Ponca City head softball Coach Daniel Wood believes his 2020 Lady Cats will be more competitive and more athletic overall than last year’s version. He voices this assumption in advance of next week’s scheduled season-opener.

The Lady Cats have been at practice, officially, since July 15, and in that time Wood has had a chance to evaluate his team’s prospects. Based on what he’s seen and the fact that a number of teams in the Lady Cats’ district have experienced heavy graduation losses he expects his team to have a good opportunity to improve its standing.

Last year was a learning year for Ponca City’s young team. There were several freshmen in the starting lineup. Wood notes that the Lady Cats still will be very young.

“We only graduated three. This year we will have a group of sophomores in the starting lineup and we may start a couple of freshmen. So we will still be young,” he said. Two of the graduates will

Two of the graduates will be especially difficult to replace. Catcher Camryn Suggs was named All-State, and shortstop Kaylee Meier also received some postseason honors.

In line to step in for Suggs behind the plate is junior Bree Rhea, who held down the second base position last year. “She’s a really good kid, a very hard worker,” Wood said.

The question of who will inherit Meier’s position at shortstop is still undecided. A freshman and a sophomore are in contention for the job.

Junior Margaret Blackstar is one player that Wood is going to be relying on to provide team leadership. Blackstar will play in the outfield, but it is her bat that makes her a special player. Last season she led the team in many offensive categories including batting average, home runs, extra base hits and doubles.

“She has a good stick and will bat in the middle of the order for us,” Wood said.

Senior Libby Clark will be called on to assume the bulk of the pitching responsibility. She was the top resident of the pitching circle for last year’s team.

“Libby has worked hard in the off season and she is pretty motivated,” Wood said. “She is going to keep us in games. She does what we need her to do. She had 100 strikeouts last year and she is motivated to increase that number this season.”

Senior Tori Freeman will be at first base. “She’s a good kid. You can tell she’s a coach’s kid. She has a good nose for the game,” Wood said. Freeman’s father is Jared Freeman, formerly Ponca City athletic director, baseball and softball coach, who coached Morrison to the Class 2A State Championship in softball last season.

Haley Swinford is another senior who will play a part in Wood’s plans. Swinford, a left-handed slap hitter, did a lot of batting from the lead-off position last year and was in the lineup as a designated player.

As far as backup pitching is concerned, sophomore Savannah Clark, Libby’s sister will be available. Savannah is one of those who may see lots of duty at the shortstop position.

“We showed some of our youth,” Wood said about a recent scrimmage with Blackwell and Tonkawaa. Several of the preseason scrimmages originally on the schedule have been cancelled, a three-team scrimmage Friday with Perry and Morrison remain on tap. The Perry-Morrison event will be at the West Middle School softball field beginning at 9 a.m.

Monday the season will officially begin with a threeteam format against Chandler and Blackwell in Ponca City. The Lady Cats are set to play Chandler at 2 p.m. A game between Blackwell and Chandler will be next and then Ponca City vs. Blackwell will close out the day’s agenda.