The Ashland softball team kicked off the season with a 9-7 win over the Wooster Generals, with the Arrows piling on 12 hits led by freshman Josie VanTiliburg, who had a big day at the plate.
VanTiliburg went 3-for-4 with a double and a triple, while knocking in two runs and scoring one of her own. Hailey Wade also drove in two runs on a 1-for-4 day. Isla McFrederick went 2-for-3 with a double and two runs scored.
Keagan Slater picked up the win, going all seven innings allowing seven earned runs, 11 hits and four walks, while striking out eight batters.
Wooster was led by Emily Boys, who went 3-for-5 with a homer, four RBIs and a run scored. Ava Craemer Parker also went 3-for-5 with two doubles, a run and an RBI. Torri Pettorini was 2-for-4 with a double, an RBI and a run scored.
This is the first season that Michelle VanHorn is at the helm for the Arrows, but the team is coming off a 14-9 season and looks to continue that success this year despite having a young team. The team brings back juniors Gracie Elis in center field and Keagan Slater pitching. Sophomores are Miley Baker at shortstop, Maddy Hoffman at DH and second base, and McFrederick in right field. The rest of the team is made up of freshmen and one sophomore vying for playing time.
“I see a lot of upcoming talent. It is nice to see the leadership from my sophomore Maddy Hoffman,” VanHorn said. “To be so young and to see everyone will step up and do whatever it takes for the team is amazing. I have a group of "coachable" girls and I know there's teams out there that can't say that. I am really looking forward to seeing Keagan grow on the mound and have the defense to back her up.”
The team has moved Baker from behind the plate to shortstop, and VanHorn said it has been such a smooth move. She said one of the things to watch this year is the bat of McFrederick.
“Isla McFrederick’s bat...is literally the prettiest thing I have ever seen,” VanHorn said. “Her confidence and poise at the plate is hands down one of the best things I have ever seen. I am so excited to see what she can produce this year.”
While the team does lose its top three offensive players to graduation, Hoffman is coming off a year where she played all 23 games an d batted .481 with an OPS of 1.309. She belted four homers, nine doubles and three triples, and was second on the team with 35 RBIs. She was an All-OCC Honorable Mention.
McFrederick was also All-OCC Honorable Mention, and batted .403 with a 1.035 OPS. She had three homers and two doubles, and 20 RBIs in 23 games.
Baker also played all 23 games and batted .293 last season. Slater batted .255 in 20 games and looks to make strides this spring.
VanHorn said that she likes to get to know her players and learn what motivates and drives them. She can be hard on the girls, but they know in the end it is to make them better, VanHorn explained.
“I just make sure I create an environment where they trust me,” VanHorn said. “They know I have weaknesses. I am FAR from knowing everything. But I am not afraid to admit my flaws and I have tried to create a coaching staff to help with my weaknesses.”
VanHorn said the team’s strengths are how coachable the girls are, and their willingness to work hard to get what they want. A weakness is their youth and inexperience against veteran teams. But VanHorn still has confidence in her squad.
“I wouldn’t count us out yet,” she said.
