By Anvil Welch
awelch@joplinglobe.com
Dustin Combs, softball coach at William Jewell College of Liberty, Mo., has been hitting this area hard in recruiting.
The Cardinals weren’t an overwhelming success this past spring but, considering their youth, you won’t find Combs complaining with the results.
“I’m very optimistic about the future,” Combs said on Tuesday. “I couldn’t have been happier with the performance of our first-year players.”
Combs, who will be entering his fourth season at William Jewell after seven at Springfield Glendale High School, said that freshmen Katie Darby of Joplin and Amanda Storm of Carl Junction turned in “impact seasons.”
Darby was named freshman of the year in the Heart of America Athletic Conference. The right-handed Storm was a pitching mainstay.
Joplin freshman Kelsey Loyd (pitcher), Miami freshman Emily Cline (outfielder) and Joplin sophomore Miranda Johnson (first baseman) also contributed to the William Jewell success.
Plus, hurler Jessi Alford, a transfer from Johnson County Community College and another former standout for Kirk Harryman at Joplin, wound up her career.
“Jessi had labrum surgery in the fall and rehabbed during the winter to earn another pitching opportunity (working 28 innings),” Combs said. “She battled arm problems during her college career.”
Darby averaged .405 on 53-of-131 to handily pace the team in average. She also paced the regulars with four home runs, 16 doubles, 31 RBI, .634 slugging percentage and .467 on-base percentage.
Storm, a second-team all-HAAC, posted a 12-11 record with a 3.46 ERA. She struck out 120 and walked 54 in a 1292/3 innings. She completed 14 games.
“Development of a riseball will make her better,” Combs said of Storm (who also hit .310 with 14 extra-base hits and 27 RBI).
“We would like to get Loyd’s bat into the lineup more,” Combs said. “She needs to keep a positive outlook and continue working on her skills.”
Loyd, 4-2 on the mound, was 3-for-6 at the plate.
“Miranda (Johnson, who averaged .270) was a major contributor in many ways,” Combs said. “She helped as a pinch-hitter as well as making 21 starts.
“We want to utilize the speed of Emily (Cline) more,” Combs said. “She was in center field when Amanda was pitching.”
Combs said the versatility of Darby stood out.
“She wound up starting at third base,” he said. “She was a DH. She played some shortstop, some second and was the backup to our outstanding senior catcher (Kristen Dailey).
“Katie just didn’t let pressure get to her despite hitting in the fourth slot,” Combs said. “I wasn’t surprised at all by her hitting by the middle of the season. I felt something good was going to happen each time she came to the plate.”
William Jewell, 26-24 overall, finished 10-10 in the league. The Cardinals, seeded fifth among eight teams in the postseason tournament, lost to No. 4, eventual champion Missouri Valley in the first round.
Combs, 34, knows this area very well and not only because of the years at Glendale. He’s a graduate of Commerce High School (1993), Northeastern Oklahoma A&M; of Miami and Northeastern State of Tahlequah.
Sports
Area players make major impact at William Jewell
- Sports
-
-
Kickapoo girls race past Joplin
Annie Armstrong poured in 21 points to lead the Kickapoo girls to a 65-28 victory over Joplin on Thursday night in an Ozark Conference basketball game at Missouri Southern’s Young Gymnasium.
-
Cheever is ultimate blue-collar snowboarder
As a World Cup snowboardcross racer, Jonathan Cheever has taken his share of spills over the years.
-
District wrestling tournaments begin tonight
Neosho’s wrestling lineup will have a different look when the Class 3 district wrestling tournament begins at 6 p.m. today at Carthage.
-
Late board work carries Lions past Pittsburg State
Pittsburg State displayed its offensive rebounding muscle during Wednesday night’s game at Missouri Southern.
-
Pitching holds key for softball Lions
Pitching is the main question Missouri Southern must answer as the Lions open their softball season today in Abilene, Texas.
-
Quapaw completes 12-0 run through Lucky '7' Conference
Quapaw High School girls basketball coach Rod Graves expected the 2011-12 Wildcats to compile another successful season.
They haven’t been a disappointment. -
Hillsdale women stop OCC
Visiting Hillsdale Free Will Baptist handed Ozark Christian a 68-47 loss in women’s college basketball on Thursday night.
-
Tomlin, Steelers welcome Haley as new coordinator
Throughout the 16 minutes that followed him glowingly introducing former Kansas City Chiefs coach Todd Haley as his new offensive coordinator, Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin stood proudly in the corner of the second-floor media room at the team’s facility.
-
Rangers, Cruz strike $16M, 2-year deal
Two-time defending AL champion Texas has avoided arbitration with another of its core players, agreeing Thursday to a $16 million, two-year contract with AL championship series MVP Nelson Cruz.
-
Auburn’s Ward adapts game after injury at Texas
Auburn’s Varez Ward can’t take to the air quite like he used to. The onetime Texas starter is still trying to regain strength and explosiveness more than two years after rupturing his right quadriceps tendon while dunking during pre-game warmups.
- More Sports Headlines
-
Denver's Largest-Ever Drug Bust Nets Dozens
Marines: No Punishment for Nazi-like Flag
Vets Look to Translate Military Skills Into Jobs
Expert: Removing LA School's Staff 'Appropriate'
Raw Video: School Bus Burst Into Flames
LA School Reopens Amid Sex Abuse Scandal
$25B Settlement Reached Over Foreclosure Abuses
Pentagon: Allow Women Closer to Front Lines
Obama Gives Education Waivers to 10 States
Giffords Aide to Run for Her Seat
LA School in Sex Abuse Scandal Reopens
Winter Slamming North Asia, Parts of Europe
Syrian Forces Renew Bombardment of Homs
States, Banks Reach Foreclosure-abuse Settlement
Raw Video: Italy's Mount Etna Bursts Into Life
Greeks March; Angry Despite Debt Deal
Raw Video: U.S. Pullout Celebration
Raw Video: Annual Empire State Building Run-Up
Man Killed in Courthouse Shootout
Air Force Airlines: Leaders Get Polished Service
