Imagine softball as a triangle, with one leg being offense, the other being pitching and the foundation being defense.

For a downloadable Vicksburg softball schedule, click here

Last season, the Missy Gators had the foundation and the pitching leg down pat, but struggled to score runs, something that third-year coach Amanda Yocum plans to remedy this season.

The Missy Gators have had a tough go of it in fastpitch, which began in the state in 2000. But Vicksburg earned its first winning record in softball last season at 13-12 and the Missy Gators aim to build on that success.

And the postseason is well within reach for the retooled Missy Gators. With eight Division 3-4A games during the regular season, the top four teams will advance to the postseason.

“Always, our first goal is to make the playoffs,” Yocum said. “Have a .500 season. Individually, we just want to get better each day, each game, each practice.”

Key for that effort will be last year’s first baseman and offensive catalyst Claiborne Bryant, one of five seniors on the Missy Gator roster. Bryant hit .310 last season and is a three-year starter at first.

Senior catcher Julianna Jones, who missed all of last season with an ankle injury, returns to the lineup behind the plate.

Also vital will be right fielder Rebekah Connerly, who hits cleanup. She hit .308 last season and will be a key cog in the offense in her final season. Samantha Frith, who plays left field, is the other senior position player.

When it comes to pitching, the Missy Gators are in good hands.

In the circle, ace Kristi Shelby shows the way for the Missy Gators. She won 13 games last season and tallied a team-high 112 strikeouts.

One thing that will help Shelby is that Yocum now has a pitching staff, with a couple of youngsters available for both relief and to give their iron-armed ace some relief.

As for the rest of the lineup, consider it in flux as Yocum tries to piece together a winning combination in the lineup. The biggest hole the Missy Gators will have to fill is the void at shortstop.

*

Contact Steve Wilson at swilson@vicksburgpost.com.