2021 was going to be a tough road for the Eupora Lady Eagle softball team after replacing some great senior leadership but Amir Hunt’s club was ready to take it on this year.
Eupora lost some all-time greats over the last couple of seasons and Hunt relied heavily on his three seniors Meleah Pogue, Rylee Brooke Crowell and Ella Harrison to carry the load. The other players that would have to step into roles had barely played much meaningful high school softball.
For the team to accomplish what it did with a second round Class 2A softball appearance and a 15-10 record was a win for Hunt.
“Most of our starters were eighth graders the last time we played a division game (in 2019). We were very young,” Hunt said. “I thought the girls got better as the season went along. I don’t think we would have made it five innings against Mantachie early in the year but we had a chance to beat them in the first and the second games. The only thing that we lacked in the second game was a timely hit. I’m proud of the girls for showing a lot of resolve.”
Mantachie was able to sweep the series against the Lady Eagles last week pulling away late in a 17-8 win in game one. Game two saw the Lady Eagles put up a much better fight in the field and in the circle but they couldn’t produce offensively as the season came to an end.
It was a tough ending to the high school careers of Pogue, Crowell and Harrison. Pogue joined the program in the middle of her high school career but had a great run with the Lady Eagles playing multiple positionsd uring her time and she will continue her career on the collegiate level at EMCC.
Last week was the last time that all three will play together, however. It was tough to see them walk off the field for the final time for Hunt but he was proud to have their influence.
“They’re just a group that’s going to show up every day and work,” Hunt said. “Those girls have worked their butts off for the last four or five years. They’ve got a lot of experience between the three of them and we’re going to miss that. We’re going to have to find three girls.”
2021 might not have had the talent that former players like Alley Reed, Haley Farley, Delta Clarie Newman, Kylie Richardson and others possessed over the years but it was another typical Eupora team in Hunt’s eyes.
As long as his teams compete with effort every single night as the Lady Eagles are accustomed to doing, big things will be coming again soon for the program.
“I’ve never coached a team in softball that has given up and this group was no different. They battled tooth and nail with maybe the best team in 2A,” Hunt said. “The way we practice every day, everybody gets the same amount of reps. Those girls will be ready when their name is called next year.”
