Arabians head strong area softball contingent

Mar. 18—ANDERSON — The kids in the Madison County area really know how to play softball and do it well.

That is a fact which was reiterated in 2023 by three area softball sectional champions — Lapel, Madison-Grant and Pendleton Heights — with the Argylls and Arabians also repeating as regional champions.

Elwood, Frankton and Shenandoah proved to be more than capable of joining that conversation while teams from Alexandria and Daleville will be trending in the right direction this season.

Alexandria, Anderson, Elwood and Lapel will be led by new coaches this spring, and Anderson Prep will return to the diamond for the first time since before the COVID-19 pandemic began.

Here is a snapshot glance at the area's 11 softball teams as the season gets underway this week:

ALEXANDRIA

Coach: Jared Bourff (1st season); 2023: 8-13-1; Key loss: Ashlyn Duckworth; Key returning players: Taylor Roundtree, Ally Duckworth, Daisy Bivens, Natalee Morrow; Newcomers to watch: Brynlee Humphries, Kinley Webb, Stella Griffin, Riley Thomas; Potential breakout: Humphries

Outlook: "We will have several young players mixed in with a solid returning core looking to improve on an eight-win ... season," Bourff said. "We have been working extremely hard and competing every day in workouts and in practice. We have our eyes on certain goals, but we are really striving to get better every single day and compete with the best."

ANDERSON

Coach: Jeffery Johnson (1st season); Key loss: Mariyah Summitt; Key returning players: Arwen Stump, Jaycen Swink, Briann Carter, Riley Ferguson, Emma Wilson, Larayna Elliot Dabney, Lillian Travis; Newcomers to watch: Angel Watson; Potential breakout: Chelsy Shaker

Outlook: "Our goal is to give 100% effort 100% of the time we are on the diamond," Johnson said. "Be competitive in all games played, be accountable and have great attitudes, be a great teammate and play together as one unit."

ANDERSON PREP

Coach: Aimee Cook; 2023: The Jets are expected to field a team for the first time since 2019.

DALEVILLE

Coach: Jeremy Pattengale (3rd season); 2023: 8-10; Key losses: None; Key returning players: Valyn Pattengale, Cali Pattengale, Emily Simmons, Kyra Osborne, Miley Womack, Zoe Shihemi; Newcomers to watch: Raegan Jackson, Liberty Clevenger, Ashlyn McMillian, Alyssa McMillian; Potential breakout: Jackson

Outlook: "Season could be a bright one for the Broncos," Pattengale said. "We have received some much-needed help for the Broncos' outfield this season. We will be rocking some young freshman starters this season. ... I expect these young ladies to not give up this season. They have some fight this year. It's early, but the spirits are higher this season then my first two. I'm looking for our upper classmen to lead this team on the field this year."

ELWOOD

Coach: Jessie Mireles (1st season); 2023: 17-9; Key losses: Kenzie Cornwell, Olivia Shannon, Yzabelle Ramey; Expected to Return: Kelsey Armes, Averi Savage, Maddie Parkhurst, Alivia Boston, Abbi Johnson, Nicole Durm

FRANKTON

Coach: Jeremy Parker (24th season); 2023: 23-6; Key losses: Makena Alexander, Amaya Collins; Key returning players: Claire Duncan, Jersey Marsh, Gracie Smith, Kinley Lapierre, Jilly Hilderbrand, Aubree Engelking, Paige Parker; Newcomers to watch: Aly Smith, Ava Stanley; Potential breakout: Grace Kessinger

Season outlook: "Great turnout during workouts with returning players wanting to have a successful season," Parker said. "Younger players getting better and working hard every day to win a conference, county and make a run in the tourney."

LAPEL

Coach: A.J. Balser (1st year); 2023: 18-10-1, Sectional Champion; Key Loss: Hannah Laughlin; Key returning players: Krystin Davis, Ava Everman, Karlie Jannings, Tatum Harper, Laylah Gore, Taylor Mroz, Delaney Balser, Paige Stires; Newcomers to watch: Addie Bodenhorn, Ava Zdanowski, Ella Reed; Potential breakout: Stires

Season Outlook: "Goals, to win the Madison County tournament, repeat the sectional title and advance in the postseason as far as possible (with a) team batting average above .400," Balser said in an email. "We have high expectations in our pitching staff this season with six very talented pitchers. Three returning pitchers and three very solid freshmen."

LIBERTY CHRISTIAN

Coach: Rick Brown (2nd season); 2023: 3-13; Key losses: Angel Watson, Jenna Rigdon, Anna Blower; Key returning players: Nicki Warren, Olivia Mull, Brynne Wood; Newcomers to watch: Avari Stanley, Londyn Haston; Potential breakout: Warren

Outlook: "Last season kind of started a rebuilding time for us, and we progressed well throughout the season," Brown said. "This year we are hoping to build on that foundation and make strides in the Pioneer Conference. We dropped a couple of conference games last season that I felt we should have won, and we have high hopes to turn those games in our favor this year and increase our overall record."

MADISON-GRANT

Coach: Travis Havens (5th season); 2023: 26-4, Grant 4, CIC, sectional, regional champions; Key losses: Daya Greene, Katie Duncan, Elizabeth Lee, Makennah Clouse; Key returning players: Demie Havens, McKenna Craig Maddy Moore, Maegan Wilson, Johnna Hiatt, Carley Holliday; Newcomers to watch: Madeline Clouse, Cayleigh Stitt, Patricia VanMatre, Olivia Dunham; Potential breakout: Stitt, VanMatre

Outlook: "We've got to replace four kids that graduated and led us in a lot of categories offensively, defensively and mentality-wise," Coach Havens said. "Early on, we'll be short-handed with some kids out. We'll be really working to play catch-up with some new kids and trying to get them up to speed at the varsity level. The good news is that we have kids that are physically capable of doing so. Much like every year, we believe we'll be a better team after 10, 12 games and greatly improved by May. The expectations will not change."

PENDLETON HEIGHTS

Coach: Rob Davis (14th season); 2023: 25-6-1, Class 4A final four; Key losses; Bo Shelton, Lilli Coffel, Sydney Clark, Kylie Fisher, Eliza Findlay; Key returning players: Kaitlin Goodwin, Kiah Hubble, Shelby Messer, Morgan Humble, Alana Smith, Kelsey Day, Addison Nichols, Avery Miller, Grace Fisher; Newcomers to watch: Ari Rector, Kelsey Day, Skylar Baldwin

Goals: Horseshoe Classic, Madison County, Hoosier Heritage Conference, repeat as sectional and regional champions

Outlook: "With eight committed seniors on this team, understanding their role and putting them (in) a position to succeed will be challenging throughout the year," Davis said. "This team will be exciting to watch."

SHENANDOAH

Coach: Christy Myers (3rd season); 2023: 16-8, Henry County champions; Key losses: Alyssa Allen, Kayla Muterspaugh, Emma Whittenburg; Key returning players: Elise Boyd, Taran Mills, Alena Sharritts, Gabbi Patrick, Lydia Schwagmeier; Newcomers to watch: Lilliana Lynch, Alyssa Toffolo, Olivia Hinesley; Potential breakout: Olivia Watson

Season outlook: "After losing some key position players to graduation, the veteran players are stepping up to fill in and getting the newcomers up to speed," Myers said. "The girls are practicing hard and building off the tradition that is Shenandoah softball."

Contact Rob Hunt at rob.hunt@heraldbulletin.com or 765-640-4886.