EMPIRE —
When looking out at Lady Bulldog field this season, fans will notice a brand new scoreboard just above the right field fence.
A new way of keeping score won’t be the only new thing for the Lady Bulldogs this season, as they will be full of experienced faces and some new ones as well.
Head coach Ryan Green and his squad will be looking to erase a tough end to last season, when EHS was eliminated by Waurika and Central High in the district round of the playoffs.
“We’re going to build with the players who are coming back for us this season,” Green said. “Kaelyn (Allensworth), Makenzie (Craig) and Jessica (Carney) are our three starters coming back for us this year. They’ve got plenty of experience between them and hopefully those girls can teach the underclassmen and guide them this season.”
EHS will look to replace five seniors from last year’s squad who helped the Lady Bulldogs pick up steam late in the season.
Shortstop Dakota Brown, catcher/first basemen Jaci Vinson, outfielder/second basemen Taylor Craig, outfielder Sam Moore, and outfielder Cruz Rocha were among the graduates from last year.
“Offense and defense will be strongly relied on from our core, which is mainly our juniors,” Green said. “Hard work and just getting better are going to be the key for us this season.”
Allensworth and Craig will be handling the pitching this season, while Carney will be making an adjustment from her outfield position to playing catcher for the Lady Bulldogs.
“Everyone just needs to keep showing up and working hard,” Allensworth said. “We’re a young team so we’re going to have to get tough. Staying focused and making plays are going to make us a good team. I think we can surprise some people if we work hard enough.”
Empire will be opening up the season a week later then the rest of the teams in Stephens County. EHS will be welcoming Fox on August 14, before traveling to the Ninnekah Tournament starting on the 16th.
“The other teams will have game experience and we’re still going to be in practice mode,” Carney said. “It’s a good and bad situation for us to be in. If we all step up as a team then we’ll be good. We need to act like we want to win everytime we step out onto the field and dig ourselves out if we get into a hole.”
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Related Photos
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Empire shortstop Makenzie Craig will be one of six juniors on this year’s Lady Bulldog squad. Evan Grice/ The Duncan Banner
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Kaelyn Allensworth will be one of the pitchers used by the Empire Lady Bulldogs this season. Evan Grice/ The Duncan Banner
Empire returns experienced squad
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