An 8-win season may not have seemed like much, but it was a big step up for the Fountain Central softball team in 2019.
But after a lost 2020 season, the Mustangs return just four players with varsity experience for 2021 and virtually no returning pitching depth.
“We lost out on a whole JV season too,” Fountain Central coach Ric Walke said. “That may be the biggest obstacle since those players missed a year of development. We are going to be very inexperienced around the field so working on fundamentals and making sure we do the little things right is a priority. We return four players with extended varsity experience from 2019. We return almost zero/to limited varsity experience in the circle.”
Seniors Marley Massey and Shelby Marshall are the returning seniors and will be the Mustangs’ captains this spring. Massey in centerfield and Marshall at first-base.
Walke also expects juniors Kendra Earlywine, Chloe Golia, Jerzi Hershberger, Maddie Medley, Haley Webb, and Kendal Rahm to also step up. Sophomore Hannah Wood will chip in and freshman Kacey Kirkpatrick is expected to lead the pitching staff this season for Fountain Central.
“Our biggest strength will be that we are a team,” Walke said. “This group has worked hard together and pushes each other while being very supportive. They want to be successful and are working hard to do it. The biggest weakness is lack of experience as a whole. We will not be sure what we have until we get a couple weeks into the season.”
Fountain Central opens the season on Monday, April 5 at Riverton Parke.
