The Fillies dropped a pair of games to one of the top softball teams in the area on Friday and for the first time this season, coach Chris Weide has changed the defensive alignment of his infield in an effort to tighten up the Iola defense.
“I told the girls at practice the other day that our first 20 games are preseason,” Weide said. “We are building up toward regionals so we are trying girls all over, just to see where they are comfortable and who works together the best and see who plays the most consistent defense.”
In Friday’s 5-3 and 17-2 losses to Independence, junior Jaydn Sigg moved from her usual position at second base to center field. Sophomore Scout Rush replaced Sigg at second. The team also started freshman Mia Aronson in left field.
“(Aronson) did a really, really good job,” Weide said.
With these moves, Weide thinks the team is stronger across the board.
“(Rush) has been doing great in practice, she really minimizes errors,” Weide said. “Jaydn is probably one of the most consistent players we have overall so we stuck her in center field and she did a great job. She can track a lot of balls down and she has a great arm.”
The move also makes an already young Fillies lineup even younger. Aronson joins pitcher Sierra Snavely as freshman starters. Rush is added to an infield that already includes sophomore third baseman Chloe Gardner. Catcher Ashlie Shields becomes the only senior in the everyday lineup. Shortstop Sydney Wade, first baseman Riley Murry, right fielder Toni Macha and Sigg remain as the junior starters.
The first game against the undefeated Independence team had the entire ballpark on the edge of their seats. Shields, Gardner and Sigg all reached base to load them up with no outs in the seventh and down by two.
Murry struck out and Snavely popped out to first, before Rush flied out to shortstop to end the potential rally.
“Our girls kept battling and we had a chance to win it in the seventh inning,” Weide said. “We just couldn’t come through.”
The second game was not as thrilling. Independence put up eight runs in the first and nine in the second to take a 17-0 lead. Iola answered with two in the third but the game was called after three innings due to the 15-run rule.
“We knew coming in they could really, really hit the ball,” Weide said.
The lop-sided score is not a reflection of the progress his team has made this season.
“That 17-2 doesn’t indicate how well we played,” Weide said. “The umpire stopped me and he just said, ‘I can’t believe how much your girls have improved over last year, just their attitude and effort.’ I told the girls that when somebody that has no stock in our team says that, it is pretty cool. We are on the right track.”
Iola’s next game will be Tuesday when they host Anderson County.
