Hauser shortstop Hannah Taylor throws to first base against Rushville April 26, 2021, at Hauser.
The Republic file photo
Some area softball teams are dealing with low numbers as they approach the start of the 2022 season and will be unable to field junior varsity squads.
The season kicks off Tuesday, when Edinburgh plays at Jac-Cen-Del, and Jennings County hosts Portage. Hauser opens at home against Jennings on March 28.
The Columbus North and Columbus East previews ran on Thursday and Friday. Here is a look at Hauser and other area softball teams heading into the season:
Hauser
The Jets are coming off a big season. They went 25-5, including 9-1 in winning the Mid-Hoosier Conference title, and won sectional and regional titles before falling in the semistate semifinals.
“I do not want to jinx ourselves, but we are not satisfied with where we landed last year,” Hauser coach Andy Brunner said. “It’s a young team that is going to have to grow up really fast, but I think that they’re capable, and they’re working hard to get there.”
The Jets lost their entire outfield, but return their entire infield. They will have 13 players with no seniors, but five freshman to help fill the void.
“I have five very strong incoming freshman, and the holes have been filled,” Brunner said. “At this point, it’s a wonderful problem to have because I have flexibility. I’m still not sure who is going to land where on a permanent basis. We have multiple kids who can play multiple positions.”
Hauser figures to be led once again by junior shortstop Hannah Taylor, an Eastern Illinois recruit. Taylor led the Jets with a .624 average, one home run, 16 doubles, five triples, 50 RBIs and 53 runs scored last season.
Sophomore Paige McDaniel did most of the pitching last season, going 23-3 with a 2.11 ERA. Junior Kaydence Gates, who pitched a little last year, and freshman Madison Hollman will see action in the circle this season.
Junior Reagan Johnson (.478, 34 RBIs) returns at catcher, and freshman Haylin Campbell also could see action behind the plate. Junior Kylie Mack (.358, 27 RBIs) is back at first base, and freshman Maley Jordan also could play there.
Freshman Izzy Brunner steps in at second, and Junior Kyra Meister (.495, 23 RBIs, 47 runs scored) is back at third. Taking over in the outfield are junior Bayleigh Rutherford in left, freshman Lucie Asher in center and sophomore newcomer Kenze Bostic in right.
“I have a very athletic group,” Andy Brunner said. “I’ve got speed. I have five lefties in the box and eight very strong power hitters. I’m looking forward to another year where we can hit from the top to the bottom in our lineup.”
Columbus Christian
The Crusaders have a schedule, but do not yet have a coach in place for the upcoming season.
Columbus Christian went 2-3 against an abbreviated schedule last year. Athletics director Kevin Roth said 16 girls signed up to play this season, but the school has been on spring break the past week.
The Crusaders are scheduled to open March 31 at Indiana Deaf.
Jennings County
The Panthers will look to bounce back from a down year after going 10-18, including 4-3 in Hoosier Hills Conference.
“We have low numbers this year, so we’re still figuring some things out,” Jennings coach Bobby Willis said.
Sophomore Kenzie Matern returns in the circle and will be joined by senior Halle Boardman and freshman Kassidy Beal.
Jennings County’s Delaynee McCreary gets in position to run to third base during a softball game April 27, 2021, at Columbus East.
The Republic file photo
Senior Delaynee McCreary (.333, five HR, 20 RBIs, 25 runs scored), who has committed to Taylor, moves from catcher to third base. Sophomore Alexis Carson or freshman Amelia Cline will take over at catcher.
Beal or Carson could play first, and junior Abby McDonald returns at second. Matern will be at short when she isn’t pitching.
Seniors Grace George and Kylee Boardman, junior Ashley Meade and sophomore Elizabeth Evans are battling for spots in the outfield. Halle Boardman could pitch or play outfield. Senior Grace Kirchner, who has ran track in previous years, could do some pinch running.
“I think we have a very good core group of players and other role players that either are young or inexperienced,” Willis said. “But we always expect to win games.”
Edinburgh
The Lancers won a sectional title last season before falling to Hauser in the regional. They return five starters from a team that went 16-11, including 5-4 in MHC, including two who sustained season-ending ACL injuries last season.
“Spring break runs these first two weeks, so trying to get everybody together makes it a little rough,” Edinburgh coach Ben Taylor said. “But we’re finding our way. We have a bunch of freshmen and sophomores who either have not played a while or have not played a lot of softball.”
Sophomore MacKenzie Bieker will do most of the pitching again after going 14-4 with a 3.42 ERA and batting .451 with 39 runs scored and team-highs of seven home runs and 44 RBIs. Sophomore Kyah Streeval returns at catcher, and junior Gracie Crawhorn (.623, six HR, 34 RBIs, 41 runs scored) is back at third.
Sophomore Alix Streeval, who tore an ACL early in the season, will step in at short. Senior Carly Cowan, who also tore her ACL, will be back in center.
Senior Angel Carman, who saw action in the outfield last season, moves to first, and freshman Katie Hardman takes over at second. Freshmen Jasmine Hester and Shyleigh Gobel and sophomore newcomer Zaza Nelson could play left or right.
“We have some talent,” Taylor said. “Actually, it’s a pretty good mix. We have some girls who were there last year, and then, we’re young, I think a competitive young, though.”
South Decatur
The Cougars lost five seniors, but will have one of the larger teams in the area with 16 girls, seven of which are freshmen.
“It’s tough to tell right now because we’ve been on spring break the past two weeks and haven’t had everybody there,” South Decatur coach Lisa Huff said. “I lost a lot of kids, but I do have kids back.”
Senior Loryn Pate returns at pitcher, but also could do some catching, while sharing pitching duties with sophomore Lakota Henry, a move in from Jennings County. Sophomore Molly Eden is back at first, and senior Madison Mikulec played right and second. Those are the only starters back from a team that went 4-15, including 2-7 in the MHC.
Freshman Lydia Witkemper likely will be the catcher when Pate is pitching. Junior Cassidy Haley and freshman Daisy Martin could play short or third. Junior Sami Storm and freshman Makayla Puckett could play second or outfield
Freshman Arey Brown could play infield or outfield. Senior Meaghen Griffin, who is playing for the first time since she was a freshman, also could play a variety of positions.
“We do have a lot of young kids,” Huff said. “I have a lot of freshmen wanting to play, and they’re working hard. It’s just a matter of figuring out positions. We just have to keep working.”
Brown County
The Eagles will look to continue rebuilding after going 0-15, including 0-9 in the Western Indiana Conference.
Seven starters return for Brown County coach Elyse Babb-Snider, including senior pitcher Abigail Watson. Freshman Ava Sanders also will see time in the circle.
Other returners for the Eagles include junior catcher Savannah Oden, senior first and third baseman Kaitlyn Waltz, sophomore second baseman and shortstop Lexie Austin, sophomore third baseman Ally Hash, senior center fielder Kailey Buccos and sophomore left or right fielder Lynsey Summers.
Watson could play first when not pitching. Sanders could play a variety of positions.
Trinity Lutheran
The Cougars return seven starters from a team that went 10-12 last season.
“We’ve been able to get outside with the weather, and that’s worked out great for us,” Trinity coach Bob Tabeling said. “We’re moving some people around with the graduations, but we’ve had a great start with everybody being able to get out.”
Senior Kamzi Gross is back for her fourth year of pitching. But while she has pitched nearly every inning the past three years, she will get help from freshman Grace Lance this season.
Sophomore Olivia Cain moves from second to catcher, and senior Ally Russell moves from center to second. Sophomore Dianna Munoz returns at first, and junior Bailey Tabeling (.621, 11 RBIs, 33 runs scored) is back at short. Freshman Madison Keith steps in at third
Junior Sam Enzinger and senior Hannah Kerkhof return in left and right. Gross or Lance, whoever isn’t pitching, will play center. Senior Taylor Hobbs, junior Amanda Finke and sophomore Morgan Brewer will provide depth in the outfield.
“We’re going to be similar to how we’ve been,” Bob Tabeling said. “We’re not going to have a much power, but I think we can get base hits and put the ball in play. I think we’ll be good from a defensive standpoint. It’s just, ‘Can we put the ball in play and manufacture runs?’”
The 2022 Hauser and Columbus Christian softball schedules:
Hauser
March 28;Jennings County;5:30 p.m.
March 29;at Brownstown Central;5:30 p.m.
April 4;at Rising Sun;6 p.m.
April 6;Madison;5:30 p.m.
April 7;at Edinburgh;5 p.m.
April 8;Edinburgh;5 p.m.
April 11;at Columbus East;5:30 p.m.
April 14;at North Decatur;5:30 p.m.
April 15;North Decatur;5:30 p.m.
April 18;Triton Central;5:30 p.m.
April 21;at Waldron;5 p.m.
April 22;Waldron;5 p.m.
April 23;at Indianapolis Lutheran;10 a.m.
April 23;at Edinburgh;11:30 a.m.
April 25;at Rushville;5:30 p.m.
April 30;vs. Providence (at JCD);10 a.m.
April 30;at Jac-Cen-Del;TBA
May 3;at Greensburg;5 p.m.
May 7;Lawrenceburg;11 a.m.
May 10;Trinity Lutheran;5 p.m.
May 12;South Decatur;5 p.m.
May 13;at South Decatur;5 p.m.
May 16;at Morristown;5:30 p.m.
May 17;Morristown;5:30 p.m.
May 18;East Central;6 p.m.
May 19;Columbus North;5 p.m.
Columbus Christian
March 31;at Indiana Deaf;5 p.m.
April 11;Cannelton;6 p.m.
April 12;Southwestern (Hanover);5 p.m.
April 21;Dugger Union;6 p.m.
April 25;Rock Creek Academy;5:30 p.m.
April 26;at Southwestern (Hanover);5 p.m.
May 7;at Horizon Christian;TBA (DH)
