Special to the Register
RICHMOND — The Madison Middle softball team will begin its 2010 season Monday at home against Jackson County. This year’s Lady Panthers are lead by veteran coach and first-year MMS head coach Russ Carson. Carson says he is very excited about this year’s team because of its returning talent, solid transfer players and incoming young players. The Panthers are anchored by veteran pitchers Tori Harvey and incoming transfer Anne Reynolds, who are both eighth graders. Both pitchers will also split time at third base. Carson says both have improved drastically during the preseason and worked very hard to get to their current level. Other returning eighth-grade players include: catcher Audrey Wade, first baseman Kaitlinn Works, second baseman Xandi Adkins and centerfielder Cassie Irvin. The team has also added a transfer eighth grader — right fielder Camielle Denny — who Carson says has “the biggest heart on the team.” Rounding out the eighth graders are first-year utility player Brittany Scott and Mikayla Needham, who suffered a season-ending ankle break in the last week before the season opener. The varsity team is rounded out with two seventh-grade transfer players — shortstop Bailey Hardin and left fielder Emily Osbourne. Carson says that this year’s varsity team is blessed with outstanding chemistry, excellent speed and dangerous bats. The JV team is lead by first-year Panther pitchers Krysten Kundrat, McKenzie Murphy and Kasey Frakes. All three are loaded with potential and will find themselves earning mound time with the varsity. Rebekah Carson will be the JV catcher. Kailey Boyer will be at first, Kasey Frakes will be at second, Emily Frakes will start at third and Krysten Kundrat and McKenzie Murphy will split time at shortstop. The JV team is rounded out by Paige Gabbard, Britany Roddy, Elleigh McDaniel, Kelsey Hurst, Casey Osborne, Paige Marcum, Audry Carpenter, Lauralee Hendrix and Sarah Carson. Carson says that the team is strengthened by having very experienced former players and current assistant coaches Angela Harvey-Cole and Kelly Taylor. This years MMS managers are Savannah “Moose” Moore and Kinsey Boyer. Carson said his team is more than ready to begin the season and will make a ton of noise in the win column. “I have never been involved with a team that has had this much teamwork and unity,” Carson said. “That is going to take us far this year.”
