Abri Schmutz of Marysville attempts to put down a bunt during a 2021 game. The Lady Monarchs are going through summer workouts to help prepare for the 2022 season. (Journal-Tribune photo by Tim Miller)
Although the summer months are here, it doesn’t mean the Marysville High School softball team is taking time off.
The Lady Monarchs began summer workouts a few weeks ago and will finish the middle of this month.
The team conducts sessions on Mondays and Wednesdays of each week in order to help prepare for the 2022 season.
‘This is a good way to introduce our incoming freshmen to high school softball,” said Lady Monarch head coach Jennifer Segner-Maxwell.
The freshmen class numbers seven out of the nine who played in the eighth grade this past spring.
“We’re also using the summer to help build team chemistry,” she said. “We lost three seniors (infielders Lexi Williams and Ashley Dunn and catcher Jalynn Young) from this past season.
“Each year is different because you lose seniors and you always have to rebuild team chemistry,” said the coach. “It’s a different culture each year, but so far, I’m pleased with the way next year’s team is starting to jell.”
Segner-Maxwell said the team is focusing on all fundamental aspects of the game.
The Lady Monarchs (23-3) had a solid pitching duo this past spring in sophomores Abby Christian and Taryn Born.
“They both improved as the season progressed,” said Segner-Maxwell. “I feel both of them are going to keep getting better and better.”
Marysville’s team earned-run average was 3.32.
The Lady Monarchs will have to fill three key defensive positions with the departure of the 2021 seniors.
MHS, which finished as the Division I district runner-up, concluded the campaign with a .936 fielding percentage.
The coach has also been pleased with the way the returning players have been moving the ball during the summer.
The Lady Monarchs are coming off a 2021 campaign in which they set a number of new team offensive records.
MHS hit .438 as a team, which is a new standard.
Other records established were runs scored (296), hits (384), RBIs (249), and doubles (85).
“Our team stats were impressive against a strong schedule,” said Segner-Maxwell.
The coach feels the Lady Monarchs have an extra incentive for their work during the summer.
“I think losing the district championship game (4-1 to Lancaster) has left a sour taste in everyone’s mouths,” said Segner-Maxwell. “I know we as a coaching staff aren’t letting the girls forget about that loss.”