The Centerburg softball season is underway, the Trojans are 1-2 after what Coach Tim Rioux said was an up-and-down week. “It's still early in the season, I think we'll be fine,” Coach Rioux said. “Our attitude is good and the girls are working hard, we just need to have a little better focus during our games.
The Trojans lost 10-0 at Liberty Union on the road to start the season on March 25, and then beat Northmor at home 9-2 on March 27. Northmor followed up with an 8-2 win the following day.
“We faced a pretty good team and pitcher vs Liberty Union in the first game of the season, we struggled getting hits and had too many strikeouts,” Rioux said. “Against Northmor, we played well Wednesday, and not so well Thursday. We knew they would be tough to beat twice. They are well coached and always have a solid team.”
The Centerburg softball team is coming off a 20-7 season and have goals of winning the KMAC and the district this season. Coach Rioux knows that replacing the Shelby Morris will be a big task, but the Trojans bring back the entire rest of their team that includes players who were selected All-KMAC.
“We have the ability to have a very good season again this year,” said Rioux, who is the reigning KMAC Coach of the Year Award winner entering his eighth season. “As always, leadership, pitching, hitting and defense will be keys to having a successful season.”
Leading the charge will be first team all-conference selections Chesnee Fairall, Kayla Ferrell and Abby Herren. Harley Webb was second team All-KMAC and Brooklyn Pankuch was an honorable mention.
Fairall looks to be the team’s top player going in, and is coming off a season where she batted .422 and had an outstanding OPS of 1.260 (.505 OBP and .756 slugging). She belted eight homers, while knocking in 26 runs and scoring 15. She also had six doubles and 38 total hits.
Abby Herren batted .452 with a 1.141 OPS (.485 OBP and .656 slugging). She hit a homer, two triples and 12 doubles, while knocking in 27 runs and scoring 37.
Ferrell had a .405 batting average and a 1.163 OBP (.442 OBP and .722 slugging). She smashed six homers, five doubles and a triple, while recording 16 RBIs and 30 runs scored.
Webb leads the returners with 33 RBIs from last season, and batted .398 with a .991 OPS (.398 OBP and .593 slugging. She drilled a pair of doubles and a triple, and came around to score 21 times.
Pankuch batted .346 with six doubles and a triple. She also knocked in 16 RBIs and scored 10 times.
The team also returns seniors Sarah Stowe, Alyssa Harris and Rylee Bryant. Lexie Moore and Taylor Bryant should also be key players this season.
“I think this year's team should be improved offensively and defensively,” Rioux said. “Our strengths this year should be team chemistry, offense and defense. Our players have another year of experience playing together, they know our philosophy and processes well. In addition, a majority of our players worked hard over the summer.
Rioux knows that the KMAC will be a tough league this season, but there are also big matchups against Highland, Newark Catholic, Lakewood, Liberty Union and Heath.
Liberty Union 10, Centerburg 0
Centerburg struggled in the opening game of the season, only managing two hits in a 10-0 loss to Liberty Union on March 25. Chesnee Fairall and Herren each had hits, both being singles.
Centerburg 9, Northmor 2
The Centerburg Trojans had a big five run third inning to push their way past the Northmor Golden Knights on March 27.
Kenlee Fairall drilled a solo homer to centerfield to out the Trojans up 1-0 in the bottom of the first. They then scored five runs in five hits in the third inning, highlighted by a Herren solo shot to right field. Brooklyn Pankuch and Sarah Stowe each knocked two run singles in the inning.
Stowe picked up the win, pitching all seven innings with two runs allowed and none of them earned. She allowed only three hits, while walking four and striking out six batters.
Shelby Cooper pitched three-and-two-thirds innings for the Golden Knights, allowing four runs but only one earned. She struck out five batters and walked one. Kate Kissling was the losing pitcher, allowing five runs on five hits over two-and-one-third innings.
For the Trojans, Fairall was 2-for-3 with a walk, an RBI and two runs. Lexie Moore was 2-for-3 with a walk.
Northmor’s Wright was 2-for-2 with a double and an RBI.
Northmor 8, Centerburg 2
Northmor hosted Centerburg on March 28, and while the Trojans led after one inning, it was all Golden Knights the rest of the way in an 8-2 win led by a 15 hit barrage.
Centerburg got on the board to go up 1-0 in the first inning when Webb hit into a fielder’s choice that brought in a run.
Northmor then put up a three spot in the bottom of the second. See knocked an RBI single and an error scored two runs. They scored twice more in the third inning, when Strobel smashed a homer to center and an error brought in a run. Centerburg also scored a run and it was a 5-2 ballgame.
The Golden Knights scored three more insurance runs in the sixth inning and held on to secure the win.
Strobel had another big day, homering and going 2-for-3 with a walk, an RBI and a run scored. Brooklyn Kissling had two RBIs and went 1-for-4. See had a 2-for-4 day with an RBI, and Saje Miley also went 2-for-4, knocking in a run and scoring twice. Kate Kissling smashed a double and scored, and Kallie Wright went 1-for-2 with a double, a walk and two runs scored. Miley, See and Wright all had steals for the Golden Knights. Reagan See had a solid day in the nine hole of the lineup, going 3-for-4.
Shelby Cooper got the win for Northmor with seven innings, two runs allowed with one earned, five hits, four walks and six strikeouts. Stowe took the loss pitching all six innings, allowing five earned runs, 15 hits, two walks and five strikeouts.
