NTL SOFTBALL: NEW COACH LOOKING TO CHANGE CULTURE SURROUNDING SAYRE PROGRAM IN 2023 (2023-03-23)

By TIM BIRNEY
Valley Sports Report
SAYRE — First-year Sayre softball coach P.J. Davidson is stressing fundamentals, and hopes it will lead to an improved season for the Lady Redskins in 2023.

Sayre is coming off an 0-18 season in 2022, and has lost 23 in a row since a 9-7 win over Williamson on May 5, 2021.

“We’re definitely looking to change the culture surrounding Sayre softball,” said Davidson,

“We have some younger girls coming up, and the girls we have returning are young,” noted Davidson. “We have two healthy seniors, and three juniors — the rest of our team is 9th- and 10th-graders.

“Fundamentals and softball IQ,” added Davidson in reference to the focus of preseason practice. “We’re going to push the fundamentals, and work on our softball IQ.”

Davidson, who coached the Sayre junior high team last year, has years of experience coaching travel softball. Curt Maynard is the assistant varsity coach, and Matt Senese returns as a junior high coach, along with Courtney Hansel.

Several freshman who played for Davidson last year, will be in the mix for starting jobs this season.

“Our freshman did well on the junior high,” said Davidson. “We struggled early, but won eight in a row at the end of the season.

“The freshmen want to play,” he added. “Add them to what we have coming back, and I think we could surprise a team or two this year.”

Freshman Mikayah Brown, sophomore Mazlin VanDuzer, and senior Adrianna Barnhart are vying for time at catcher, while sophomore Abbie McGaughey, who could also see time behind the plate, will start at first base, with freshman Rylee Lantz and junior Olivia Corbin both set to see time at second base, junior Megan Flynn slated to see the majority of action at shortstop, and freshman Olivia Thompson and sophomore Raegan Parrish expected to see time at third base.

Senior Makenna Garrison will start in center field, and will be flanked by junior Mercedez Haggerty in left field, and freshman Lindsey Northrup in right field.

Lantz and Corbin are also likely to see time in the outfield, and freshman Kelsie Noel will see time at DH.

Parrish, Corbin, Haggerty, and Thompson will all see time in the pitcher’s circle.

“I think our pitching will be better than people think,” said Davidson.

Seniors Madison Smith and Emily Chilson are injured.

Defense has been an issue for the Lady Redskins in recent years.

“Our biggest concerns are in the outfield, and at catcher,” said Davidson. “We have a few things to sort out, trying to figure out where everyone fits best.

“My fear is that we put up 30 runs, and lose 31-30,” he noted. “I think these girls will flat-out hit the ball, I’m super-impressed with the way they’ve hit the ball.

“Defensively, we haven’t come together yet. I think we will. I can see flashes of it here and there, we just need to get outside,” said Davidson Wednesday prior to his second outdoor practice.

“We talk a lot about just making the easy plays, the routines,” Davidson added. “If we can do that, I think we’ll do all right.”

Davidson has high expectations for his team.

“Playing .500 would be great, and I don’t think that’s a stretch,” he said. “We have a pretty tough schedule, we play some pretty tough non-league games in Montgomery, and Bucktail. And, the NTL is tough.

“I think we’ll beat the teams we should,” he added. “We have some growing to do, but I think we could surprise a few teams.

Sayre opens the season Friday when it hosts Wyalusing.

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IN PHOTO: Front row, from left: Makenna Garrison, Olivia Corbin, Meghan Flynn, and Mazlin VanDuzer. Back row, from left: Mercedez Haggerty, Emily Chilson, Madison Smith, Raegan Parrish, and Abbie McGaughey. … PHOTO BY TIM BIRNEY.