By Chris Parker
Gainesville softball will look for a trio of senior leaders to help the program win double-digit games for the first time since 2015.
“I feel like I have three good team leaders,” Gainesville head coach Joe Walrath said. “Hallee Donley will be my senior shortstop. She has a very good glove and nice bat. Deborah Winrod will be my senior center fielder. She has great speed and also a very good glove. Gwen Broderick will be my senior first baseman and brings excellent defense and adds a good bat to the lineup.”
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Junior Sailor Anderson will be a key pitcher this year. Freshman Katelyn Morgan will also look for time in the circle.
Jesse Lathem will be behind the plate.
“She (Lathem) is an excellent blocking catcher and the true spark plug of the team,” Walrath said.
Joining Donley and Broderick on the infield will be sophomore Emory Warden at second base and junior Bretlyn Kastning at third base. Winrod will be flanked by sophomore Macenzie Avila in left field and junior Brooklyn Busong in right field.
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“This set of girls work together really well. They encourage one another and they are very interchangeable on the ballfield,” Walrath said. “Our batting consistency must improve. We have to do a better job getting batters in once we get them on base.”
Gainesville will open the regular season on Aug. 28 at the Halfway tournament.
“This team went from a 3-16 record in the fall to an 8-5 record in the spring,” Walrath said. “You could see the confidence grow in them as they played and I expect them to build off their spring season and be a contending force to be dealt with this fall.”
