Columbus North made huge strides in Ron McDonald’s first three years as softball coach, and the Bull Dogs are looking to continue that trend this spring.
After going 1-25 in 2017, North improved to 6-15 in 2018 and 15-9 in 2019. The Bull Dogs won Conference Indiana and sectional titles in 2019 and were primed for a big season last year with all but one starter back, but the 2020 season was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We were really good,” McDonald said. “I think a lot of people thought we would go pretty far if we got a good draw and a little luck. We’re loaded with sophomores and juniors. They’ve looked really good.”
North has one senior and six juniors who either were starters or saw extensive action in 2019. The Bull Dogs added a talented freshman class last year which are now sophomores.
“We’re going to be really strong the next three years,” McDonald said. “We have some great kids this year. What really hurt us is, that group of freshmen didn’t get that year in. But a lot of them have played travel all the way up until the season here, and that shows. I think they’re ahead of the game. It depends how much we gel.”
Senior Meghan Waggoner did most of the team’s pitching as a freshman and split time between pitching and first base as a sophomore. Juniors Peri Foust and Rachel Cowan were the top two pitchers in 2019, and sophomore fireballer Maddi Rutan has joined the mix.
Sophomores Kaylee Cowan and Josie Lemmons also could pitch, but will play mostly in the field.
“I have great pitching,” McDonald said. “I think our hitting will come along. Our defense looks really good. I have more speed than I’ve ever had and I have more depth than I’ve ever had. This year, we have the total package, I think.”
Sophomore Kiersten Danford could get the nod behind the plate, with sophomores Maryn Mayes and Kaylee Cowan and junior Lexi Heafner providing depth. Lexi Heafner is the returning starter at third base.
Waggoner and Rachel Cowan saw action at first base in 2019 and will be joined there by sophomore Bailey King. Emalee Heafner returns at second, but is facing a challenge from Lemmons, and both of those also could play in the outfield.
Rutan will play shortstop when she isn’t pitching, and junior Lucy Norman and Kaylee Cowan could play there when Rutan is in the circle. Kaylee Cowan also could play third.
Norman returns in left field, and junior Lillian Mackey returns in right. Junior Taylor Hadley, a move-in from Florida, takes over in center field, with freshman Kelsey Lovelace and Foust providing depth. Lovelace also could play left or right, and senior Aiden Voss and sophomore Kaden Hofelich also could play in the outfield.
“That’s 17 good players,” McDonald said. “We’re capable of being a really strong team. We’ve never had these options. We have some tough-minded girls. These girls have played together a long time.”
McDonald thinks the Bull Dogs can win games in different ways and playing different styles this season.
“We’re capable of scoring a lot of runs,” McDonald said. “We’re capable of playing small ball and getting one or two runs. We also think we can hold people down.”
North opens the season April 2 at home against East Central, then hosts Terre Haute North and Terre Haute South in a pair of conference games on April 3. Three days later, the Bull Dogs travel to Roncalli, which is expected to be one of the top teams in the state.
“I know the first seven, maybe eight games are going to be tough,” McDonald said. “Most of those teams are going to be ranked. But we think that we can compete with anybody in the state. There’s no games that we’re not capable of winning.”
