First Monticello High School softball team in 13 years takes field this week

by Rhett Sifford
Sports Editor
It has been a long time since a softball team took the field for Monticello High School. In fact it was May 7, 2010, almost 13 years ago to be exact.
That weekend the Lady Buckaroos lost to Beaver in the opening round of the 2010 state tournament, but battled back to beat Kanab, North Summit, and Parowan in one-loss play before succumbing to South Summit to end their season.
The MHS roster included names like Janessa Bowring, Mersadez Slade, Jamie Keyes, Devin Dalton, Berlin Elderedge, Swayzi Slade, Robin Randall, and Bryanna Kershaw.
The team was coached by Bryan Bowring and Kyle Fullmer. In addition, Robin and Doug Garner were instrumental as coaches for a number of years, with help from Sharon Wangelin.
But a new era of Monticello softball will begin this week with a trip to Gunnison to take on the 4-2 Gunnison Lady Bulldogs in a 2A Central doubleheader (MHS plays 2A softball since the 1A plays in the fall).
The Lady Bucks were supposed to play their first game in over a decade against the rival San Juan Lady Broncos on Tuesday, March 21, but it was postponed due to snow. That’s no shock in Monticello, especially this year.
In preparation for the start of the season, brand new head coach Laici Snyder visited with the San Juan Record via email to offer some of her thoughts and plans for the year.
Rhett Sifford: Can you tell me the story of how you became the coach of the Monticello softball team?
Coach Snyder: Softball has always been my passion. I have been playing since I was ten years old. In the spring of 2022 MHS Athletic Director Krieg Adair began mentioning the interest among the high school girls for bringing the softball team back.
He said he would love to see me apply if the time came. In August just before the school year started I was notified the position was open for application. I never imagined I would ever be a head high school softball coach.
It took some convincing from my family and friends, but I’m really glad I went for it. Becoming a head coach for the first time has involved a lot of training, certification, and a lot of focus on building my team.
Sifford: Tell me a little bit about your process these last few weeks getting the team ready to begin the season.
Snyder: The struggle has been real preparing for this season. We are definitely grateful for all the snow we have received but practicing in a gym definitely isn’t a field. I have been blessed with a great group of girls who are excited and have been working hard with what resources we’ve had available to us.
Sifford: Tell me more about your team.
Snyder: I ended up with 15 girls this season. About half of them have never played before and the other half it’s been years. They are all hard-working, determined, and excited to play. We really have a good team energy going and I can’t wait to get them on the field playing.
Sifford: Who do you expect to step up into leadership roles?
Snyder: Naturally our upperclassmen have sort of stepped into those roles guiding and encouraging all the girls, but really everyone has really been great at supporting each other.
Sifford: Has anyone already started to stick out and impress you?
Snyder: The team as a whole has really impressed me. For either dusting off the cobwebs or learning everything for the first time, they really are a very athletic group of girls and have taken to the sport very well. We have seen a lot of improvement in the girls in the short period of time since we started a few weeks ago.
Sifford: What do you think your strengths are going to be?
Snyder: I think we are going to see some strong batting this year. The girls have really been working hard on that since it has been one of the few things we have been able to work on inside.
Sifford: Where might you be weak?
Snyder: We are a younger team and don’t have a lot of experience so there will be some fine tuning taking place. But I know these girls are up for the challenge and going to do great.
Sifford: What goals do you have as a team?  Coaching staff?
Snyder: We really are just trying to focus on making this season a lot of fun for the girls. We plan on being competitive as well, but I want the girls to end the season thinking they had the best time and learned a lot. We want to keep the excitement going for next year so we can really develop a strong softball program for Monticello.
Sifford: Can you tell me about the coaches who will be helping you this year?
Snyder: My assistant coach is Mersadez Wilcox. She has been great and I’m so grateful I was able to add her to my staff. She is one of the few who got to play softball for Monticello back before they dropped the program. She also was a pitcher so that has been a huge help to the program.
My other assistant coach is my husband Tyrel Snyder. He is the Monticello Football Defensive Coordinator so I was very appreciative that he was willing to take on another sport with me.
I am so excited for this opportunity. I truly love sports and especially sports at Monticello High School. There are some really great kids in Monticello and I look forward to supporting them in all their activities and coaching them as well.
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The new-look Monticello High School softball team consists of three seniors: Avery Shumway, Ali Barry, and Jacy Montague.
Juniors include Madi Snyder, Jemma Robison, Millie Morrison, Alexis Keith, Annabel Felix, and Angelica Gutierrez.
Sophomores are Taylor Barry and Hannah Barry. And there are four freshmen on the squad: Nicole Francom, Jocelyne Francom, Tessa Slade, and Gracey Bylilly.
First pitch for the Lady Buckaroos is Friday at 2 p.m. in Gunnison. Game two of the doubleheader is scheduled for 4 p.m. Following the season opener, MHS is next in action with a home doubleheader (weather permitting) against Wayne next Friday, March 31.