[Stardust]

The Mason County Lady Royals' softball team had a season last year they would just as soon forget, according to coach Meredith Fraysure, who enters her seventh year at the helm.
"The girls agreed to learn from last year," Fraysure said about the 5-24 season. "We didn't graduate anybody, so we have the same core group back plus we inherited Katie Hamm (who transfered from St. Patrick) and our five seniors want to go out on a good note in their final season. Our chemistry was off last year and the girls are focused on team chemistry and doing what is best for the team. The girls have regrouped and worked really hard to make this year their own mission."
The Lady Royals got the season off to an early and positive start by outscoring Bath County 18-12 on March 7 and Fraysure was very pleased with the team's effort in the opener.
"We wanted to get a game in before spring break and we got some good pitching and timely hitting," said the coach. "If that game is any indication of the improved team chemistry, then we're on the right track. We got down 2-0 in the first inning but in the bottom of the first, Abby Huff and Amy Arthur got on base and Cara Irwin hit a three-run homer and we were on our way."
Senior Karissa Greenhill and sophomore Kortney Carver split the pitching duties against Bath County and will be the primary pitchers agains this season. Hamm will also some time in the pitcher's circle and Fraysure is excited about a freshman prospect who will begin the season as the Lady Royals' junior varsity pitcher.
"Ashley Batey will be the first left-handed pitcher we've had since I've been here and she already has some speed for a freshman," said Fraysure. "Karissa and Kortney did a great job of pitching to contact, which is great. It's their job to do that and keep the ball in the strike zone. Our defense also played well behind them so we started the ball rolling the right way."
Returning behind the plate is the power-hitting Irwin, who Fraysure said "tweaked her knee making a slide in the Bath County game."
The coach added that Hamm is backing up Irwin after getting some catching experience as a Lady Saint.
"Katie literally can do anything and she gives us a lot of moving pieces to our lineup, which has made life better," Fraysure said. "She will also play some at second base and she just really helps our flexibility."
Fraysure said the first base and shortstop positions will be manned by senior Leigh Newdigate and sophomore Jessica Hay.
"They will both see time at both positions," she said. "They're interchangeable. Leigh did very well playing first after moving her over there and 'J-Hay' goes all out to get to any ball she can at shortstop."
Returning at third base is senior Bethany Foister.
"We moved her to third last year and she's our anchor on the left side of the infield," said Fraysure. "Bethany really enjoys playing at the hot corner and she's done well since moving there."
Sharing time at second base will be Arthur and Hamm. Fraysure said she likes to put Huff and Arthur at the top of the Lady Royals' lineup because they're the speediest players on the team.
The left-handed Huff returns to her familiar center field position.
"Abby can get on base a variety of ways," Fraysure said. "She has a very good arsenal. She can bunt, slap the ball and even hit with power at times."
Sophomore Caitlin Ross will be in left field and senior Taylor Douglas returns in right.
"They have both played quite a bit and we feel really good about our defense in the outfield," said the coach. "Kortney will also be out there some when she isn't pitching because has a cannon for an arm."
Fraysure added that junior Billie Jo Ross is "a very hard worker" who adds depth to the squad and that see will also get some at-bats for the Lady Royals.
Mason County is slated to meet crosstown foe St. Patrick on Tuesday.
The home schedule features several formidable opponents, including Rowan County, Bracken County, Newport Central Catholic, West Carter and Bishop Brossart.


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