There will be a trio of strong 2A softball teams in Wayne County, and all three will be assigned to the same sectional. Centerville, Hagerstown and Northeastern each return a strong nucleus from last season. Hagerstown is the two-time defending Tri-Eastern Conference champion and the defending sectional champion, but the Centerville Lady Bulldogs might have the talent to unseat the Lady Tigers and Northeastern will also be very competitive. There will also be three new head coaches. Defending 1A sectional champion Cambridge City Lincoln will be low on numbers and will need help from young players and Richmond will continue their rebuilding process.
Cambridge City Lincoln
Head coach: Lucius Pitcock (2025 record: 6-14)
The Lady Eagles won the sectional title last year and then forfeited the regional game because they did not have nine players available to play. Numbers will be a problem again this year for Lincoln; in fact, a final decision has not been made on whether the Lady Eagles will be able to field a team. Top pitcher Lexi McPheeters as well as Addyson Pitcock and Samantha Bell graduated, and injuries and low numbers have the Lady Eagles at a crossroads. Paige Pitcock, who had a robust .517 batting average last season, Gabrielle Patterson (.360), Allison Clayton (.360) and Reilynn Ferguson (.317) lead the returnees. Infielder Keilyn Sherwood is expected to assume a larger role. Lincoln is scheduled to open regular-season play with four road games. The Lady Eagles are scheduled to play at Franklin County on Saturday, April 4, at Blue River on Tuesday, April 7, at Rushville on Thursday, April 9, and at Monroe Central on Saturday, April 11.
Centerville
Head coach: Scott Gray (2025 record: 13-8)
The Lady Bulldogs had a strong finish to their season last year and reached 13 wins. Centerville graduated second baseman Lilly Day but will return 12 players from the sectional roster last season. Madi Yount, an outstanding pitcher, also led the Bulldogs in most offensive categories. The junior slugger hit nine home runs last season to lead the TEC while batting .543 and driving in 38 runs. Hannah Beaman, Haven Walter, and Aubrey Seifer all batted over .400. The returnees will be joined by four talented freshmen. Centerville will also have a new head coach, Scott Gray. Gray is new to Centerville but not new to the area; he won 10 Tri-Eastern Conference championships, eight sectionals and three regionals while coaching at Union County. Centerville is scheduled to open regular-season play by hosting Cowan on Monday, April 6, before traveling to Milan on Thursday, April 9.
Hagerstown
Head coach: Bruce Charles (2025 record: 20-3)
Last season Hagerstown won the Tri-Eastern Conference title for the second straight year and were crowned sectional champions for the first time in program history, winning a school record of 20 games. Head coach Bruce Charles will return substantial proven talent, but new faces might have to immediately contribute for the Tigers to duplicate its recent success. All-TEC performer Rylan Young, who anchored the pitching staff last season, is now playing at Franklin College. All-TEC catcher Allison Stinson, who was a defensive wall behind the plate while hitting eight home runs last year, is now playing at Defiance College, and both were named All-State.
Key outfielder Emma Jarrett also graduated, but the talent pool is still deep. Jerycha Allred, Aaliya Anderson, Layla Cool, Mackenzee Johnson and Coley Parrish each played in 23 games last season. Kevlei Moore returns after missing most of last season with an injury. Lilly Catey, Olivia Clinard, Jaylenn Dale, Chloe Jessee, Lily Masters and Cameron Robertson all return from last year’s sectional roster and will be joined by five talented freshmen, most notable among them Harper Fisher. Hagerstown will open regular-season play on the road. The Lady Tigers will travel to Franklin County on Tuesday, April 2, and participate in the Hornet Invite at Beech Grove on Saturday, April 4.
Northeastern
Head coach: Jason Allen (2025 record: 10-8)
Like Centerville, the Lady Knights only graduated one player from last year’s team (infielder Alexis Russell), and like Centerville, they will have a new head coach. Jason Allen will take over a team that returns 10 players from last year’s sectional roster. Five freshmen from a strong class will also be fighting for playing time. Isabella Peed returns after leading the team in hitting last season with .490 batting average and 29 runs batted in. Brooklynne Adams, Jocelyn Allen and Macey Oler each played in 18 games last season. Hailey Elsrod, Jayden Hildebrand, Peed and Addison Wright each played in 17 games. Karri Gammon returns as the catcher with a near perfect fielding percentage and the ability to hit for power. Elsrod and Makayla Hopkins return as proven pitchers. Elsrod compiled a 5-0 record last season with a 2.31 ERA. Hopkins was 2-0 with a 0.89 ERA. The Lady Knights will open regular-season play by hosting Wapahani on Monday, April 6, travel to Daleville on Thursday, April 9, and return home to host Franklin County on Friday, April 10.
Richmond
Head coach: Martika Armstead (2025 record: 1-15)
The Richmond Lady Red Devils will be the third Wayne County school with a new coach. Coach Armstead will take on the task of rebuilding a program that did not win a regular-season game last season before winning a game against Muncie Central in the sectional. Little is known about returning players; Richmond did not report any statistical information last season and a roster for this season is not currently available. Richmond is scheduled to open regular-season play with its first three games on the road. It is scheduled to travel to South Dearborn on Saturday, March 28, to East Central on Wednesday, April 1, and Lawrence North on Friday, April 3.
Seton Catholic will not field a softball team.
A version of this article appeared in the March 18 2026 print edition of the Western Wayne News.