Kendra Murphy was happy to see Community R-6 in action last Wednesday in Centralia.

Community R-6 Summer Photo Gallery

The Lady Trojans played several games during Centralia’s third softball scrimmage camp of the summer, opening their scrimmage schedules after weeks of practice with new head coach Murphy.

Murphy said Community has been able to work on fundamental aspects but hasn’t been able to play against other teams so girls basketball could finish its summer schedule. She liked what she saw out of her new squad as the Lady Trojans scored early and often in their first game against Dekalb.

“I thought we swung the bat well, we did a good job of moving runners and having quality at-bats,” Murphy said. “I think we need to be more aggressive on the bases. Our defense needs some fine-tuning, but that will come. I think we’re in a good starting spot.”

Murphy became accustomed to the district starting last year when she coached the junior high team. She stepped up a level after Kody Asquith was promoted to the head boys basketball position, giving Murphy her first opportunity to lead a small program.

The southeast Kansas native and former Baker University player has led several large programs such as Mexico, Centralia and Hannibal for more than a decade of head coaching experience. Murphy said she does come from a small school atmosphere but will be coaching against predominantly Class 1 high school programs for the first time.

“I have the small-school mentality,” Murphy said. “I’m not super familiar with all of the schools we play so that’s something I’ll have to get accustomed to this year and just learn that aspect of it.”

So far, Murphy said she has been emphasizing and wants to continue stressing that there are the “games within the games” in softball and that quality at-bats don’t always end in hits. Moving runners via bunts and being sharp on the basepaths help win games as well.

“I really think that baserunning is an underutilized part of the game,” Murphy said. “I think you can win some ballgames being more aggressive on the bases. Coach (Jordyn) Hamm and I have just taken some little tricks that we have up our sleeves and are trying to emphasize that.”

Reading the play is more important than just simply being fast when baserunning, Murphy said, as speed alone doesn’t determine whether a girl is a good baserunner.

Having those aspects clicking with other areas Murphy feels good about should help Community improve on an 11-11 season last year, she said. Catcher Brooklynn Glasgow didn’t waste much time making an impact as she and Amy McCurdy hit home runs against Dekalb while Jocelyn Curtis and Paige Painter turned in good pitching outings against Dekalb and Brookfield, respectively.

Murphy expects Glasgow to slot into that leadership naturally while younger players with not as much varsity experience like McCurdy and Peyton Schafer should step up this upcoming season. 

Community plans to play more scrimmages before the end of summer at 5 p.m. Thursday in Hannibal and at 4 p.m. July 27th in Hallsville.