Marysville’s Abri Schmutz slides into third base during a 2021 game. The Lady Monarchs are playing games this week in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, during their spring break trip. (Journal-Tribune photo by Tim Miller)
Lady Monarch Taryn Born prepares to release the ball toward the plate. Born is one of two veteran pitchers for Marysville’s softball squad. (Journal-Tribune photo by Tim Miller)
Marysville High School’s varsity and JV softball teams will begin the 2022 season this week under warmer conditions.
Both Lady Monarch teams will be playing games at the Cal Ripken Jr. Experience at Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
The squads began going to Myrtle Beach in 2012, but missed out on the trip in 2020 and 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic.
“The COVID numbers dropped and our board of education approved the trip,” said head coach Jennifer Segner-Maxwell.
The Marysville varsity team is scheduled to play six games, while the junior varsity will play five during the trip.
Segner-Maxwell said the spring break trip is very beneficial to her program.
“We’ve been lucky to get all of our preseason scrimmages in this spring,” she said. “However, Ohio weather can be questionable this time of year.
“Our spring break trip is a way to play with better weather down south and we can get away and just focus completely on softball,” the coach said.
Lady Monarch coaches will get to see the teams play and decide on roster positions.
“We have so much talent on our varsity roster that issue isn’t going to decide who are our starters,” said Segner-Maxwell. “I’m looking for good attitudes and efforts … that will ultimately determine our starters for the season.
“We have a great deal of players who are versatile and who can play different positions,” she said. “In many ways, that’s a good problem to have.
“Hopefully, this trip will help us decide the positions certain girls will play.”
The infield will be of particular interest to the MHS coaching staff.
“We’re going to have people at first base, second base and shortstop who are brand new,” said Segner-Maxwell. “We’re going to have to see how well they do.”
Camryn Harbold is penciled in at first base, Avery Henry and Maya Segner will see time at second and Henry and Haley Winans will contend for playing time at shortstop.
“Haley can also catch for us,” said the coach.
One area Segner-Maxwell doesn’t have much concern about is pitching.
Juniors Abby Christian and Taryn Born were both varsity starters a year ago as the Lady Monarchs won 23 games.
“We’re looking for consistency and the development of team chemistry during our trip,” said Segner-Maxwell. “We want to do that before we come back and begin playing games in Ohio, especially in the (Ohio Capital) conference.”
Games are scheduled to begin today for both teams.
The varsity is set to play East Carter (Kentucky) High School at 1 p.m., followed by a 3 p.m. contest against Buckeye High School of Ohio.
The JVs were scheduled to play East Carter today at 9 and 11 a.m.
The schedule for Tuesday and Wednesday is as follows:
Varsity
Tuesday
-3 p.m.: Butler (Ohio) High School;
-5 p.m.: Buckeye Valley (Ohio) High School.
Wednesday
-9 a.m.: Breathitt (Kentucky) High School;
11 a.m.: Padua Pranciscan (Ohio) High School.
Junior varsity
Tuesday
-11 a.m.: Dublin Coffman;
-1 p.m.: CVCA High School of Ohio.
Wednesday
-11 a.m.: Breathhitt (Kentucky) High School.
The Lady Monarchs are scheduled to open the Ohio portion of their schedule on April 6 at Gahanna.