Pendleton Heights will still have power-packed lineup in 2022

0

PENDLETON — Most teams that graduate 26 home runs from a sectional finalist team would be scratching and clawing to find ways to score runs in the upcoming season.

Pendleton Heights softball is not most teams.

The Arabians went 19-11 in 2021 before losing to Mt. Vernon in the sectional championship.

All-state shortstop Kylie Davis, who hit .485 with four homers and 16 doubles, third baseman Grace Scott, who hit 11 home runs, and first baseman Gracie Conkling, who knocked eight out of the park, are among the graduated Arabians.

Top pitcher Ryann Norris, who also hit three home runs, went 9-6 a year ago. She was also part of the Class of 2021.

They all will be greatly missed, but there shouldn’t be any worries when it comes to scoring runs in 2022.

Veteran head coach Rob Davis returns a pair of Division I recruits and a strong contingent of hard-hitting Arabians.

“We’re going to be similar to where we were last year, as far as hitting-wise,” coach Davis said.

The Arabians hit 64 home runs last year, second most in the state. They trailed only Hoosier Heritage Conference foe Shelbyville, with 67.

In all, the Arabians return 38 home runs from seven different players.

Catcher Kieli Ryan, who is headed to Butler University, hit .465 last year with nine home runs.

Brynn Libler, committed to Kent State, hit .333 with five homers. An outfielder last year, she is expected to move over to third base, where Scott played, this season.

Junior infielder Bo Shelton also hit nine four-baggers to go with a .407 batting average.

Khloee Gregory hit .387 with six home runs. Center fielder Hailee Brunnemer had five homers and hit .356. Caroline DeRolf had a strong .439 batting average with three home runs.

Sophomore Kaitlynn Goodwin, who is slated to play first base this season, hit a home run in her first varsity at bat in 2021.

With Norris and another senior pitcher, Brinkley Epperson, graduated, coach Davis will turn to junior Eliza Findlay to do the brunt of the work in the circle.

Davis thinks one difference on the offense side will be team speed.

Along with the power in the lineup, they have the addition of sophomore Kiah Hubble, who was used as a pinch-runner some last season, and Lillian Coffel, a junior, to give them a pair of base-stealing threats.

“We’ll be able to run more than last year. We didn’t really need to do a lot of running last year (with all of the power),” Davis said.

In his 12th-year as the program’s head coach, Davis said with eight seniors this is one of his most veteran teams.

“They’re very strong and very competitive. We’re looking for good things,” Davis said, noting his team wants to, as they do every year, win the Horseshoe Classic, an event where Pendleton Heights plays host to other top Class 4A programs, and Madison County tournaments, along with doing well in the conference and post season.

“We’re 16-17 players deep on the varsity,” he added. “It’s not going to bother me one bit to put somebody in for somebody or make a switch at any time. I have confidence in all of them. It’s going to be an exciting year.”

The year was scheduled to get underway Wednesday, May 30, at Westfield. On Friday, the Arabians are scheduled to play at Center Grove.

After another road game at Shenandoah on April 5, the first home game on the slate is also the first HHC contest. On April 6, the Arabians welcome Delta.

No posts to display