The North Sunflower Academy softball team got the 2020 season off to a start this past week. Pictured in front are Preslie McCool, Kaitlyn Smither, Jenny Hewitt and Shenryia James. In the second row are Carson Scallion, Lena Morris, Hollie Clem, Baylee Hewitt, Meridyth Scallion and Penelope Patterson.
In the back are Assistant Coach Shelbi Smith, Elizabeth Head, Sterlynn Luna, Lexie Bowen, Samantha Barham, Skylar Cole, Callie Sumner, Gracie Barrett and Coach George Roberson.
For The E-T
A new coach but familiar face is back at North Sunflower Academy. George Roberson who previously coached at the private school has returned.
Coach Roberson is in charge of the girls softball team whose season began on July 31.
And he’ll be working the sidelines for boys’ basketball as well. The Indianola native has spent time in the MAIS and is happy to “be back home” to reshape his Rebel teams.
Currently, the softball team has yet to win (at press time) but the young team is making progress according to Coach Roberson.
“We’ve competed well but we’ve just got to get over that hump,” he said. “We’ve had one bad inning in each game and that’s what’s beating us.”
With only two seniors, infielders Jenny Hewitt and Preslie McCool, the Rebels have a lot of young talent filling out the roster.
“Our two seniors have worked their tails off and have bought into my system,” he said. “They are the heart and soul of our team. Everybody feeds off of them right now. I have a group of great girls but we are all learning from scratch again. I tell the girls all of the time, ‘do the little things right and the big things will happen.’”
Coach Roberson knows a lot hinges on the control of the game from the mound.
“When our pitching gets stronger, we’re going to make some noise in our conference,” he said. “A lot of it.”
Coach Roberson is excited to be able to teach and mold the young Lady Rebels into winners, on and off the field.
“They are playing together and will be a team this year,” Coach Roberson said. “I’m trying to get them to understand a new style of coaching and a new style of playing ball. I’m trying to put a new mentality back in the program.”
Roberson preaches “with defense first, the offense is easy. If we play good defense the offense is going to come.” The Rebel head coach likes to keep his team running with lots of bunting and steals to create offense.
“I like to bunt and I love to steal,” he said.
The Lady Rebels hit the road to take on Delta Academy on August 10 at 4:00 p.m. and then host Deer Creek on August 11 at 4:30 p.m. For a full schedule, check out https://nsarebels.com/softball/.
