LADY PATRIOTS AIMING HIGH

STORY BY JOSH BOUTWELL

A young Pike Liberal Arts softball team looks to improve on last season as the Lady Patriots compete in the Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA) for the first time.

Pike Lib returns a trio of seniors that should help provide some stability in the lineup in Emily Bryan, Bella Maulden and Briann Snyder. The Lady Patriots are confident in their pitching staff, as well.

“We have some good pitchers coming back and our three seniors will lead us,” PLAS coach Robin Snyder said. “Bella Maulden is our senior pitcher and our two sophomores are Alyssa Barron and Tara Walker. We look for them to do good things for us. We’ll have some young pitchers that will have to pitch, too.”

In 2022, Bryan earned a .319 batting average with a .429 slugging percentage. She tallied 20 singles, eight doubles, a triple, 17 RBIs and 10 runs. At catcher, Bryan boasted a .994 fielding percentage.

Maulden pitched 81 and 1/3 innings last season and struck out 57 batters while boasting a 4.734 ERA. Maulden also had three double plays at third base. At the plate, Maulden led the Lady Pats in RBIs with 20, while she earned a .247 batting average with 18 singles, three doubles and seven runs. Briann Snyder also earned a .217 batting average in 2022 with 16 RBIs and 10 runs.

“It’s just a matter of getting (the whole team) going at the plate,” Coach Snyder said. “We just have to get them more playing time. We want them all to be able to contribute, but those older girls will be the leaders for sure.”

The Lady Patriots are trying to gel together as a team early in the season.

“We still have a long way to go but we’re getting there,” Coach Snyder said. “Just getting everyone back in the routine of playing softball and catching fly balls and ground balls has been the big thing. Working together as a team and getting everyone used to each other is what we’re focusing on right now. We’re still young, but that’s a problem for other schools, as well, not just us.

“Our time was limited (in offseason practices) like everyone else, so we’re just trying to find the right fit and get everyone in the right positions. The main thing is getting them some of that game-time experience. That’s the biggest thing.”

Stepping into the AHSAA for the first time adds some new challenges but also some welcome positives.

“I don’t think there is a whole lot of difference,” Coach Snyder said. “There are some small changes that are different, but the players can play for sure. Overall, the rules are the same, so I don’t think it will be that big of a change.

“The competition will be a little different in the AHSAA, obviously, but the biggest thing is the travel. We won’t have as much travel as we had in AISA. Everything is within an hour or less unless we’re going to an out-of-town tournament.”

Despite a young team, the Lady Patriots still have big goals for the 2023 season.

“Our goal this year is to win the area and host the area tournament,” Snyder emphasized. “We want to win the (area) tournament and make it to regionals and then make it to state and contend for the state championship.”

Class: 2A

Area: 4

Field: Pike Liberal Arts Lady Patriots Softball Field Colors: Red, Blue and White