FORT GIBSON LADY TIGERS
Coach: Jerry Walker
15-22
It’s not always how you start but more importantly it’s how you finish that matters most. With a roster without a single senior on the lineup card, Fort Gibson enters the 2023 campaign determine to compete every day, working to be better than the one before.
“Our plan is simple, do the little things right in all phases of the game,” said head coach Jerry Walker. “Work hard every day to improve so that when the playoffs roll around we can give ourselves the chance to contend.”
Walker knows what it takes to finish strong having coached Fort Gibson to a state fastpitch championship in 1998 with his patented “team” approach. Among those players expected to deliver game-changing results is three-year starter Kaiah Austin (P/INF, Jr.) who provides great control when working in the circle where she total 119 strikeouts and only 16 free passes while at the plate came through in the clutch with a .422 batting average during her sophomore season in 2022.
“You want someone like Kaiah to have the ball in her hand. She not only has a strong arm but also brings confidence to a young roster,” said Walker. “She’s got the defensive skills you need plus has plenty of pop in her bat.”
The promise of youth springs eternal has Walker and his coaching staff eager to see this team develop.
We have multiple other underclassmen to keep an eye on,” Walker said with his smile of expectation for success. “They all bring something unique to the table and are going to be fun to watch.”
Kristjan Cantrell (P/INF, Jr.), Payton Russell (INF, Jr.), Miley Wafford (UTL, So.), Alyria Smith (3B/2B, Fr.) and Alexa Ragsdale (C/OF, Fr.) have Walker seeing the future with optimism.
Others wearing the FTG logo competing for their chance to cross the lines to compete are juniors Danika Earley (OF), Matyson Laney (INF/OF), Kendal Thouvenel (OF), Rylea Mendenhall (C/INF), Emma Spears (OF), Kyla Scott (OF) and Holli Perry (OF) joined by sophomores Trinity Parks (C/OF), Katelynn Mayton (OF), Destiny Smith (OF), Lake Porterfield (UTL), Turner Trout (UTL), Brinley Deerinwater (UTL) and Teagan Graves (OF) as well as two additional freshmen Kayleigh Thomas (1B) Avery Abbott (OF) and Paisley Nail (OF).
