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  • Avery Walker will be the lone senior on the Lady Outlaws softball team this season. Evan Grice/ The Duncan Banner

    Avery Walker
August 2, 2012

Expanding on a tradition of success

Lady Outlaws setting mark high for new year

Evan Grice The Duncan Banner

MARLOW — Winning isn’t just an expectation for the Marlow Lady Outlaws, it’s a tradition.

Every year since 1998, MHS has captured the district crown, including last season. But there’s just one piece of the puzzle missing. Marlow hasn’t captured a regional title since 2007, when the Lady Outlaws were state champions.

With eight starters returning for the 2012 season, head coach Brian Miller and his squad believe they will change the trend.

“Our expectation is to always make the state tournament, if it’s not then we don’t want to be out here,” Miller said. “Even though we lost five seniors, we’ve got quality players who are going to replace them. Hopefully by the end of the year we are just as good, if not better than we were last year.”

Among the players who graduated were pitcher/first basemen Ashton Major, who hit .349 last season with 5 homeruns to go with a .550 slugging percentage.

In addition, utility player Haleigh Hines, who hit .256 with 20 RBI, along with Malisha Blackburn who collected 32 hits last season, as well as Karisa Cooper who had a .352 on base percentage. Kerryn Melton also collected a .222 slugging percentage last season.

However, the good news for the Lady Outlaws is among the returning players is senior Avery Walker, who led the team with six homers last season, to go with a .304 batting average.

“We’ve grown as a family this summer and been working hard in practice,” Walker said. “A lot of the freshmen have been coming through and filling the spots well. Our pitching is strong and we want to make sure every position is just as strong this season.”

Sophomore Abbey Warren will also be another solid bat returning this season for MHS. She hit .333 in 2011 with 14 RBI and 41 total hits.

“Abbey saw quite a bit of playing time last season along with Gigi,” Miller said. “There’s a lot of freshmen and sophomores who are going to see playing time this season. We’ve got some who have played, and those who are going to fill in very quickly as well.”

Leading the charge from the mound for Marlow will be sophomore Gigi Wall, who will be one of four pitchers used by the Lady Outlaws this season.

“Our success on the field always deals with our pitchers,” Miller said. “Right now we have four pitchers, which is a luxury you don’t usually have. All four of the girls can throw, and throw well. By the end of the year we’ll be able to see whose shoulder can carry us the rest of the way.”

Marlow will open the season on Aug. 7 at home against Lone Grove, before traveling to the Tuttle Tournament starting on Aug. 9 as the Lady Outlaws look to improve on a 27-14 record from last season.

“I think we’re all just going to have to work together, and that includes hitting and not making mistakes,” junior Ashley Ensley said. “We all need to want to win out there. Everyone needs to be supportive and be there for one another. Playing good teams will make us better early on, and we should be just fine against them.”

Miller added fans should expect to see a faster version of his team this season, especially on the base path.

“The one thing we’re definitely going to be better at is our base running,” he said. “We’re a faster team than we were last year, so we may do things a little differently. Defensively we’re just as good as we have been. Hitting will come around eventually for this team.”

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