It was heartbreaking the way we ended it last year because we obviously wanted to win states last year. This year, weve come focused, prepared, and have been working very hard in practice.Olivia Boger Senior pitcher

The Davie County softball team started the season with high expectations after a deep run in last seasons NCHSAA Class 4-A playoffs.

So with five seniors returning from a team that advanced to the region semifinals in the NCHSAA Class 4-A playoffs, Davie County could push defending state champion West Forsyth, North Davidson and possibly Reagan for the conference title.

In my mind, we always have a chance to win it, coach Dawn Lowery of Davie County said. Again, it all boils down to the leadership on your team, and I think the leadership on our team is solid. Our chemistry is better this year than it has been.

I think that the girls are playing well together and they trust each other.

Much of the leadership comes from the War Eagles five seniors pitcher Olivia Boger (committed to Mercer), third baseman Klea Parks (North Greenville), Kenzie Smith (Appalachian State), Jessie Beck (Guilford) and McKenzie Barneycastle (Newberry). That group is confident the War Eagles will rebound and have a successful season.

It was heartbreaking the way we ended it last year because we obviously wanted to win states last year, Boger said. This year, weve come focused, prepared, and have been working very hard in practice.

Barneycastle isnt playing because she had a benign tumor removed from her cerebellum.

She had brain surgery on Monday, and shes been out. They found it in November, Lowery said. They had scheduled her like the first week of the season, and then she got the flu. They had to push it back two weeks.

Lowery said the tumor was not cancerous at the time of the operation and the surgery was cautionary.

They did a biopsy. I dont know all of the details, but it had a greater chance of becoming cancerous, Lowery said. So they went ahead and removed it.

According to Lowery, Barneycastle is at home resting and would be out an average of six weeks. However, it could be more or less depending on how she recovers. There is even a chance she could play toward the end of season and the playoffs.

If its up to Barney, she will, Lowery said. Shes a fighter, man. Its an unfortunate situation for a senior, but shes tough and shes handling it with great maturity. And she wants to be out here. I know shes going to do everything in her power to be out here, but obviously her health is most important.

Parks said the War Eagles have dedicated the season to Barneycastle.

Barney, shes our girl, Parks said. Even though shes going through this tough time right now its all for her. Everything we do is for her.

Davie has a tough schedule, and it showed last Tuesday after being throttled 10-0 by Class 2-A power Forbush. Davie won 15-0 at home against Reagan on Friday night and played at West Forsyth Tuesday night.

Games like (Forbush), you just cant let it linger over your head, Lowery said. You cant let it defeat you for the next three or four games. Youve just got to learn from it. Ive always believed in us, and I think the girls are finally starting to believe in it too.

Davie also plays host to North Davidson on Friday, is at Mount Tabor on March 20 and has a home game March 22 against Glenn.

These preseason games have done us well to prepare us, Boger said. Weve got a really tough schedule this year, and weve played really tough teams to prepare us for the state playoffs. I really feel like were going to be prepared.

Expectations are one thing, but following through and being successful with a chance at competing for a Class 4-A state title is another.

We kind of all agree that were going to take it one game at a time, one inning at a time, one pitch at a time because thats probably how were going to be the most successful, Smith said.

Boger said playing tough teams in the conference almost every night is a challenge and makes it fun.

I think its amazing, Smith said. Its really cool because it really tests your limits. And for those of us who are going to play college ball its even better. It really shows you no matter how hard you think youre working, everyone else is working just as hard. So it kind of teaches you life lessons.

Beck, a utility player, said the loss to Forbush can make Davie better.

It was a loss, but we got it out of our way, Beck said. So now were ready to go.

Beck feels that Davie can compete for a conference title, but like Smith, she said its one game at a time.

We prepare the same way for every team, Beck said. We dont take any team lighter than any other team, so weve basically been preparing for these games our whole season, our whole career.

The regular season doesnt conclude until Davie plays host to Parkland on April 28. The following week is the conference tournament and the state tournament begins May 10.

The talents there, Lowery said. Weve just got to make it all come together at the right time.

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Solid core: Davie softball coach says chemistry is better this year - Winston-Salem Journal