By Payton Moody 

The Anadarko Lady Warriors Softball team is gearing up for an exciting upcoming season with high aspirations. Head Coach Jordan Troxell provided some insights into the team’s goals, preparation, key players, challenges and anticipated matchups.

“Our team goal is to finish in the top four of our district and win more games than last year,” Troxell said. The Lady Warriors are aiming to make a strong statement in their district and improve their overall performance.

During the offseason, the team has been putting in the hard work to enhance their performance. “The girls have been working hard during the summer, lifting weights, and conditioning,” Troxell said. 

Two key returning players to watch out for are Mariah Gooday and Nieley Franklin. Troxell expressed confidence in Gooday, who will be a senior this year and was an all-district team member last season. He expects her to lead the team and build on her success from last year. Franklin, on the other hand, will be the team’s go-to pitcher in the circle, showcasing her skills and contributing significantly to the team’s performance.

Additionally, the team will have new blood in the form of incoming freshmen, Mylah Rucker and Aliyah Upton. Troxell believes that these young talents will have an opportunity to step up and make a positive impact on the team’s success.

As for the team’s strengths, Troxell is confident in the athleticism of his returning team. “We only graduated two starters from last year’s team,” Troxell said. The team has a strong core returning, but they also face the challenge of filling the positions left by the graduated players. Lenaya Williams and Cookie White will be stepping into important roles, with Williams as the starting shortstop and White as the catcher.

The Lady Warriors will face tough challenges in their district schedule, and Troxell acknowledged that the competition will be fierce. “We will have to show up and play our best game if we want to finish in the top four,” he stated.

Finally, as a coach, Troxell is excited to witness the team’s growth throughout the season. “Just seeing where we start the season and how we develop as a team throughout the year really excites me.”