Tigers will be Wayne County team to beat

When Bruce Charles took over as the head coach of the Hagerstown softball program for the 2017-18 season, they did not win a single game.

Since that season, Charles has patiently worked to develop young talent to change the fortunes of the program. Two years ago, his team won the Wayne County tournament with back-to-back upset wins.

Last season the Lady Tigers compiled a record of 16-5, were repeat Wayne County champions and won the Tri-Eastern Conference for the first time in program history with a perfect 8-0 record in league play. Expect the Lady Tigers to have another strong season, with Northeastern and Centerville not far behind.

The Wayne County tournament, a long-standing tradition, has been discontinued. 

1A — Cambridge City Lincoln

Head coach: Lucius Pitcock (record last season 7-11, 4-4 TEC) 

The Lady Eagles have been a perennial power in the TEC, but key players’ graduations have slowed the program. Lucius Pitcock, who served as an assistant coach last season, had been elevated to head coach for the upcoming season. Pitcock, who is familiar with the roster players, has the top four hitters back from last year along with other experienced players, but proven pitching will be a question mark. Lexi McPheeters had a batting average of .373, Reilynn Ferguson batted .368 and Addyson Pitcock batted .358 in 18 games. Braelyn Sourbeer batted a robust .571 in six games. Paige Pitcock is also expected to be a key player after playing in 15 games last season. Paige Lunsford, the workhorse pitcher on the Lady Eagle staff last season, graduated. Finding a consistent replacement for her will be key to the success of the team. The Lady Eagles will open their regular season with a road game on Saturday, April 5, at Franklin County before returning home to host Blue River on Tuesday, April 8, and Rushville on Thursday, April 10.  

1A — Seton Catholic

Will not field a team.

2A — Centerville

Head coach: Brad Hobson (record last season 12-9, 5-3 TEC) 

The Lady Bulldogs will need to get immediate help from a strong freshman class to duplicate the success they enjoyed a year ago. The Lady Bulldogs graduated several players who made substantial contributions, including Anna Davis (.310), Jocelyn Collins (.367), Harmony Owens (.464, 6 home runs) and Drew Tubesing (.348, 4 home runs). The Lady Bulldogs will rebuild around returning veterans, which include Lilly Day (.394) and Madi Yount (.417, 5 home runs, 25 runs batted in). Day and Yount, who combined for 21 stolen bases last season, will help give Centerville speed on the basepaths. Yount is also the number one pitching option. The talented junior made 15 pitching appearances last season, striking out 116 batters in 87 innings. Aubrey Seifer, who pitched 48 innings and struck out 30 batters last season, also returns. The Lady Bulldog roster will include six freshmen. The success of the team will be largely determined by how quickly the freshmen adjust to varsity play. The Bulldogs will open regular-season play on the road. The Bulldogs travel to Cowan on Monday, April 7, and then travel to Randolph Southern on Tuesday, April 8, before returning home on Thursday, April 10, for their home opener against Milan. 

2A — Hagerstown

Head coach: Bruce Charles (record last season 16-5, 8-0 TEC) 

The defending Tri-Eastern Conference champion Lady Tigers will be wearing a target on their backs every time they step on the diamond, and they relish the challenge. Lady Tiger head coach Bruce Charles said the team knows that everyone they play will bring their best effort but says his team sees the challenge as a compliment they have earned. The Tigers graduated hard-hitting Hannah Pyle and another rotation player decided not to play this season, but the Lady Tigers return every other starter from a year ago and will add seven talented freshmen who will be pushing for playing time. All-conference pitcher Rylan Young, a Franklin College commit, will anchor the pitching staff and all-conference catcher Allison Stinson, a Defiance College commit, is a wall behind the plate. Young batted .348 last season and drove in 17 runs. Stinson batted .579 and drove in 23 runs. Elly Cheeseman (.311), Coley Parrish (.371), Jerycha Allred (.309) and Emma Jarrett (.259) combined to drive in 53 more runs. The Lady Tigers will open regular-season play by hosting Franklin County on Thursday, April 3, travel to Monroe Central on Monday, April 7, and return home to host Wapahani on Thursday, April 8. 

2A — Northeastern

Head coach: Tara Williams (record last season 15-8, 6-2 TEC) 

The Lady Knights graduated some key players from their 15-win team of a year ago, but second-year head coach Tara Williams still has a roster of talented players. Clare Lopeman (.413, 14 RBI, 7-3 record in 74 innings pitched, with 94 strikeouts), Emma Neeley (.344, 19 RBI) and Lilly Null (14 RBI) were among key players who graduated last spring. Coach Williams will return six players who played in at least 21 games last season, including Jocelyn Allen (.355, 13 RBI), power hitter Karri Gammon (,298, 5 home runs, 22 RBI), Mackenzie Johnson (10 RBI) and Alexis Russell (.300). Johnson is likely the top pitching prospect after striking out 52 batters in 56 innings of work last year. The Lady Knights open their season with three road games against strong teams. They travel to face Eastern Hancock on Tuesday, April 1, travel to Wapahani on Monday, April 7, and travel to Franklin County on Friday, April 11. 

4A — Richmond

Head coach: Joe Cox (record last season 3-13-1, 2-0 NCC)

Joe Cox, who has been an assistant in the Richmond program for the last four seasons, will take over as head coach, replacing his daughter Alexis. With 17 years of softball coaching experience, Cox will bring a wealth of experience to his new role. The Lady Red Devils will enter the season as a complete unknown. The team last year was senior-laden, and as of press time, a current roster was not available. The Lady Red Devils will open their season with a road game at South Dearborn on Saturday, March 29, and return home to host East Central on Wednesday, April 2, before traveling to Lawrence North for a game on Friday, April 4.