WEST POINT — Mitch Bohon appears to be in an ideal situation entering his second season as the Oak Hill Academy fast-pitch softball coach.
Last season, Bohon and the Lady Raiders suffered their share of growing pains with a team that lacked experience and was learning how to play the game.
This year, Bohon can’t help but smile when he talks about a group that he said listens, works hard, and wants to get better. That recipe has made it fun for Bohon to come to the field every day to help his players re-build a program that has had its share of success, most recently after former coach and current Oak Hill Academy Athletic Director Marion Bratton.
“I think we’re going to be really competitive,” Bohon said. “We gained a lot of experience last year, and we have really good pieces in place. In the infield, we’re about as solid as we can be. In the outfield, we’re extremely fast.
“Offensively, we have come so far from last year it is amazing watching the progress.”
Oak Hill Academy will look to get back to double-digit victories and to competing for a district title with a lineup that features senior first baseman Tanner Grubbs and senior pitcher Peyton Tefteller. Bohon also expects Anna Kathryn Childress, Sunni Millican, Mallory Williamson, Emily Allen (who is back from injury to play catcher), and Ashley Allen (outfield) to provide leadership.
“We have a team full of experienced players who can contribute and help lead this team,” Bohon said. “We have a lot of speed. I think we can run and I think defensively we’re going to be really good.”
Childress shares Bohon’s optimism because she has seen all of the players improve from last season and in the first few weeks of practice.
“We have been though some rough patches these last few years,” Childress said. “I think we are determined more than ever to go out there and play our hardest.”
Grubbs remembers playing with former Oak Hill Academy standouts like Mamie Allen and Maegen Ellis, who recently signed a scholarship to play softball at Nicholls State. She said it has been a rebuilding effort to get the program back to that level, but she said she is eager to take on an even bigger role this season to make it happen.
“I have seen a huge change from last year to this year,” Grubbs said. “We can hit so much better. We are so much more experienced because we learned what not to do.”
More importantly, Grubbs said the team also has a new attitude. She said the Lady Raiders aren’t going to accept not being able to do something. She credits Bohon for being positive and for pushing them to realize their potential. To that end, she feels confidence will be an integral part of helping the program take the next step.
“Last year, we would always make a mistake and get down on ourselves,” Grubbs said. “We wouldn’t have any confidence and we would keep messing up. It would just keep happening. This year, we have a lot of confidence because we have been practicing really well.”
Bohon will rely on the experience to help fill the void created by an injury shortstop Annabelle Miller recently suffered. He said Miller will miss the first few weeks of the season.
Oak Hill Academy will open its season at 5:30 p.m. Friday at Hebron Christian. It also will play Saturday at a tournament in Winona, where it will face North Sunflower Academy (9 a.m.). If it wins that game, it would play Carroll Academy.
“If their confidence is high, I believe we will compete,” Bohon said. “If they struggle early and the confidence gets shaken, I am curious to see how that goes, but I think confidence is going to play the biggest key with them.
“When we talk about the season, you can see it in their eyes that they are excited and they know they can compete. That is why I am so excited to get the year started and to watch them play.”
Follow Dispatch sports editor Adam Minichino on Twitter @ctsportseditor
Adam Minichino is the former Sports Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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