Clay County Times-Democrat: High School Sports: Lady Mohawks kick-off softball season (03/10/10)

Members of the 2010 Piggott Lady Mohawk softball team are, from left: Front--Amber Moore, Katie Moore, Penny McCluskey, Taelor Lewis, Alex Scheffler and Paige Lockard. Middle--Sheleen Johnson, Allison Gurley, Whitney Blackmon, Kayla Depper, Allison Lambert and Mariya Faka. Back--Mallory Wright, Kaela Cox, Taylor Coomer, Breanna Wright, Chelsea Geautreux, Lauren Brown and Allison Crittenden. The team is coached by Nikki Speer and Melissa Williams and the managers are Erin Somers and Melinda Blackmon.
(Times photo/Tim Blair)

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The Lady Mohawk softball team kicked off the regular season at Marmaduke Monday afternoon, coming up on the short end of a 20-24 slugfest. Chelsea Geautreaux got the start, with relief from Taelor Lewis in the fifth inning.

"We really hit the ball well, and played well," Coach Nikki Speer said of her squad's season debut. "I'm still second-guessing my pitching move in the fifth, but we looked pretty good. We didn't think we'd be playing until Thursday, but did pretty good on such short notice."

The non-conference game with the Lady Hounds was originally scheduled for Thursday, but was hastily rescheduled over the weekend due to a conflict with the Marmaduke team. The girls are scheduled to visit the Lady Lions of Manila Tuesday, and will host the Hoxie Lady Mustangs next Thursday, March 18 at Independence Park. The Tribe will then remain idle until Monday, March 29 when they're scheduled to host Naylor. The following day, Tuesday, March 30, they'll visit Tuckerman.

This year's team may be a bit inexperienced, but features a number of excellent athletes. The squad has also benefited from some new faces, and a couple of seniors that are playing for the first time in years. "Allison Gurley is back this year, and does a great job behind the plate and we also return Sheleen Johnson, Breanna Wright and Alex Scheffler," Speer noted. "Mallory Wright is a freshman who is giving us some good impact, and two seniors that haven't played in years--Allison Lambert and Taylor Coomer-- decided to come out and they've been a great addition." Rounding out the roster are Geautreaux, Lewis, Penny McCluskey, Mariya Faka, Whitney Blackmon, Lauren Brown, Amber Moore, Paige Lockard, Kayla Depper, Kaela Cox, Katie Moore and Allison Crittenden.

Speer, who is assisted by Melissa Harrell, has 19 players on the roster this year as the team looks to contend in the tough 3A-3 conference.