By Staff

            LITTLE RIVER – After a disappointing 2022 season, the Little River softball program looks to bounce back with five key returnees and a solid group of newcomers to build success for the upcoming 2023 season.

            Brent Clark begins his second season in charge of the Lady Redskins assisted by Carly Koon with hopes of turning around a team that finished 2022 with just two wins in 19 games.

            “We had a lot of inexperienced players,” noted coach Clark. “At it was that way at pretty much every position on the field.”

            What the Lady Redskins do have is a pair of seniors, a pair of juniors and a sophomore who gained a ton of experience last season and will key the leadership for 2023.

            Senior Courtney Stansbury will be a team leader after hitting .419 in 2022 with 13 hits, five extra base hits, five runs batted in, 15 runs scored while earning 12 walks when at the plate while throwing 17 strikeouts in 23.1 innings pitched and earning one of the teams two victories.

            Kayla Fox is the other key returning senior who will handle second base after batting .412 last season with 14 hits, six extra-base hits, nine runs batted in, and 13 runs scored.   

            Katie Collins is a junior catcher who batted .441 on 15 hits that included five extra base hits to go with five runs batted in and 12 runs scored.

            Manning first base will be junior Bethany Sears who hit .379 on 11 hits, a pair of extra base hits, six runs batted in, and six runs scored.

            Sophomore Jailyn Miller survived her first year of Lady Redskin varsity action playing shortstop and pitching. Miller hit .341 with 14 hits, three extra base hits, seven runs batted in, and 17 runs scored while throwing 30.1 innings on the mound, collecting 31 strikeouts in the process.

            While several freshmen playing several key positions have gained the attention of the coaching staff, Kinsley Wohletz appears to be set to make a splash for the pitching staff.

            Coach Clark concluded his pre-season reflections by adding, “Our pitching should be much improved over last season. While our schedule will be tough, we should be much more competitive this season.”

            The Lady Redskins will open the season on Tuesday, March 28 with a doubleheader road trip to Southeast of Saline before playing their 2023 home debut on Friday, March 31 hosting Marion.

(The Staff covering events for the MAC AREA SPORTS NEW can be reached by email at crossdovewriter@gmail.com)