Spring preview: Bloomington area softball squads filled with veterans

As spring sports get in gear this week, here's a look at the area's five softball teams heading into the new season:

Bloomington North

HEAD COACH: Geoff Aiken. 2022 RECORD: 9-12.

RETURNING STARTERS: Nat Burns, Sr. (C/3B), Kendyl Feutz, So. (1B/P), Molly Klein, So. (2B/P), Ella Piercy, Sr. (SS), Alyssa Frye, Sr. (1B/3B), Kaylynn Higgins, Sr. (CF), Sydney Pitner, Jr. (RF).

More: Wild ending lets Edgewood top Bloomington North in softball opener

OUTLOOK: North's two freshmen pitchers, Klein and Fuetz, are now sophomores and looking to show off the improvements they've made. "They've grown and worked and gotten stronger," Aiken said. "We've seen progress with them so we hope it's going to be there. It has been in practice. They'll bring a little more composure and maturity. Molly has a good drop ball going so we'll see how well that works in games. Kendyl's been working on her delivery to be more consistent with throwing strikes and being around the plate." Sophomore Kinsley Stanley, a volleyball player, has impressed in left field and should give the Cougars the ability to cover a lot of ground in the outfield with Pitner and Higgins. Freshman Kaydence Silvers is the likely starter at third and two other frosh, Jocelyn Parrish and Kendon Galliger, will fill in at second when Klein is in the circle. Parrish and Maddie Maxwell will also fill in as backup catchers. Offensively, Aiken hopes the top of his order can get on frequently and look to take the extra base to set up the big boppers in the middle. Burns (.437, 11 HR, 38 RBIs), headed to Florida International, will be a strong mentor for the young backstops and an overall team leader as a second team all-stater. Piercy (a three-year starter headed to Marian), Frye and Higgins: "All four have been great role models," Aiken said.

Bloomington South

HEAD COACH: Meg Montgomery. 2022 RECORD: 17-5.

RETURNING STARTERS: Marin Jacobs, (P), Tiffany Sowder (C), Jilliyn Gardner (2B), Keely Hubbard (SS), Brooke Koontz (3B), Akasha Burton (LF).

OUTLOOK: The Panthers lost a strong senior class but will still look to have a big season ahead of them after winning a Conference Indiana title but also feeling the sting of losing a nine-inning game in the sectional opener. South will boast a deep pitching staff, led by St. Mary-of-the-Woods signee Marin Jacobs (2.07 ERA, 67 strikeouts to 20 walks, .317, three homers at the plate), returning junior Morgan Cockerill, who will also play in right, sophomore Lydia Garner and Lawrence, Kansas, junior transfer Kinsey Clopton, daughter of IU assistant Aaron Clopton and a recent commit to Charleston Southern. Montgomery likes having the options that all four bring to the table with their different pitching styles. "We can give people a lot of looks," Montgomery said. Working with them is Sowder (.346) at catcher. The batting order will start with Jilliyn Gardner moving from outfield to second base to join a veteran infield that returns Hubbard's great glove and strong bat (3 homers, 17 RBIs) at short and Koontz (who can also catch) at third. Unfortunately, senior Sophie Harmon was lost for the season due to a torn ACL. Sophomore Akasha Burton will take over in center and Cockerill in right. Junior Miranda Espinoza can hold down a spot in the outfield or third. Candidates to work first base include Clopton and senior Sidda Benckart while sophomore Evie Carpenter brings a good arm to left and freshman Carly Reed will use her speed in a utility role. "We lost a lot of really big hitters," Montgomery said. "But what I like about this team is we're really jelling and coming together. Speed is a strength for us. I think we can create some chaos. We'll need to manufacture some runs. And having been in a conference championship atmosphere, I hope the new players will see that and respond."

Edgewood

HEAD COACH: Mick Hammett. 2022 RECORD: 12-14.

RETURNING STARTERS: Cortney Hamilton, Jr. (C), Alayna Flynn, Sr. (2B), Piper Stephens, Jr. (SS), Meleah Vest, Sr. (3B), Kaylee Hawkins, Jr. (CF), Madelyn Hitchcox, Sr. (RF); Jaylen Robinson, Sr. (P).

OUTLOOK: Edgewood has seven starters back in every one of its juniors and seniors (senior Candice Rosemeier is switching to tennis after dealing with too many injuries), along with three freshmen. Then come 15 freshman, several of whom will begin their push for varsity time. One of them, Ally Bland, figures to be the No. 2 pitcher behind Robinson (IU Southeast), who is expected to gobble up most of the innings after a more than solid junior season (7-4, 3.11 ERA, 82K, 18 BB). Juniors Carly Collier and Olivia McPherson are next in line but not varsity ready yet. Edgewood will have good speed atop the order and big bats to follow. Vest and Flynn (Mount St. Joseph) return as the Mustangs' top two hitters, with Hitchcox (18 RBIs), Hamilton and Stephens (18 RBIs) also over .300 last year. "I think we should be solid," Hammett said. "We lost a couple starters including one of our top RBI producers behind Maleah, so we'll see how the other girls hit. We will be faster on the bases, we just have to make sure we get there. And I'm hoping we'll field the ball as well or better. At our scrimmage, we looked really improved. We messed up a couple but we also turned two double plays and caught a runner on the bases." A big challenge, with fewer JV teams out there, will be keeping his freshmen busy. Several are vying for the open spots in the outfield and first base. Madi Bland will likely start in left in the opener while Lizzy Austin, Ava LaRoche, Ella Sproul, Jayden Stephens and Addison Yearby are all in the mix as Hammett looks for someone to take command on first base. Bad weather this spring has made it difficult to get outside and get a better look at how it will all shake out.

Eastern Greene

HEAD COACH: Tommy Bell. 2022 RECORD: 8-12.

RETURNING STARTERS: Clara McGee, Jr. (C), Bailee Tieman, Jr. (1B), Vivian Brown, Sr. (2B), Mallory Shelton, Sr. (SS); Bianca Wyatt, Jr. (LF), Jessica Hovious, Jr. (CF/P); Melanie Wyatt, Jr. (RF).

OUTLOOK: The graduation of Indy Workman (Denison University) leaves a big hole in the pitching staff and batting order, but most of the main pieces are back for a junior-dominated team. Brown moves from third to second with sophomore Clara Hawk and freshman Dalanie Davis and Ashlynn Bellman among the top contenders to grab the other starting position. For pitching, Bell is turning to freshman Addy Ramey. "She's a promising player, well trained, tall, about 5-9, well coached," he said. "She'll probably get most of the starting duties. Addy's just got to learn the ropes of varsity ball. She'll be really good in about two years. She's gone from 48 (mph) to the mid-50s just since last year and has good command on the mound." Other innings will come from Hovious, last year's JV pitcher junior MacKenzie Shahan and Shelton has also learned how to pitch in case she'd needed in relief. Offensively, Bell has been working on getting more production out of the bottom of the order, playing small ball, eliminating strikeouts (Eastern averaged seven a game last year) and putting more balls in play. The defense should improve and a speedy outfield could also include junior Taylor Konermann and Hawk.

Owen Valley

HEAD COACH: Brian Greene. 2022 RECORD: 13-7.

RETURNING STARTERS: Lucy Dyer, So. (1B), Kalyn Greene So. (2B), Taylor Monroe, Jr. (SS), Andi Burkhart, Jr. (C/3B), Ashlyn Boltinghouse, Sr. (LF), Taylor York, Jr. (CF), Anya Deford, So. (RF), Abby McDonald, Jr. (P/1B).

OUTLOOK: A still young team brings back eight starters and only one of them is a senior. Six of them batted over .300 last year, led by Louisville commit Monroe (.548, 5 HR, 30 RBIs, 12 SB) and Greene (.473, 19 RBIs). Competing for a WIC and sectional title should be on the radar this year. OV has proven it can score a lot of runs, averaging almost eight a game last year, but it will have to start doing so against the better pitchers on its schedule. The Patriots scored just three runs total in five losses over its last six games in 2022. McDonald will be the team's ace with sophomore Liddia Moler backing her up after limited innings last year.

Contact Jim Gordillo at jgordillo@heraldt.com and follow on Twitter @JimGordillo.

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Softball preview: Bloomington North, South, Edgewood, Eastern Greene