Lady Eagles yearn for Final Four return

Defending state champs lost 7 seniors, reloading this season

BY KYLE TROUTMAN editor@cassville-democrat.com

Matching 2021’s season is a tall task for the young Purdy softball team, but the fledgling Lady Eagles are searching for their wings and hope to fly back to another Final Four and state title.

The Class 1 state champ last season with a record of 30-1, Purdy is reloading this season with a much younger lineup that is ready to grow.

“Winning a championship is once and a lifetime accomplishment,” said Lori Videmschek, Purdy softball coach. “This past season was so special, and a great way to finish our season. I feel that these seniors have been working all four years to reach their goal. We had such great leadership and dedication and commitment this past year. It was just a special year.

“As I look back and get ready for this season, our underclassmen know what it takes to get back to the final four. We have to be patient this year and learn and grow. We will be very young and we will have growing pains along the way. We are motivated to get back to the final four and be contenders in our conference and districts. I am very excited to see what we can do this year.” but we got punched in the mouth early with that turnover and layup,” he said. “It just felt like we were trying to dig out and dig out, and we just couldn’t do it. Seneca is a good shooting team, too.

Purdy lost seven seniors from the title team, all fouryear starters. Pitcher Lauren Schallert plays at Cameron University in Lawton, Okla., and other holes were left by shortstop Bayleigh Robbins, third baseman Jaclin Fenski, second baseman Annabelle Bowman, left fielder Kinsley Mattingly, right fielder Makenna Orwig and Faith Corscia.

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“These seniors will be hard to replace, and what I will miss most is their hard work ethic and determination to get better every day,” Videmschek said. “I

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Disc golf tourney held in Cassville