Pitching In Place

North Softball Preview: North Gains Another Pitcher To Start Season Thursday

The question of pitching is finally being answered for the McKinney North softball team.

Junior Lindsay Collins has been the Lady Bulldogs’ main pitcher in the offseason and in the first few weeks of practices.

But the day after finishing basketball season, senior Ashliegh McLean threw in her first softball scrimmage last Wednesday against Plano East and did surprisingly well.

“She threw way better than what I thought she would,” said first-year North coach Dan Sedgwick of McLean. “[McLean] knows she has some work to do. Lindsay [Collins] knows that she has some work to do as well. But Ashliegh [McLean] exceeded my expectations.”

On North’s state semfinalist team last year, McLean pitched a little bit but played mainly as a utility player in the infield and outfield. The biggest hole to fill this season came from North’s all-state pitcher Kristen Adkins, who now plays at the University of Florida.

Sedgwick, who came from Franklin High School to replace North’s first softball coach Debbie Evans this season, has decided that his two pitchers will be sharing time on the mound as the Lady Dawgs begin their first games of the season until one of the pitchers establishes themselves.

“Ashliegh is doing amazingly well and Lindsay too,” said junior captain Kathy Shelton. “They’re both stepping up. I think they complement each other really well.”

North will open the season at the Bryan/College Station Tournament this Thursday through Saturday. The Lady Bulldogs took second in the tournament last season and are excited to return and begin the season.

“We’re so excited,” senior captain Amanda Parsonage said. “We’re going down to Bryan on Thursday for our kickoff games of the season. We’re excited about that and getting ready and talking about what we’re going to pack.”

Sedgwick anticipates seeing a lot of top competition this weekend and knows it will help the Lady Dawgs no matter how they finish.

“It’ll be real tough,” he said. “There will be a lot of real good 5A teams from around the state. We’ll find out what we have to work on. It’ll be a tough weekend and win or lose, it will make us a lot better.”

As for the team’s offense, Sedgwick couldn’t be happier. North, which is currently ranked No. 7 in the state, scored at least 10 runs in its first few scrimmages.

“It’ll be a battle of the bats this year,” Shelton said. “Last year it was 5-4 against Plano East. This year it was 11-10. That’s a big difference in the score."

Lady Bulldogs Roster

Sarah Becker                OF/Jr.
Tayler Burnside            Utility/Jr.
Lindsay Collings          P/IF/Jr.
Julie Cortez                   Utility/Jr.
Amy Kilpatrick               C/Jr.
Meghan Knowles         IF/Jr.
Ashliegh McLean         P/IF/Sr.
Lindsey Meyers           OF/So.
Amanda Parsonage   OF/Sr.
Lindsay Post                IF/Sr.
Kathy Shelton               Utility/Jr.
Haley Wagner              OF/Fr.

Staff writer Angie Wallace covers softball for McKinneyNews.net.