It was just a taste, but the first couple of weeks of the East Webster fast-pitch softball season showed just how bright the future could be for the Lady Wolverines.
It’s been several years since the proud program was able to take home a state championship trophy, but head coach Lee Berryhill has been building his team back up for the future.
It all starts in the circle in fast-pitch softball as the pitcher is so vital in softball. Berryhill had to replace longtime pitcher Bailee Springfield there as she went on to college sports and is finishing her career at the University of Southern Mississippi.
Since Lizz Massey took over in seventh grade, every year has been better than the year before. She only got three games in her sophomore year but didn’t give up an earned run this year and struck out 28 batters in 14.0 innings. She’s up to 193 strikeouts in 229.2 innings with a career earned run average at 2.16 and there’s still two years to go for her.
It’s not just Massey that has everyone excited about the future at EWHS. The Lady Wolverines graduate just one player this year and Whitney Winter is the only regular in the lineup that will be a senior next season so they bring back the bulk of the team for the next two years with a strong junior class coming up.
It’s still bittersweet for Berryhill who didn’t get to see his senior Coy Jennings finish her final year on her terms. Jennings has been in the thick of the lineup since her eighth grade season and a vital part of the program over the years.
Berryhill was upset for her and the rest of the seniors around the area, the state and the country who won’t get to finish their careers by playing it out. And for Jennings, this was the end of her softball career as she has decided to hang up her batting helmet, glove and cleats.
“They work all the way through school and their sports career and it means a lot to them to carry on the traditions but they won’t get to experience those,” Berryhill said. “You feel for those seniors because they work so hard. It all ended so abruptly. They missed out on a big part of their senior years.”
