DOVER — Southmont softball junior Anna Stokes has been an impact player for the Mounties since day one as a freshman. Her first season Stokes batted .492 in her freshman season and .322 her sophomore season a year ago before now returning to her normal form in year three. Stokes is batting .493 with 33 hits and 34 runs scored. What’s been just as impressive for Stokes in her phenomenal career is that she is a menace on the base paths. After the Mounties game on Monday night at Western Boone, Stokes recorded her 31st stolen base of the season in 32 attempts. Those 31 steals set a new single season record for the Mounties that was previously held by Hanna Nichols.
Stokes’ 31 steals also give her 60 for her career which ties the program record also held by Nichols. It’s a safe assumption that Stokes will shatter that mark when her Mountie career is all said and done.
“Anna is just one of those players that you dream of having on your team,” longtime Southmont coach Dan Taylor said. “She makes it happen for us in so many different ways. She’s in unchartered territory now with those 31 stolen bases and has moved past some very great players. Hanna Nichols, Natalie Manion, Marissa Craig, Avery Hess, Anna has past them all. We couldn’t be more happy for her and we never doubted she’d get to this point. She pretty much has the green light to go whenever she wants.”
Stokes also sits at fifth in the state in steals and isn’t one to take all the credit as she thanked her coaches for having the trust in her to get the job done.
“This means a lot and I’m just happy and thankful I’ve gotten these opportunities,” she said. “I’m grateful that my coaches have faith in me and when I get on base I have the mentality that there’s no one better than me. You have to have that mindset that you’re the best when you’re on base. I’m glad the results have paid off.”
Another display of how good of a player that Stokes is showed during the Mounties final at-bat against the Stars. While they would fall to a talented WeBo squad 5-3, the Mounties didn’t quit as Stokes got on base with a single and Stokes right on cue took second base to set the record. Jenna Grino then laid down a great bunt and barely beat the throw to first. On the play Stokes never stopped running and the Stars were too late to notice as she came all the way around to score.
For the game Southmont (7-13, 4-8 SAC) got on base in every inning but one against Stars stud pitcher Gabby Lewis but couldn’t get the big hit that they are accustomed to. Lewis finished the game with 14 strikeouts and was one away from breaking the school record for the Stars who improve to 17-6 (12-1 SAC).
“I thought this probably the best that Kyndale (Rice) has thrown all year and she had them off balance for most of the night,” Taylor said. “We played great defense for most of the night too and this is the time of the year that we want to be playing our best softball. Gabby Lewis is a great picher and for us to play like we did in this game is a big step in the right direction.”
Stokes and the rest of the Mounties will wrap up their two-game set against the Stars before traveling to North Montgomery on Thursday to wrap up the regular season. Southmont hosts the Class 2A Sectional 44 tournament which begins next Monday and they’ll play South Putnam in game two on Monday night to open up post-season play.
