By Matt Browning
The optimism is high for the Haven softball team this season.
The Wildcats return three all-state players — Mayzie Warden, Morgan O’Neal and Avery Brawner — along with four other starters from last year’s 24-5 squad.
“I think we have the potential to be one of the top teams in 3A,” said head coach Darin Ashworth. “We’ve finished in the top three on five occasions in the last decade and I believe that this team is capable of that level of achievement.”
Simply reaching the state tournament is no longer the benchmark for Haven.
“For this season to be a success we need to not only make it to state, but I would say a successful season means making past the quarterfinals,” Ashworth said.
The Wildcats’ core trio — Warden, O’Neal and Brawner — are among the premier players in Class 3A. Warden tallied 50 hits and scored 50 runs last season. O’Neal hit .587 with a 1.669 OPS, while Brawner posted a 23-5 record in the circle with a 2.54 ERA.
“These three combined for 147 hits, 145 runs scored, 37 doubles, 2 triples and 13 home runs last year batting from the top three spots in the lineup,” Ashworth said. “Collectively, they have been named all-league eight times and all-state six times.”
Beyond the top of the order, Ashworth is looking for others to rise and complete the lineup.
“To be a state title contender, you can’t have 7-8-9 type hitters batting 4-5-6 – can’t have six bottom third of the order hitters in your lineup,” Ashworth said. “We will need to have some girls develop into confident hitters that can drive the ball consistently and add some length to the lineup. Whoever that is – returning players or incoming freshmen – they will have to become legitimate middle of the order bats and not 7-8-9 hitters masquerading as middle of the order bats for us to make a valid run at a state championship.”
