By Chris Parker
Dixon softball experienced its first losing season in more than a decade last year going 8-15 overall. Four players graduated from that squad including Payton Ramsey, Izzy Thiltgen, Emily Johnson and Bethany Koch. Thiltgen was first-team all-conference and all-district. Johnson was first-team all-conference and second-team all-district. Ramsey was second-team all-district.
The Dixon softball team has worked hard in the off-season to get the program back above .500 this year.
“(The) kids worked hard over the winter and early spring in the weight room and the cage to get better, but unfortunately we were not able to play this past spring or summer but the kids have been putting in a lot of time practicing in July so hopefully we can turn that hard work into more wins this fall,” Dixon head coach Michael Flaugher said.
Five starters in Ryli Martin, Lexi Graves, Tristen Lipscomb, Courtney Scott and Maddie Ryan return.
Martin, a senior, started at first base each of her first two years, but took over catching duties last year. She was named first-team all-conference last year after she hit .297 with 17 RBI.
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“She (Martin) is an excellent defensive player. She is very athletic and she has led our team in fielding percentage for three straight years,” Flaugher said. “I expect her power numbers to continue to increase as she enters her senior season and she will provide us with the rare combination of power and speed in the middle of our lineup next year.”
Graves returns to the outfield in center. She was named honorable mention all-conference after she hit .412 with 23 RBI.
“Lexi has done a wonderful job defensively in centerfield the past three years. She was asked to increase her role last season and she responded by hitting over .400 and she was first or second in seven offensive categories,” Flaugher said. “This season we will need even more from her offensively at the top of the order and I am sure she will be up to the challenge. She is also an amazing teammate and leader and a great role model for the younger girls.”
Scott is a versatile junior defender who can play multiple positions. Lipscomb, also a junior, returns as a corner outfielder. Sophomore Maddie Ryan will see time at third base and pitcher.
Kyli Ballard (junior), Abby Overshon (sophomore), Maci Holtsclaw (sophomore), Anna Moore (sophomore) and Alyssa Morgan (sophomore) are new players to watch this year.
“I am extremely excited about the upcoming season. It will be difficult to replace the four seniors we lost to graduation, but we have several girls with varsity experience returning,” Flaugher said. “They have all worked hard this winter to improve and we have had a good turnout for practices during July and our freshmen are developing and progressing like they should and they seem to be a very promising and talented group. If our pitching, hitting, and defense continue to progress throughout the season like I feel it should I feel we should be competitive this fall and will surprise a lot of people.”
Incoming freshmen include: Mackenzie Cross, Bailey Roach, Jenna Matlock, Emma Thiltgen, Brooke Mahurin, Alexa Hall, and Kalie Marr.
Dixon opens the season Aug. 31-Sept. 5 in the Frisco League Tournament.
