By Patrick MacCoonRecord Sports EditorAfter struggling at times to hit on the fundamentals last season, Wright City will look to take care of what it can control this softball season.With a steady influx of newcomers, executing the basics has been a routine focus through the start of fall practice.“Around 10 of our 24 girls this softball season will be brand new to the program,” Wildcats Head Coach Fred Ross said. “With a bunch of girls playing new positions this year, we are focusing on making the routine plays. If you make those plays, you are going to do pretty well.”While diving catches and leaping throws from deep in the hole catch the eyes of those in the crowd and make for good highlight videos, Ross wants consistency before flashiness.“Every once in a while you will make those fantastic plays, but if you can knock that ball down or keep it from going into the gap that’s the big thing,” he said. “Make the play you should make and if you make an extraordinary play that’s just a bonus.”Small ball will also be a major focus for Wright City after struggling to move runners into scoring position last season.“One of our keys will also be to bunt the ball well,” he said. “I think we were 15 of 43 sacrificing last year, which is horrible and the worst I’ve had as a head coach. Our team is going to want to put pressure on the defense this season. Our entire lineup needs to be able to put a bunt down.”Ross is working with his Wildcats to be consistent on placing bunts down both lines against opposing pitching, which stands 43 feet away.“I think bunting is a skill set,” he said. “It’s not all about wanting to pound the ball and hit home runs. Sometimes you just need to sacrifice and move the runners over. You have to teach them small ball at times.”After losing three pivotal senior starters from an 11-9 finish in 2014, another trio will be looked upon to shoulder the load of the offense.Brooke and Leah Vossen drove in a combined 28 runs a season ago and hit .511 and .410, respectively.As just a freshman, Leah was honored as a first-team all-conference selection after leading the Wildcats with 25 hits, eight doubles and was the only player to homer other than her sister. Brooke, a second-team all-conference member as a junior, scored a team-high 22 runs and returns as the leading run producer with 16 RBIs despite only 45 at-bats last season.Senior Savannah Bridges also will hit atop a lineup after posting a .355 batting average and finishing second in doubles (five) and tied for third in RBIs (12).“Last year the Vossen sisters hit well against almost everybody,” he said. “Savannah picked up her bat last year and I expect her to do so again. Those three are going to be my core players and probably hit 2-3-4 in the lineup. Then from there we will look to find a leadoff hitter atop the lineup and find the best fit from other fresh new faces to our varsity lineup.”On the mound, Wright City will return its top three pitchers.Brooke Vossen and Macy Evans combined for 10 wins and 111 1/3 innings and a 3.02 earned run average. Madelyn Webb also made three appearances as a freshman.“I’m going to go with the hot hand, so if one of them is pitching well then they are going to keep pitching,” he said. “Having three pitchers is especially nice when you play in tournaments on hot weekends. We feel pretty confident in winning games behind those three as long as we can make the routine plays behind them.”While the 2015 season looks to be one in which many new players see time for Wright City, it will look to do the most it can and learn on the run quickly.“We hope to build off what we have,” he said. “We have some pretty good freshmen on the way up that have played well, so we just have to look at what we can do to create success this season.”Wright City will open the regular season on Aug. 25 with a home matchup against St. Clair.

Wright City will look to be more successful this season in bunting the baseball after struggling at times last year to move runners over. The Lady Wildcats will begin the regular season on Aug. 25 at home against St. Clair.

Derrick Forsythe photo.