IU Columbus third baseman Lexi Heafner throws to first against IU Southeast April 17, 2024, at Ceraland.
Mike Wolanin | The Republic
The IU Columbus softball program took a big step forward last spring when it qualified for the River States Conference tournament for the first time and came away with a third-place finish.
The Crimson Pride are hoping to get back and finish even higher this season, which will be the fourth since the program began in 2023.
“We’re going to keep growing every year, and that’s our goal,” IUC coach Tommi Stowers said. “I tell them every day, ‘1% better. Let’s go win a conference championship.’ Hopefully, it will be this year. If not, I know they’re really close, so I’m really excited to watch them grow and just go out there and compete.”
The Crimson Pride had the most wins in school history last year, going 19-31, including 13-19 in the conference before going on the run in the tournament.
“I think it’s so exciting,” said catcher-first baseman Mallory Shelton, a senior from Eastern Greene. “We were the underdogs. Nobody expected us to be there, let alone finishing third. So having us being technically the underdogs and we got that far, it’s exciting how far we’ve got.”
“It’s really exciting, but I think it’s exciting for the incoming freshmen, too, because they trust us that we’ll go far,” added third baseman Lexi Heafner, a senior from Columbus North.
This year’s team features 12 returners and 13 newcomers, several of which are transfers. There are seven seniors, two juniors, eight sophomores and eight freshmen.
“We’re continuing to build our program and our chemistry,” Stowers said. “I will say this year is a little bit different than any year that I’ve had because I have more newcomers than I do returners. We usually have a good base of returners, but this year, it’s kind of the opposite.
“During the recruiting process, with every single one of them, I was trying to find somebody that would gel and do it for the person next to them, not so much that they’re great or very good softball players,” she added. “I wanted to change this recruiting class and kind of see who is a better person. I believe with us growing and competing every single year that it’s important that we continue to have a good culture.”
IUC returns experienced pitchers in Calie Beikes (junior, Heritage Christian); Jessica Ebersole (sophomore, Lawrence North) and Kaitlyn Spears (sophomore, Danville). Also returning along with Shelton and Heafner are catcher-first baseman Lily Culp (sophomore, South Knox); first baseman-designated hitter Olivia Bright (senior, Jay County); second baseman-DH Renee Lecher (junior, Batesville); third baseman-DH Emma Chism (sophomore, Greenwood); outfielder-DH Carli Holser (senior, Tell City); outfielder Jazlynn Stewart (sophomore, Decatur Central) and utility player Justice Cash (senior, Perry Central).
Outfielder Kaylee Cole (junior, Columbus East) and pitcher Chloe Linn (sophomore, Western) head the list of newcomers after transferring from Division I schools Bowling Green and Northern Kentucky, respectively. Other transfers include shortstop-pitcher Kenzie Matern (sophomore, Jennings County, Marian); outfielder Linnea Baldner (senior, Broomfield, Colorado, Western Colorado); Julia Abbott (sophomore, Cincinnati Oak Hills, Thomas More); pitcher-outfielder Lucy Long (freshman, Zionsville, Franklin College) and catcher-utility player Genevive Couse (freshman, Mississinewa, Goshen College).
Two Columbus North graduates in catcher-outfielder Destinee Allman and first baseman-DH Lily Retz are among the incoming freshmen. The others are pitchers Bryleigh Carlisle-Haltom (Franklin Central) and Destiny Forler (Martinsville), second baseman Cierra Cramer (Mooresville) and third baseman Sydney Sauri (Plainfield).
“They are just truly dialed in and bought in that the starting lineup is really just for the first time through the lineup,” Stowers said. “It is not for the whole entire game. So if we can have kids bought into that and knowing that their role changes every single pitch, it’s never the same. We want to keep winning. We want to keep putting pressure on, and I hope that their culture is strong enough that whenever I have to do my job to win ballgames that it doesn’t alter their motive and strong team culture.”
Stowers said the Crimson Pride had a productive offseason, putting in work in the fieldhouse at Nexus Park.
“We have consistently been at Nexus, which is a game-changer,” Stowers said. “We’ve been in the weight room. During the offseason, it was almost every-other-day, so that’s the first year where that has been consistent. So I know that they’ve put in the work to show how good they can be, especially when it comes to strength and agility. They are strong. They’ve put in the work.”
IUC opens its season by playing Alice Lloyd and Montreat (North Carolina) both Friday and Saturday at Montreat. The Crimson Pride begin a 10-game homestand with a doubleheader against Calumet College of St. Joseph beginning at 11:30 a.m. Feb. 21 at Ceraland.
“The first year and second year were tough,” Stowers said. “It’s hard as a coach because you want to see the instant gratification, and when you’re building something, you don’t get that. You chase it, and I’ll keep chasing it.
“I just am excited for this group,” she added. “It’s different. It feels different. It’s a really cool experience, and I’m very grateful to be a part of it every single day.”
