Maidens look to be legit contenders in 2018 after rebuilding year

Last year, the Ronan High School softball team had one primary objective: to continue to improve for the 2018 softball season.

Overcoming injury and adversity, the Maidens continued to improve and at the conclusion of their season, finished in a highly competitive MHSA Class B-C with four wins.

Even though coach Kellie Manyhides acknowledged last season was a “struggle,” the Maidens, the coaching staff, and the administration all understood they were getting their young team that had no seniors on the team in 2017 ready for this year. They were also transitioning from MHSA Class B-C to Class A as part of the reclassification in late 2016 to take effect in the 2017-2018 season.

“We knew from the get-go that last year was just our building year and we were setting the standard on how we wanted our program to run and the expectations for the girls,” Manyhides said. “We were just working on building for this year. Headed into this season, we were very optimistic this year because we have a great group of seniors. Some of them who weren’t able to play last year have come back (to play this season).”

One major contrast between this season and last season is the Maidens’ roster will have a total of six seniors, as opposed to zero last season.

The six seniors will include Courtnee Clairmont, Katlyn Santos, Jaylyn Hakes, Marissa Mock, Shailee Courville and Gabriella Wirz.

Anchored by the six seniors, Manyhides expressed her optimism about her team’s potential as they prepare for the team’s season-opening home game Friday at 5 p.m. against Browning at 12 p.m. against the Libby Lady Loggers at Ronan High School’s softball fields.

“After seeing the potential of this group of girls who are hard workers, they are the kind of girls that just put their money where your mouth is,” Manyhides said. “There is no drama and they are there for each other.”

Over the last couple of seasons, since Manyhides took over as the Maidens’ softball coach, she has preached attitude. She said the attitude her team has taken on is “starting to catch on.”

Perhaps it’s the fact that if the Maidens don’t correspond with Manyhides program, they’ll run.

“I don’t do attitude and now that it’s my third year, my philosophical approach to softball is starting to catch on,” Manyhides said. “It’s nice that we have good attitudes towards the game because now our kids can focus on the fun stuff and start playing ball.”

Two players that should allow the Maidens to compete immediately in class A are Wirz and Courville, according to Manyhides.

“She was a pitcher and a utility player her sophomore year, and she played outfield and also pitched for us (during her sophomore year),” Manyhides said. “Gabby is a very talented player and she is right up there with some of the best pitchers I think. I am really excited for her prospects headed into this year.”

Manyhides isn’t just excited about Wirz’s prospect on the mound, she is excited about the offensive boost she will get with Wirz’s ability with a bat.

“Gabby is one of those players, especially on offense, that can just do it all,” Manyhides said. “If I need her to be a base hitter on the right side or hit lefty, I will have her switch up sometimes and she can do it.”

Courville is another player that adds versatility to the Maidens’ bolstered lineup.

“She played for me her sophomore year as a DH and she has a pretty powerful bat,” Manyhides said. “She will be a nice addition to our lineup. This year we have a big senior group and that will be nice to have because last year we didn’t have a single senior on the team.”

Another player that should have an impact on the Maidens’ roster closer to postseason play is Rhiley Big Beaver. Big Beaver, who injured herself during basketball season, is currently walking around in a boot. However, if she gets healthy, Manyhides said she suspects she could be an impact player down the stretch.

“If she was healthy she might be in our starting rotation,” Manyhides said. “Right now, she is kind of a ‘fill-in manager’ until she can get healthy and we can work her into the lineup. We might get her back for the Butte Tournament, but that depends on how her foot and ankle heal up. It’s too bad she is watching from the sidelines because she can catch, play outfield and play wherever I want her to. She is pretty solid but unfortunately, I can’t play her right away. When she gets healthy, she is going to be a threat.”

Emilie Corley, a transfer from Polson, should be able to have an immediate impact on the team, according to Manyhides.

“She is an all-around player, a solid infielder and she is going to give us an advantage at the plate,” Manyhides said. “She is definitely a power-hitter. She is quick and brings everything. I can put her in the infield and she’ll do well anywhere I put her. It doesn’t matter. Anywhere I put her she is a positive go-getter who will work hard no matter where she is. This is one of the hardest working groups I’ve ever had as far as coaching and it’s nice to see.”

These three captains will lead the Maidens: Santos, Mock and Courtnee Clairmont.

“Of our three returning team captains this season, Mock is one of the most impressive players on our team because she is a power hitter and last year was our cleanup hitter,” Manyhides said. “She consistently got extra-base hits last year and had the most singles, as well as double the amount of walks than anyone on our whole team. Her on-base percentage was like .700 or .800, she hit the baseball and got on base consistently and is going to be a major player this year for our team.”

Santos is another player that if she can stay healthy, she’ll be an impact player for the Maidens’ defense.

“She is an outstanding defensive player in and out and is still recovering from a quad injury,” Manyhides said. “If we can keep her healthy, she is a game-changer at shortstop and is a very strong hitter. Last year, she hit in the high .300s for a batting average.”

This year, Madison Clairmont will replace her twin sister Regan Clairmont behind the plate. Regan Clairmont suffered a season-ending ACL-tear during basketball season and her twin sister Madison will step behind the plate and fill in for Regan.

“She is a versatile player in the infield/outfield and I even put her on the mound last year just to warm up during the rain delay,” Manyhides said.

Another senior Manyhides highlighted was Jaylyn Hakes.

“She is a player that can play in the infield or outfield but you wouldn’t know it by looking at her,” Manyhides said. “She had the highest average on the whole team (last season).”

Manyhides also hired a new assistant coach. This year, Justin Mock will be one of the Maidens’ assistant coaches for this group of seniors that Manyhides said she felt was “special to her.”

“This group is very special to me because it was the group of players I coached when I first came to Ronan and volunteered to help out with the catchers,” Manyhides recalled. “I was hired to coach them my sophomore year and this group is very dear to me because this is the first group of kids I met and coached when I started here.”

According to coach Manyhides, Ronan is remarkably improved from last season, in which they won a total of four games. Last year had no seniors on the team and everything they did in order to get their players additional seasoning was to prepare for this season, which will be their first season back competing in Class A.

Name Pos. Grade

Courtnee Clairmont OF 12

Katlyn Santos IF 12

Jaylyn Hakes UTL 12

Marissa Mock IF 12

Shailee Courville IF 12

Gabriella Wirz P 12

Emilie Corley IF 11

Persephone Sandoval IF 11

Rhiley Big Beaver IF 11

Brooklyn Kenelty OF 10

Melanie Adams P/OF 10

Lanissa Mahkuk OF 10

Madison Clairmont C/UTL 10