Marysville’s Chloe Heminger slides safely into third base against Gahanna earlier this week. The Lady Monarchs have started the 2021 season with a 6-0 record. (Journal-Tribune photo by Tim Miller)
The 2021 high school baseball and softball season is still in its very early stages.
I was curious to see how things would go for our local teams due to the fact the 2020 campaign was shut down with the coronavirus pandemic.
COVID-19 is still here, but spring sports have been able to begin despite pandemic requirements.
One of the local diamond squads that has gotten off to a very good start is the Marysville High School softball program.
The Lady Monarchs have won six consecutive games to begin the season.
That includes the past three contests in which they have rallied for victories.
Things may not come as easily for this squad as they have for past MHS softball teams.
The Lady Monarchs have a long history of Ohio Capital Conference and Division II district championships.
Whether this year’s team – after a year’s layoff – can duplicate those feats remains to be seen.
That may be a bit nerve-racking for fans and coaches, but it’s not really a bad thing.
Close victories and come-from-behind triumphs can be used as learning tools for any team that continues to grow after a forced and definitely unwanted shutdown season.
From what I’ve seen so far, the Lady Monarchs can swing the bats.
Folks such as Abri Schmutz, Abby Christian, Abby Gindlesberger, Lexi Williams and Tareyn Born have produced big sticks.
Pitching is one area I had some concerns about going into the season
Christian and Born are the top two hurlers.
Christian, a sophomore, missed out on a critical year of experience when her freshman campaign was canceled.
She has had difficulties at times with walks, but I feel that will straighten out with the more games she gets under her belt.
Born underwent shoulder surgery this past winter and has worked herself back into condition.
She gave a lot of people a scare last week against Fairbanks when she felt something pop in her shoulder after a pitch.
She had to come out of the game.
I talked with Tareyn earlier this week and she said the shoulder is fine.
That’s good, because I feel Christian and Born will give Marysville a solid pitching tandem as the season progresses.
Marysville has given up some runs during early season games as the athletes in the circle are young and the defense has been iffy at times.
The Lady Monarchs’ gloves still need some work, but that will also come along.
Marysville may be involved in higher-scoring games than fans have witnessed in the past.
There may not be any 2-1 or 3-2 thrillers, at least for a while.
Instead, games may be more along the line of 10-9 or 12-8 as some of the kinks are resolved.
However, as long as the W’s keep rolling in, things will be fine.