The 2024 softball season is just beginning as Trinity and Owensboro Catholic have already had success in their first couple of games. Apollo and Owensboro are set to play their openers today. Here’s what the local coaches had to say about the new season:
What are your expectations/goals for this year?
Apollo head coach Stephen Julian: The goal every year is to compete for a regional championship, to improve our win/loss record from last year and simply be more competitive.
Daviess County head coach John Biggs: Our expectations are some as every year, work hard to get better! If we can get better individually and stay connected as a group, then we will be better as a team. Our main goal is to put ourselves in the best position when it comes tournament time.
Owensboro head coach Quincy Moorman: To continue to grow and develop throughout the season. Looking for the younger girls to step up and become key contributors and mature as the season goes on. We have a decent sized middle school and freshman group that we are expecting to factor into a lot of game outcomes. We expect to surprise some teams this season.
Owensboro Catholic head coach Jeremy Phelps: We need to keep improving, average team to good team to eventually great team. Great teams understand you don’t rise to occasion, to fall to level of preparation. If we prepare with purpose, every day/game is big. It’s another opportunity to get better. Key word = IF
Trinity head coach Jessica Morris: We are looking to improve and get better every game. We have some incredible talent in some of our younger girls. Adding these girls to our experienced players gives us high expectations for the season. We are really excited about the girls that have come out to play this year. These girls want to compete and make their school and community proud. We didn’t make it as far as we had hoped in the post season last year and really hoping to come out strong this year.
What will be the biggest challenges on the schedule?
AHS: We always play a tough schedule. Our district is always strong and we hope that our competitive schedule helps prepare us for the postseason.
DCHS: We try to schedule the best teams around the state. Many of the teams on our schedule will appear on the top 25 rankings. We will travel to three very competitive tournaments, Riverdale Southern Warrior Classic that has many of the top teams in TN & AL, Castle Invitational has the top teams in IN, and Montgomery Co. Invitational. As usual the 9th District will be very competitive because of the familiarity everyone has with each other.
OHS: District opponents and playing all 3 schools within a week stretch.
OCHS: Ninth district play. We play in one of top districts with 4 highly competitive teams.
THS: The schedule this year will challenge the girls and make them better. We are trying to build our program and make it strong. To do that these girls need experience. We hope to provide them with that and see great things this year and in future years.
Who are your top returning athletes and why?
AHS: Mallory Velotta 4-yr starter and a senior. Arianna Ramirez – only a sophomore but a 3-year starter at 3rd base. Macy Calhoun – one of the best receiving/throwing catchers in the state. Liza Page – had a strong freshman season and we hope to build on that. Taylor Clark- another sophomore who led us in batting average last season.
DCHS: Annie Newman & Sadie Morris are two of our top infielders and returning offensive production. Callie Smith returns behind the plate and demonstrated power at the plate last year. Makalya Rowan will provide experience and leadership in the outfield.
OHS: Senior All-District player Sophie Moorman. Junior Addison Hill in centerfield. They had the top 2 returning batting averages and on-base percentages. Pitcher Alyssa Rhineburger returned from shoulder surgery late in the season last year and only played in a limited number of games.
OCHS: We return 5 players with multiple varsity starts from last year. We will look to them to help lead this Team in the right direction. Maci Merritt – catcher, Ruthie Jones- outfield, Gracie Dukate – shortstop, Tyranda Stuart – 3B, Hannah Tignor – outfield.
THS: Eighth graders, Sophie Hatfield and Ella Morris, will be key contributors in the circle. They are young but both very talented. Georgia Howard and Kylie Hatfield, both seniors, are phenomenal leaders both on and off the field. We lost three very great leaders last year and they have big shoes to fill, but they are jumping into that role nicely. Madison McDaniel is a key contributor at the plate, on the bases, and in the field. She is an all around great athlete. Sarah Payne rules the outfield with her speed and all-out effort. We also have several new girls taking the field this year that are going to be great contributors.
Who do you expect/need to step up and why?
AHS: Abie Butterworth really improved last season at 1b as the season went on and should be a big bat for us this season, along with freshman Tyler Hall. Sophomore Hannah Holder and freshman Mollie Julian should see a lot of innings on the mound with Taylor Clark, Arianna Ramirez, Allie Threlkeld, Emersyn Bullington and Bella Feldpausch rounding out our pitching staff. Junior Abby Miles had a good year last year. Eighth graders Sydney Stallings and Gracey Beth Parker and freshman Maddie Roberts should all give us depth in multiple positions along with Addison and Avery Gray, Adison Bowman and our other two seniors Hannah Snell and Liz Gardner, and Maleah McBride and Keelan Wettstain will help provide depth.
DCHS: With the graduation of Raylee Roby, will turn the circle over to Sophia Cain, Kamryn Timmons and Storey Hume. Sophia has seen varsity action for 2 years and Kamryn last year. I expect this group to develop into a very strong staff. Each is a little different from the other, which will help keep teams off balance. They just need more time in the circle in pressure situations.
OHS: Everyone. Not one or two individuals. It takes everyone to be on board and be on the same page. The coaching staff feels this is closest, most team-first oriented team this program has had. From the young girls to the seniors, this group can be special.
OCHS: Success in softball starts in the circle. Sophomore pitcher Hannah Robbins will take over that role this season.
THS: The majority of our team is freshman and below. We had some great leadership last year. We will have 7th and 8th graders stepping into those postitions. Sophie Hatfield and Ella Morris will take over the circle. We had two senior pitchers last year and now that job will rest on these two 8th graders. They are both ready for the challenge and have been putting in the work. I expect great things from them both. Seniors, Georgia Howard and Kylie Hatfield will be stepping into new positions, and have been looking great. I expect big things from Madison McDaniel with her experience and talent. We are looking for Hope Boarman to step up and contribute at the plate. 7th grader, Kendall Howard will also contribute nicely as well as some new freshman.
What areas are you hoping to improve on this year and why?
AHS: Hoping our pitching is much more consistent with quality starts and we need to do a better job of producing runs and can always improve defensively.
DCHS: I hope to see an increase in our overall team batting average. We probably won’t have anyone that will put up Jessie Daniels’ homerun number, but we could hit more as a team. I believe we will be able to steal more bases this year.
OHS: Erase the mistakes (errors) and number of walks. Too many free bases (errors/walks) last season.
OCHS: Practice is everything. We get better daily learning from our mistakes as individuals and as a team. Each player is accountable to the team, a commitment to keep improving, accepting the role given to them that day, both as a starter and non-starter, and expect to be ready when called upon.
THS: This year we are looking to improve our performance at the plate. I expect great things from our defense. The girls are ready and have been putting in the work. Now, we need to take that and put runs on the board. I tell the girls that you have a job to do when you step in the box. That job changes depending on the situation. If everyone steps in the box and does their job, we will have a successful season.
