By Matt Turer — mturer@ky3.com
@MattTurer
After winning 88 games from 2010-2014, Hartville softball has won just 17 combined games the past two seasons as the program continues to endure a bit of a rebuild. But last year’s run to a Class 2, District 1 title as a No. 4 seed signaled that this is a program that doesn’t rebuild for long and has the ability to both make adjustments and vastly improve throughout a season.
The Eagles started the 2016 season 3-10, but that didn’t last. Hartville closed the regular season by winning six of eight games before beating Gainesville, Houston and Ava over a three-day stretch to win its district title. The run didn’t last past sectional play, where Willow Springs eliminated the Eagles, but it was a good sign heading into 2017.
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The Eagles will try to avoid another slow start this year as they attempt to overcome the graduation of five starters.
“It should be an interesting season for us,” head coach Mike Percival said. “We will have young players with a splash of returners this season.”
Percival pointed to senior Ashlynne Dickinson (1B), senior Sydney Howe (SS) and sophomore Grace Culver (OF) as his key returners this fall.
As of July, sophomore Aubrey Hardcastle was set to be Hartville’s No. 1 pitcher and sophomore Bailey Martin was expected to start at catcher. But Percival said other players may compete for time in both positions.
Hartville has won five district championships this decade include three in a row from 2012-2014.
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