the infield is held down by freshmen second basemen Emalyn Cooper and sophomore first basemen Karaline Gainey. Both are hitting over .300. They have been a great surprise in their first year on the varsity level.
Behind the dish is the team’s leader in sophomore Chloe Skipper. She is hitting .474. She has been almost flawless behind the plate committing just one error all season.
The outfield consists of all juniors in Sarah Jennings (CF), Emmalee Lambert (LF) and Briana Walker (RF). They have been on fire at the plate with all hitting over .500. Lambert leads the group at .611 while Jennings leads the team in RBI’s, triples and is tied with Walker in home runs with two. She is tied for the team lead in hits with Lambert and Davis.
“We are hitting the ball well and we are playing great defensively to back up our pitchers. I feel that Andrews High School can compete for the region championship, but we have to keep working hard and getting better every day to achieve it,” said coach Weisner.
