A Barry County native who returned to the area recently is taking over the Cassville softball program this fall, succeeding Coach Lori Videmschek and inheriting a Lady Wildcats team fresh off its first-ever district championship.

Jordan Savage, a 2012 Southwest graduate, attended and played baseball at Mineral Area Community College and Lindenwood-Belleville (Ill.), then student-taught at Purdy under Eagles Baseball Coach Joshua Hughes.

Savage then taught and coached at Gainesville for one year, then was the head baseball and softball coach at East Newton for two years together, staying on as baseball coach another two years after the Lady Patriots moved to spring softball.

Moving back to Cassville two years ago, Savage has been assistant coaching softball and baseball in McDonald County, and the opening in Cassville was a welcomed surprise.

“When I was hired, I was assistant baseball and middle school basketball, and I had an interest in helping with softball because I knew Lori, but her staff was full,” he said. “Two weeks after I got the job, I heard Lori was resigning, so Coach [Lance] Parnell and I talked, and he hired me.

“I was very fortunate to have that happen, and I’m super excited to work at Cassville, especially since my sister and brother-in-law also work here.”

Savage said another factor is family time, as the commute to Anderson was taking away time from his wife, who has demanding hours as a nurse, and 10-month-old daughter, he said. 

Videmschek resigned from the Cassville softball position to lessen her commitments. She is still teaching and coaching softball at Purdy, but wanted to have more time with her family, including a new grandchild.

Cassville is coming off one of its best seasons ever, going 16-15, tying the most wins on record for the team, set in 2011 and tied again in 2023. The Lady Wildcats also won their first-ever district championship in walk-off fashion over Doniphan, 7-6. Cassville fell to eventual Class 3 state champion Fatima in the state quarterfinals, 14-0.

“This is an experienced group, and they had a lot of success last year,” Savage said. “I know they struggled early, but they found a groove midseason and rode that wave to the district title. I’m also very excited, and maybe a little bummed at the same time, that we will have eight seniors This year. We will have to focus on them and balance building up for the future.”

Savage said the team has had only four contact days in June, saving most of its summer sessions for July.

“The girls have been dedicated in those four sessions and are working hard in the weight room,” Savage said. “They show up every day, and I’m excited to see what they can do this year because of their experience and talent.”

Savage said when it comes to his coaching style, he hopes to relate to his players on and off the field, and find as many ways as he can to help them succeed.

“I look at doing what is best for the kids,” he said. “I assess their strengths and their weaknesses, then I put them in the best positions to have success. I’m not the most wired coach. I want to win, but I try more to get the most out of my players. I put myself in front of them when we are not having success, then I push them to the spotlight when we are. 

“It’s also important for coaches to understand their players off the field first, knowing their likes and dislikes, and things they like to do. Coach them hard, and love them even harder.”

Savage said his biggest excitement for the fall is seeing how the team comes together. 

“We have a lot of experience around our two junior pitchers, and that’s exciting because we won’t have to rely on a senior in the circle and can build up a couple years,” he said. “I’m also excited to start practice and see who will be successful where, and to try to find positions where the girls can contribute and also have fun. I could see from meeting them that they love the game, and as a coach, that makes it easier for me.”

With 32 wins in the last two years, Savage said he has no intentions of seeing the Lady Wildcats slow it down.

“Our goal is to win the conference and the district,” he said. “We have the group to do it, and we will be in a tough district. I hope the players buy into me and get support from the community — it’s always better when there are more fans, not just parents.”