As soon as August came around, the Midway Middle School Lady Waves headed out into the heat to prepare for their 2009 season. With longtime head coach Sharon Parks stepping down this season, former assistant Billy Richardson has taken the helm. Coach Richardson is ably assisted by Chris Borum and Shay Thompson.
A few games into the season, the Lady Waves have recorded three wins and two losses. After a disappointing defeat in last week’s home opener against Kingston, the Girls in Green played much better against Harriman the next night. Midway lost, but they showed a lot of heart in a game that went down to the wire. Later in the week, the Lady Waves got their first win of the season when they blew out Oakdale at home. This week, the Lady Waves played an away-and-home series against Coalfield. Midway won both games handily.
This year’s team has lost a few key players to graduation, but is still loaded with talent.
The eighth grade class includes several experienced players. Most of these girls have played for the Middle School for the past two seasons, and some have played in Midway Youth League for years. At third base, Kaylee Burton has a strong arm. Kaylee’s bat has also been known to deliver some big hits at the plate. It’s no secret what her motivation is. When she comes through with a big hit, Kaylee has been heard yelling, “I get a Chinese dinner!” Second baseman Jaime Kilby is a fine athlete. Whether she is swinging away or laying down a beautiful bunt, Jaime has the speed to get around the bases in a hurry. She also has a reliable glove. Abby Ward has started at short stop for the past two seasons. Abby is a team leader and a very solid player. She has a strong arm and has come through with some nice hits at the plate. Abby has also played at catcher this season. Kayla West has been impressive in center field, making some tough catches. She even caught one with her nose. Kayla is also reliable at bat, and is extremely fast on the base paths. Ashley Lemons, who is a first year transfer, has a lot of athletic ability and hustle. She has started in right field this season and has had a consistent glove.
The seventh grade class consists of two players. Emily Richardson is in her second year with the Middle School team, and has been a Youth League standout for several seasons. Emily has started most of this season’s games at first base. She is a talented athlete who can play almost any position well. Callie Leffew has broken into the starting lineup this season. Callie has done a great job in left field, and continues to show promise at the plate.
The sixth graders are young, but already have a lot of softball games under their belts. Most of these girls have played in the Youth League and for other organized teams. Starting pitcher Raygn Hall throws the ball hard and has showed a lot of poise. Her play so far indicates that she will continue the tradition of fine Midway pitchers. Catcher Whitney Colyer has also been thrown right into the starting lineup. Whitney has a big bat at the plate, and has already hit some long blasts. Lexi Taylor has already stepped in at short stop and as a backup pitcher. Lexi is very athletic and has a strong arm. Jayde Rose has also seen lot of playing time, mostly at second base and at backup pitcher. Jayde has thrown some nice pitches in her appearances so far, and is also a good all-around athlete. Kallie Sohm has come off the bench to play first base, and has started one game at that position. She has shown a reliable glove. Kallie is a slap-hitter, and she helps put pressure on the defense of the opposing team. Kayla Borum and Julie Kilby are two young players who have a lot of experience in the Youth League. Both of these girls have a lot of promise and are sure to be major contributors in the future. Abigail Leffew, Brittany Dishman and Shasta Roberts round out the sixth grade class. All three of these girls have shown a lot of hustle and should see more playing time as their careers progress.
So far, the 2009 team has improved with each game. The MMS Lady Waves will play their next game this coming Tuesday. It will be a rematch against Kingston at Southwest Point. Game time is set for 6 PM.