Area softball teams look for continued progress

A look at the other six area softball teams heading into the 2024 season:

Columbus Christian

Savannah Spurgeon returns as coach, but will share duties this season with co-coach Mallory McGuire.

The Crusaders, who went 1-4 last season, will be young, with no seniors. They’ll also be inexperienced pitching-wise.

“Our main goal is to have a growing and building season and really push fundamental work,” Spurgeon said. “Hopefully, the girls that are in eighth grade will continue through their senior year and help build the program.”

Eighth-grader Natalie Schultz and sophomore Mara Nickerson have been working on pitching in the offseason. Junior newcomer Kaeli Clawson also might be able to pitch.

Sophomore Phoenix Weese and Nickerson return at catcher and first base, respectively. Eighth-graders Madyx McGuire, Emma Rice, Lillian Washam, Schultz and Lillian Benson all saw time in the outfield last season.

Rice and Madyx McGuire could move to the middle infield positions, and sixth-grader Oakley McGuire likely will take over at third. Eighth-grader Genesis Soler could play in the outfield.

“Our goal is to do some rearranging this year,” Spurgeon said. “Some of our eighth-graders are going to have play some infield this year. We’re looking for a few options at pitcher, as well.”

Jennings County

The Panthers have plenty of experience coming back from last year’s 12-16 team.

Both pitchers are back in senior Marian recruit Kenzie Matern and sophomore Jillian Brauer. Senior Alexis Carson returns behind the plate.

“We have a lot of experience,” Jennings coach Bobby Willis said. “We look to just improve on last year and see what we’re prepared for.”

Senior Elizabeth Evans likely will move from right to left field and Junior Claire Hack is back at first. Sophomore Marley Elston moves from the outfield to second.

Matern and sophomore Riley Byford return at shortstop, and Brauer plays third when not pitching. Sophomore Emma Clapp moves from left to center, and freshman Maycie Ward and sophomore Kate Treadway will play right field.

Senior Malia Johnson can play anywhere and likely will be the designated player. Sophomore Gracie Ross also will be a utility player, and freshmen Audrey McDonald and Arian Day could pitch and be utility players.

“There’s some depth there,” Willis said. “We’re still figuring some pieces out. We’re figuring out where everybody’s going to go and what their roles are.”

Edinburgh

The Lancers lost only one starter to graduation from a 14-13 squad, but get a big boost with the return of senior Kyah Streeval, who missed last season with an ACL injury.

Edinburgh’s Alix Streeval, right, is greeted by teammate MacKenzie Bieker after scoring a run April 2, 2023 at Franklin.

The Republic file photo

Streeval will team with senior MacKenzie Bieker, who is back for her fourth year in the circle.

“When we look at having to replace Gracie Crawhorn, who’s been a big piece of the program here, I couldn’t think of anybody better to replace her than Kyah,” Edinburgh coach Ben Taylor said. “I feel very comfortable with Mac and Kyah, and I like our infield.”

That infield remains intact with sophomore Eloise Cox at first, sophomore Gracie Barrett at second, sophomore Kenna Streeval at short and senior Alix Streeval at third.

Elizabeth Fernandez moves from left field to center. Junior Lexi Riley returns in right, and could play left or right this year. Juniors Jasmine Hester and sophomore Lillie Goff played some in the outfield last season and are battling for spots with freshmen Mya Denton and Makayla Ludlow.

“We’re feeling pretty good about it,” Taylor said. “Obviously, it’s a growth year for us again. We had six freshmen playing a big role for us last year, and we look for good things out of those six sophomores again. We’re there. We just have to get out of our way. But now, we’re a year older.”

Brown County

The Eagles have gotten progressively better, going from winless in 2021 to two wins in 2022 and four last season in Jonathan Sanders’ first year.

“We did really good for our standards last year,” Sanders said. “We battled, but didn’t finish on top in some games like we should have. We lost a few close games that could have made our record better.”

Brown County lost only one player from that squad. The Eagles return their two main pitchers in sophomore Chloe Poling and junior Ava Sanders.

Senior Lexie Austin moves from shortstop to catcher. Senior Lindsey Summers returns at second, and sophomore Ava Stogsdill is back at third. Ava Sanders will play short when not pitching.

Senior Ally Hash returns in center and may be flanked by senior Reva Shugars in left and possibly freshman Grace Wheeler in right. Sophomore Aubrey Denton is coming back from ACL surgery and could play first or short, with juniors Grace Johnson and Aryn Fish-Murphy also options at first base.

“I think we have the experience this year,” Jonathan Sanders said. “Finishing .500 and a good sectional run I think would be great for our team.”

South Decatur

The Cougars will look to improve on a 6-19 season.

“We have some inexperience, but we’ll make the best of it,” South Decatur coach Lisa Huff said. “That’s all we can do. It’s going to be probably a challenge this year because I do have a lot of new kids, but we have a lot of returners, too.”

Senior Daisy Martin was the team’s main pitcher last season, but a shoulder likely will limit her to play second, short or outfield this season. Junior Lydia Witkemper moves from catcher to pitcher and also can play outfield.

Senior center fielder Molly Eden was the Cougars’ top hitter last season. Senior Brooklyn Powers moves from first base to DP. Senior Paige Paton played second and outfield and also can pitch and catch.

Junior Piper Phelps returns at third, sophomore Madalyn Shireman can play short and third and sophomore Samantha Cole can play second and catcher. Freshman Delaney Caplinger can pitch and play third and first, freshman Lyla Clark could play second or outfield, freshmen Riehana Haley and Miley Ward could see pitching action and freshman Millie Brown can play outfield and catcher.

“I have a lot of girls that can play a lot of positions,” Huff said. “It’s just a matter of getting them in the right place. They’re willing to play wherever I ask them to play. They have great attitudes. We had so many at open gyms in the offseason.”

Trinity Lutheran

The Cougars have a new coach in Herb Gross, who has been an assistant the past five years. Gross takes over for Bob Tabeling, who led them to a 15-11 record last season.

“We had a good first couple weeks of practice,” Gross said. “We have a really good group of incoming players with some travel experience and some good returning players. I’m pretty excited about how we’re going to look this year.”

Junior Grace Lance did the bulk of the pitching last season. Also returning to the lineup are sophomore Maddie Adams at catcher, senior Dianna Munoz at first, sophomore Rowan Sharp at second.

Seniors Morgan Brewer, Olivia Cain and Addison Keaton are back in left, center and right. Freshmen Zoey Delaney and Addi Burcham look to take over at shortstop at third base, respectively.

“Definitely, we’re looking to win sectional,” Gross said. “We have a very good opponent in Rising Sun, but we have a very good chance to move onto regional.”