Orangefield softball preview – Last season the Orangefield Lady Bobcats were district champions. Coach Amy McLaughlin has many of the girls back from that team, and she says they all have been working hard to do it again. Seniors Ashton Gautreaux, Kylie Bradley, Katelyn Dickerson, and Baileigh Perkins are returning to the Lady Bobcats. Juniors Haley Fontenot, Maleah Saucedo, and sophomore Lauren Stout are also back. McLaughlin says, “They’ve got that one goal in mind and they’ve been working in the off season for that.” McLaughlin will be adding some new players to the mix. A couple freshmen should make an impact, Kaylee Ancelot is a pitcher and will also fill a hole in the batting lineup while Autumn Frost will play outfield and be a key in the Lady Bobcat lineup with her speed. New to the area is senior pitcher Gabby Kespelher. The Lady Bobcat hitters will be keeping opposing fielders on their toes according to Coach McLaughlin. Returning from last year are Gautreaux and Fontenot with the two leading Lady Bobcat batting averages. Dickerson is a good leadoff batter, consistent with the bat, and is aggressive on the bases. Bradley can go for the long ball and make things happen. McLaughlin states, “Team members that have moved in or are just freshmen they’ve got some sticks that are going to surprise some people and wakeup the defense.” Orangefield has some big shoes to fill having lost 3-year starting pitcher Khandi Breaux to graduation. McLaughlin hopes to fill those shoes with 2 young ladies. Kaylee Ancelot and Gabby Kespelher have worked hard, and McLaughlin thinks Orangefield will have a good rotation with those two. Coach McLaughlin knows her Orangefield Lady Bobcats will have a target on their backs as they seek to repeat as district champions. McLaughlin points out, “The ones I have returning have all been versatile since the day I got them and they continue to be that way so fill in defensive wise I think were fine it’s just going to be the mental aspect of it stay focused, know what our goal is, and just take a deep playoff run and go game-by-game, pitch-by-pitch.”
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