By Chris Parker
Dadeville returned to the varsity softball field last year after playing in a co-op with Fair Play in 2019 and won five games.
The Lady Bearcats will look for even more this year behind a lone senior in Breanna Wince.
“Breanna Wince will be our only returning senior. She gave us valuable innings in the circle last year and I expect her to do that again. She also played shortstop, batted over .300 and was one of our top RBI producers. We will look to her for leadership especially since we didn’t have a senior on last year’s team,” Dadeville head coach Brent Rountree said.
Junior Ellie Mitchell and sophomore Malory Wince will also see time in the circle. Malory Wince is the team’s returning catcher after she earned second-team all-conference honors last season.
“(Malory Wince) was a very solid backstop as a freshman with a good arm, and a top tier hitter that batted over .500,” Rountree said.
Junior Libby Lakey will catch Malory Wince when she is in the circle pitching.
Sophomores Lilly Cornelison (first base) and Ruby Griffin will be on the infield.
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“For never having played first base, (Cornelison) did a very solid job as a freshman fielding over .900. Her hitting has a lot of room for improvement, but she makes good contact and has worked over the summer to put some ‘pop’ in her swing,” Rountree said. “Ruby Griffin is a hardworking player who knows the game and could see time at multiple positions on the infield this season depending on who is pitching for us. Like many of the players, she has worked hard this past off-season and I expect to see her on base even more.”
Mitchell, Lakey and Breanna Wince are all also in the mix for time on the infield.
“Ellie Mitchell will play in the middle of the infield somewhere when she is not in the circle. She is a good athlete who will be at the top of our lineup and has the ability to make game changing plays with her glove. Breanna Wince could play almost any position (including the outfield) when she is not in the circle,” Rountree said. “Libby Lakey is another athlete. Libby can play multiple positions, but will probably settle in at either third base or second. A very quick and solid fielder who also gets on base a lot.”
The junior quartet of Chloe Cornelison, Tori Schedler, Olivia Abromovitz and Emily Yount will bein the outfield.
“Chloe Cornelison at times could tear the cover off the ball. She has some incredible pop. Including a home run and several doubles last season. She has had a good summer at the plate and we hope that transfers to this fall. Tori turned into a solid centerfielder by the end of her sophomore year. We will look to her for leadership in our outfield,” Rountree said. “Olivia Abramovitz really stepped up her game by the end of last season. Having not played any competitive softball before last season, she was making the routine plays in right field and getting on base more consistently by the end of the season. Emily Yount at one point was leading our team in average and RBI. She finished the season batting over .300 and filled her role really well.”
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This team will be one that sticks together no matter the score this year.
“I believe our team chemistry will be a big strength. This group likes playing the game together and has been working hard to accomplish goals they have set. Our lineup should be able to hit and put runs on the board,” Rountree said. “Our defense will need to improve from last year to compete in big games. It let us down at times and enabled opposing teams to take advantage of our mistakes.”
Dadeville will open the season Aug. 27-28 at the Humansville Tournament.
“If our pitchers locate and throw strikes, I believe we should compete with anyone on our schedule,” Rountree said. “Playing non-conference teams like Marshfield, Morrisville and Hartville should prepare us against good competition and our conference schedule is always tough with teams like Weaubleau, Halfway and Walnut Grove.”
