Muskogee softball is ready now and building for the future
“Build it and they will come”…the famous line from the motion picture Field of Dreams might have been the answer to the questions facing Muskogee softball coach Mark Dicus when the veteran mentor decided to leave a successful program at Pryor to reconstruct the success of Roughers softball.
And when looking at the roster that this fall includes five freshmen and two sophomores, some might question Dicus’ decision. But the Hall of Fame coach had plenty of reasons to smile after putting together his own scouting report.
“When I first thought about coming to Muskogee, I called everyone I knew that had ever lived in Muskogee, coached in Muskogee as well as coach (Andi) Hurst and coach (Kodi) Bennett for what they knew about these girls. I knew I was walking into a talented group that can play softball.”
But coach, it’s like starting over. These kids are so young.
“Youth is a good thing, at my age you really value it,” chuckled Dicus. “Youth is good when they can play and that goes back to their attitude and work ethic. They don’t have a lot of bad habits they have to forget which allows them to move forward at a faster pace.
“They’ve done everything we’ve asked them to do without question. It’s good to know they are good players, really good kids that will work hard to get better.”
With five freshmen and a pair of sophomores that Dicus calls his “silent majority,” the results are beginning to blossom.
“We’ve had a freshman second baseman and shortstop, Shay Grissom and Jaye Barnoski that have started everyday and the communication between them is fun to watch,” said Dicus. “We’ve been able to rely upon Peyton Jackson in the circle to go out and compete everyday while Jaliyah (Simmons) was injured. She weathered the storm and that’s tough for a freshman against Class 6A teams.”
Adding to the “get better everyday” approach of the Roughers are freshmen outfielders Ky Carter and Shelby Morris along with sophomores Kambri Johnson and Nyia Green, two seniors Karsyn York and Avery Ragsdale along with junior Feather Johnson.
“This being year number-44 for me to coach, I’m not so sure that this is not the favorite stop in my career,” Dicus acknowledged. “The challenge that was out there, the support that we’ve received from parents and kids as well as administration and community has been great. It’s exciting to come to practice and go play everyday.”
