Youthful spartans strive toward improvement

Junior+Meagan+Day+connects+with+the+ball+during+the+Fall+Festival+scrimmage+on+Aug.+14.+The+team+has+started+the+season+with+a+2-4+record+but+feels+it+is+finding+its+stride+as+it+works+in+a+number+of+young+players.

Junior Meagan Day connects with the ball during the Fall Festival scrimmage on Aug. 14. The team has started the season with a 2-4 record but feels it is finding its stride as it works in a number of young players.

After a 13-13 season last year, the Spartans softball team has completely changed the face of the program. Zach Sheets has taken over the helm as the new head coach. In addition, the Spartans graduated much of their 2014-15  team. More than half of the players on this year’s team are sophomores, with only three seniors currently on the team.

The lack of veterans and team chemistry seemingly hurt the Spartans, starting out the season with a 0-2 record. Since, however, the team has managed to pull a .500 record since then, putting their record at 2-2.

According to junior Meagan Day, it was all about figuring things out.

“We were making errors and weren’t focusing on what we were doing,” said the junior outfielder. “Once we started to focus, we started figuring things out as a team.”

This, however, wasn’t before the batting order and positions had been changed on multiple occasions, according to sophomore Liz Harmon.

“Several girls had changed positions and the [batting] lineup was changed several times as well. Now we are starting to get comfortable,” Harmon said.

Now that the team is starting to get into a groove, they are going to have to dig their way out of a 2-4 record in order to make it to districts. Sophomore infielder Shae McSpadden said that the team’s chances of this are very strong.

“As long as we continue to stay positive and work hard, I think we can definitely make it to districts,” McSpadden said.

The Spartans resume play tonight against the 5-3 Fort Zumwalt North Panthers. The game will take place at Fort Zumwalt North in O’Fallon with a scheduled game time of 4:15 pm.