MORENCI — The Morenci varsity softball team will start the season behind the eight ball for a third straight year.
That’s due to the success of the girls basketball team, which just three-peated as regional champs and pushed their season even further with a trip to the Breslin Center and the Final Four. As a result of that success, the softball team started practice without seniors Evelyn Joughin and Addyson Valentine and sophomore Tavin Kruse, and there were also shortened practices for others.
“Our season has started a bit slow as basketball players are still in season and the softball team has missed practice time to attend the basketball games,” head coach Kay Johnson said.
Johnson has tallied 1,026 wins in her 53 years as head coach and returns 10 players from a squad that went 21-14 (2-5 in the Tri-County Conference) and won a district championship last year.
Two key returners are Joughin and Valentine. Joughin, honorable mention All League, will provide stability and leadership from the shortstop position while Valentine, All League (206 strikeouts, 16-11 record), will serve as the Bulldogs’ primary pitcher.
Juniors Rylee Frederick and Gracie Snead will round out the infield at second and third base respectively. Other returning juniors are Jaelyn Thompson at pitcher and Aly Curtis at first base. Classmates Savanna Miles and Callie VanBrandt will both play outfield positions with Miles also filling in at catcher and VanBrandt at first base. Junior Chloe Elliott is new to the team this year and will provide support where needed.
Sophomores Bailey Miller and Kruse will play the outfield.
Freshmen Tessa Gilpin, Makinley Valentine, Layla Myers, Jaylee Ables and Kylee Grieder will look to provide athleticism and carve out a role for themselves.
“The first portion of our season will be used to evaluate players and establish our best lineup,” Johnson explained the process of the delayed start and early portion of the season. “I’m sure that will evolve as the season progresses.”
Morenci starts its season with a road tilt against Pittsford on April 6, just a week after spring break ends and a little over two weeks since the basketball season ended.
They will kick off league play when they host Sand Creek on April 8 before traveling to league favorite Whiteford on April 15.
The Bulldogs will try to better the 21 wins they earned last season and compete for another district title. Johnson has put a focus on the offensive efficiency going into the season.
“I look for our speed and base running to be improved over last year,” Johnson said. “And our preseason emphasis is to cut down on strikeouts this year.”