SOFTBALL: Verdigris faces season of growth with youthful roster, veteran leadership

Aug. 13—Verdigris softball is prepping for a season filled with challenges and opportunities as it navigates a year marked by youth and the need for growth.

Coach Brian Keith is preparing his team, which has seen significant changes from last year, including the loss of five starters. With a roster that leans heavily on young, talented players, Keith acknowledged the importance of development and maturity as the season progresses.

"We've got a bunch of youth, but a bunch of talented kids," Keith said. "It's gonna take us a little time to grow up and mature and get adapted to our culture and things we do."

Leading the team are three standout seniors: Taelynn Ballinger, Emma Young and Evie Lemery.

Ballinger, a speedy lead-off hitter, has been a consistent .400 hitter for the past two seasons and is known for her quickness and ability to set the table for the rest of the lineup.

Young, a four-year player, has shifted from shortstop to her natural position as catcher, where she is expected to make a significant impact. Committed to Rogers State, Young brings both experience and leadership to the squad.

Lemery, a versatile athlete who previously pitched, now anchors the infield at shortstop. Despite battling a back injury, Lemery's power at the plate and athleticism in the field make her a crucial player for the Lady Cardinals.

"She's a freak athlete — boy, she is good," Keith said of Lemery. "She had 13 home runs this summer in the month of June in summer league. Boy, she's good, but we gotta keep her healthy. She has an injury this year, and she had an injury a couple of years ago where she got a concussion and was out two or three weeks. She's a good one and is very talented. She is probably the most versatile athlete I've had here in a while. That girl can go play anywhere — she's talented. She swings from the left side of the plate and has been a .400 hitter for us for three years. We gotta get her back (from injury)."

The team also features promising sophomores like Rilyn Stringfellow, who impressed as a freshman pitcher and is expected to carry a heavy load in the circle this season.

Stringfellow's performance will be vital to the team's success.

"She did a great job for us last year as a freshman when we made that change (taking Emery out of the pitching circle)," Keith said. "We're leaning on her right now in our games. She's a very talented sophomore. I don't know what her record was last year, but she's good. She's one of the better ones I've had here, and she's only a sophomore."

Alongside her, sophomores Tabor Ennis and Sydney Lewis bring talent and versatility to the infield, despite dealing with their own injury concerns.

Keith is optimistic about their potential but emphasizes the need for these young players to continue growing and adapting to the demands of high school softball.

"Tabor Ennis is gonna play third base," Keith said. "She's another very talented player for us. She battled a little bit with injuries last year, and she's fighting through a little bit of a back injury right now, but she's playing right now with a lot of guts, which is hard. She's a good one now, and if we keep her healthy, she's going to get better and better for us. Sydney Lewis is playing shortstop with Evie out, and she's going to be my starting second baseman. She's a very good athlete, very versatile and can play multiple positions, but she's young. She's 14 years old as a sophomore, and right now I've got a 13-year-old second baseman that's a freshman, so we have a lot of youth on the field right now, except for those three seniors."

As the Lady Cardinals enter district play, the competition will be fierce.

Teams like Wagoner, Bristow and Berryhill pose significant challenges, with Wagoner returning nearly all of its players from a strong team last year, including a highly sought-after catcher in the 2027 class.

Keith said knows the importance of district games and understands that every win is crucial to securing a favorable playoff position.

"We've got our first district game Thursday against Berryhill, and it's a tough opener in district play," Keith said. "District games you've got to win. Can't take a lot of losses in districts or it changes your playoff format, so our goal is to finish at the top, but there's a lot of teams in our district that are tough.

"Our district is not easy at all."

With a young and evolving team, Verdigris will rely on the leadership of its senior trio and the development of its underclassmen as it navigates a tough district and aims for success this season.

The Lady Cardinals are eager to prove themselves on the field, and though the team may be young, Keith said he believes that with time, and a bit of luck, they have the potential to grow into a formidable force as the season unfolds.

"We're young but gotta to grow and get better every day, and it's just gonna be a process from one game to the next," Keith said. "We'll play this thing out and see what happens."