Cardinals' second softball coach, Shauna Friend, announces 2024 was her last season

Shauna Friend has announced her decision not to return for an 11th year as coach of the Webb City Cardinals softball team.

Friend graduated from Webb City High School in 1992, two years before the softball program got its start. Based on her summer-ball experience, she went on to be a catcher at Missouri Southern State University for four years and came back to Webb City to teach chemistry and physics.

She became the WCHS program’s second coach when she took over the program from Walter Resa in 2014.

Friend says “every season was fun,” especially 2020 when the Cardinals were the runner-up state champions.

She surpassed 200 wins last season, which finished with a 21-13 record.

One regret, she says, is that she won’t be coaching the current “awesome” group, which will include 10 seniors.

“I know I’m going to miss it this fall,” she says. “I’ll still be cheering for them.”

Friend, now in her 27th year with the district, says she’ll be coming back to teach at least one more year.

Athletic Director John Roderique says no decision has been made on who will be the next softball coach.