Softball Opens with New Coach

New head coach Shelby Shanks, a Dunbar alumni, will look to turn around the Dunbar softball team.

Jacob Hayes, Sports Writing Editor|November 12, 2021

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  • The current softball team and their new head coach Shelby Shanks.

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  • Senior Elise White

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  • Players warm-up with ground ball drills.

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  • Players start practice with new throwing drills.

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  • The team starts long toss drills to prepare for upcoming games.

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  • Players go to catch overhead balls.

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  • 8th grader Courtney starts to warm-up as the catcher.

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  • Players start to warm up at practice ready to get the ball rolling into the season.

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The Dunbar softball season is quickly approaching and this year they will have a new head coach, Shelby Shanks. 

Shanks will look to turn things around for the softball team after an abysmal season last year where they finished with a record of 5-18, placing second to last in the 11th region, and says that she is excited for the upcoming season and being the head coach.

The team has already started having winter practices and they hold open practices Monday-Thursday every week which are open to all who wish to attend. 

Monday and Wednesday are conditioning days and Tuesdays and Thursdays are hitting at either the Dunbar softball field or at an indoor facility.

“I am excited about this season. We have a new senior who just came in from California and we have some new middle schoolers,” said Shanks.

Shanks has high expectations for her team going into the season. “When I was at Dunbar we made it to the district championship game every year. I want our team to be able to compete at that same level,” Shanks said.

The Dawgs will be aided by the return of their best hitter and pitcher from last year, junior Macy Hyams. Hymas led the team in batting average and inning pitched. She will be looking to help the team win and progress further this year.

Hyams pitched 108.1 innings last year and compiled a record of 5-13 with an earned run average of 5.30. She was the starting pitcher in 20 of the 23 games for the Bulldogs last year. Hyams also hit .397 last year and compiled 11 runs batted in.

However, the team will lose their second-best hitter from last, Kate Schweighardt. Schweighardt hit .350 last year and had 20 runs batted in and she graduated from Dunbar last year. Senior transfer Elise White will also look to help bolster her team and she may be a much needed piece that will help the Dawgs do better this upcoming season.

The Dawgs will also be helped by the return of their second-best pitcher, junior Mia Clemmons. Clemmons pitched 32.0 innings last year with an earned run average of 10.28.

Softball tryouts will be held on Feb. 15. Anyone, from grades 7-12, is welcome to try out.