By: Timothy Bohn, Assistant Director of Athletics Communications – Missouri State University
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – The Missouri State softball team is in the midst of its third week of practice as it prepares for its fall slate beginning with the annual Maroon and White game this Saturday at 2:00 p.m.
“The work ethic of this team has been extremely high this fall,” said head coach Holly Hesse. “The senior leadership is strong and they are determined to end their careers the way they started them. Our new players are fitting in nicely. They are eager, learning, growing and developing every day.”
The Missouri State fall softball schedule will continue next Thursday with a doubleheader against Crowder College at 5:00 p.m. The Bears will also face Central Arkansas and Tulsa on September 28 as part of a three-team, three-game day.
MSU and Labette will play a pair of exhibition games on Oct. 1 to round out the schedule. All fall exhibition games will be played at Killian Stadium on E. Pythian Street.
The Bears also announced the addition of former University of Alabama third baseman, and member of the 2012 Women’s College World Series Championship team, Courtney Conley as a volunteer assistant coach. Conley helped the Crimson Tide to three-consecutive SEC regular season titles from 2010 to 2012. All four seasons that she played at Alabama, she helped the Tide to the NCAA Tournament and back-to-back CWS appearances in 2011 and 2012. She earned Academic All-SEC accolades following her sophomore and junior seasons in Tuscaloosa.
“Courtney is a welcome addition to our coaching staff this year,” continued Hesse. “She brings a wealth of knowledge and experience on what it takes to succeed at a high level as a Division I student-athlete. Our players are gaining valuable ideas and insights from Courtney each day that will propel them to success as individuals and as a team. We are so fortunate to have her as a valued part for the Missouri State softball program.”
A career .244 hitter for the Tide, Conley belted 24 home runs, including a two-run shot on Senior Day against Mississippi State. She started 166 games at Alabama, swiping 11 bases, driving home 91 runs, scoring 90 runs and hitting 21 doubles in her four seasons.
A native of Robertsville, Mo., Conley was the 2007 St. Louis Post-Dispatch Player of the Year at Eureka High. She also picked up Missouri Gatorade Player of the Year honors. While at EHS, she broke nearly every offensive single season record and set career records with 127 runs scored, 155 hits, 19 home runs, 47 stolen bases and 42 RBI.
