North’s nine back with eyes up high

Last season, Edmond North’s softball roster — like many other Edmond area teams — was bounced before the state tournament. But, unlike the rest, the Lady Huskies will get all nine of their starters back this fall, and they intend to win with the roster. According to North Head Coach Rick Nordyke, leading the long, grocery list of name-brand athletes on his 2018 team will be a quartet of signatures that were heavily honored after last year’s fall ball season. Names like five-tool phenom and All-Edmond MVP Jacee Minter, big hitting Kamryn Garvie, and brick-wall catcher Amy Crabaugh will be tasked with leading a prolific North offense. Last season, with the help of those three, the lineup could destroy opposing pitchers from holes one through nine. According to Nordyke, Edmond can again expect that same outcome. Each of Minter, Garvie and Crabaugh bring defensive tools to the table, too, and they will work from the diamond to back up one of last season’s best area pitchers in Evy Aud. In 2017, Aud, then just a sophomore, threw 134 innings with an Edmond best 3.08 earned run average. Those four will lead the returning roster to a higher finish than last season, at least according to Nordyke. “Our goal this season is to make it to the state tournament,” he said. For that to happen, North will have to overcome a summer that fractured the roster and sent pieces of the roster to just about every competitive softball club across the area. If they’re going to be successful in the playoffs, and even succeed in the Edmond and Broken Arrow tournaments, they’ll need to get back on the same page quickly. “The biggest struggle will be getting everyone together because of them playing different nationals,” Nordyke explained. North’s journey to the state playoffs begins on August 6, in a home pairing with Putnam City West.

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Edmond North High School Athletics

NORTH’S NINE BACK WITH EYES UP HIGH

AARON ALBERTSON

Edmond Sun | 8/6/2018

PHOTO CREDIT: Drew Harmon