The summer ended for North Callaway softball with its third day of its youth camp.

Its junior high session on July 30 allowed girls to learn from North Callaway coaches and players, and that’s what the high school roster has done this summer.

Head coach Mariah McKee said the camp brought 13 junior high kids and 17 high school kids for the later morning session. McKee said they were lucky to miss the days that the heat index was north of 100 degrees on Sunday and Monday. The high school number is about the same she expects for the season.

“I think we’ll have 18 this year, which is a really good number,” McKee said. 

The Ladybirds have played scrimmages in the Centralia team camps. On June 10, the camp had North Callaway face Centralia, Monroe City, Cairo and Marceline. The camp was held at Antimi Sports Complex in Columbia on July 7 and had North Callaway face Centralia, Richmond, Dekalb and South Harrison.

McKee said North Callaway might have split the games but at least competed in its scrimmages. She said it played good competition, especially the reigning Class 2 runner-up South Harrison. 

Some girls have played travel ball, including all-state pitcher Megan Schmidt, have played more games. Schmidt has played all over the country with St. Louis Chaos and finished third in nationals with the team.

“The girls have been pretty busy,” McKee said. “They’re willing to learn. We’re young. I have a few that played varsity last year that have played this year. Each year it’s a completely different team, and we’re still figuring out where we lay, where we are and what we’re going to be about when people talk about us.”

If McKee had to guess, she expects North Callaway to lean more towards small ball because the roster has so much speed. She would like to appeal to its strengths in whatever direction they go, but they need more time together.

“It’s just getting them reps,” McKee said. “I want to get them reps in spots they may play. That would be my biggest thing getting out of this summer.”