Edmond Memorial High School’s softball team recently ended its 2024 season with great success. It had all the normal ups and downs of a regular season but ended with a bang, bringing home the win at regionals.
After winning state for the 2022 season and placing second at state for the 2023 season, the softball team had their work cut out for them due to the huge expectations from the previous year. Although losing during the semi-final game against Choctaw, the team still lived up to those expectations by creating another positive outcome for the season.
From the beginning of the season to the end, the girls have improved their softball skills to win several games throughout the season. With an overall season record of 24-14-1, the Lady Bulldogs led Memorial to victory after victory, proving their dedication, communication and skill.
A player’s pitching can help make or break a team’s game in softball, and when pitcher Keegan Baker takes the mound, her pitching skills strike out multiple batters on the other team, preventing opponents from racking up points. However, one person does not make a team, so positive relationships are a necessity for the Bulldogs to succeed.
“It’s very encouraging [that] our team worked a lot on asserting some sort of chemistry, and I felt that’s how we have access to be able to communicate really well for each other,” Baker said.
Their biggest rival face-off was against Edmond North High School, where they walked away with a loss by just one point, but when the girls faced against Edmond Santa Fe High School, they swept a win of 8-0. Although those match-ups were challenging, the biggest struggle was their own mentality.
“Some of the time we are kind of our [own] worse enemy in the sense of our losses this year,” head coach Kayla Carlswald said. “We talked, as a team, coming back to our focus.”
By overcoming these struggles, the team pulls out wins unlike any other. It took hard work to make it to state, so the girls had to improve every day. Even their off-season led them to have a successful season.
“For off-season, we do weightlifting, working on the mechanics [and] small detail-oriented things and so we are working hard then, too,” Carlsward said.
To support the softball, the Dogpound, the EMHS student section, showed up to all games, which had an impact on senior Team Captain Emma Watkins.
“The Dogpound brings energy, and they’re really hyped up,” Watkins said. “I would just say knowing that you have those people back there to support you and cheer you on during regionals and state.”
There are other achievements that the Lady Bulldogs after the season finished. Many from the team brought home personal awards from the Central Oklahoma Athletic Conference and the district. The athletes include Baker, who was awarded First Team All COAC and All District, and Lilly Stephens, who was awarded Second Team All COAC. Watkins won Player of the Year, and All District went to Hattie Bishop. Multiple also received the Honourable Mention award, including Jocelyn Rogers, Justyce Booker and Averie Mcginnis.
After the season was over, the girls will continue to work hard at becoming even better than they currently are. The team is hoping to find even more success and are looking forward to next year in the new season while improving along the way.
Contact Anna Vitiello at [email protected]
