Getting back in the swing of things, the Marlow High School Lady Outlaw softball team is off to a promising start to the 2021 season.

A summer of practices highlighted a few mechanical concerns for the team to improve on, such as hitting and offense.

The practice during the summer finally came to attainment on Aug. 9 as the Lady Outlaws began their season at Lexington and came out on top against the Bulldogs with a score of 9-0.

Softball player of 13 years, senior Dara Hunt overcame the adversity she was faced with early in the girls’ first game and has continued to do so throughout the season alongside her teammates.

“The teams we have played so far have shown us that we need to talk more, and we could improve on our offense,” Hunt said. “One of our best abilities is that we have pretty good speed on our team.”

With the inspiration and determination the team gathered from the first game, the Lady Outlaws then went on to win against Cache 16-6 the following day on Aug. 10.

 In their first district game of the 2021 season, the team fell short against Dickson with a score of 11-3 on Aug. 13.

The Lady Outlaws then hopped back on their winning streak with a successful first home game of the season on Aug. 14 against Madill where the Outlaws came out victorious with a score of 9-0 before defeating Plainview 7-1 on Aug. 16.

Facing rigorous competition early in the season, the Lady Outlaws experienced firsthand the type of skills that give them a lead over their opponents.

Hunt expressed the team’s goals for the year.

“Our goal is to build up our foundation because we have a pretty young team,” Hunt described.

With seniors Hunt, Lyvia Bateman and Jori Brittain leading the team to success this season, the trio is playing a large responsibility in ensuring that improvement is being made while also maintaining the team’s morale.

However, the senior girls are not the only individuals that need to be credited for the successful start of the season.

The younger members of the team are responsible for maintaining the team’s energy and are the future of the program.

Sophomore Kenlee Wilson is optimistic about the team’s dynamic and its ability to propel them to greater heights in the present and future of the program.

“The team is getting along great, and we all click with each other which helps with some goals that I have for the team, such as us working hard for each other instead of ourselves,” Wilson expressed.

Head Coach Brian Miller also noted the abilities in the team’s lineup that he believes will set the Outlaws apart from any opponent.

“Defensively we are a pretty solid team. We have pitchers that do their job on the field, and we play as a team,” Miller stated. “We have a great group of girls that play hard and get along really well.”

Due to the team’s impressive expertise, the standards and expectations the team has set are rising.

The MHS softball program went undefeated in the Plainview tournament last year, but the Lady Outlaws are seeking out more prestigious goals this year by hoping to go as far into the playoffs as possible with dreams of a trip to the state tournament.

With the team having a “do what you can with what you have” mindset this year, the Lady Outlaws have created an unbreakable bond, fueling an unstoppable dynamic for the 2021 season.

Hoping to continue their string of success, the Lady Outlaws will return to the field for the Plainview tournament which will be held at the Plainview Softball Field on Aug. 27-28 at a time yet to be determined.