By Pat Dailey (For OzarkSportsZone.com)
Warsaw will be coached by three of its alumni, including two members of the Lady Cats’ 2011 state championship team.
Megan Daleske takes over as Warsaw’s head coach and will be assisted by Kelli Eierman and Kya Schepker. All three played for retired Warsaw coach Steve Larson. Daleske and Eierman helped the Lady ‘Cats to a state title 11 years ago.
Daleske and Eierman were part of four District championship teams at Warsaw and Schepker, a 2020 grad, was on three District championship teams.
Warsaw lost all-state pitcher Kylee Fajen to graduation from last season’s 14-4 team that won the Class 2 District 8 championship, but welcomes a prized prospect in freshman Brylee Brewster.
“She plays competitive softball in the summer for the KC Peppers and even though she is only a freshman, she will be playing with their 18-and-under team,” Daleske said. “She is ranked in the top 100 nationally in the 2025 class as a pitcher. We are really looking forward to seeing her in the circle this season. She will be a big part of our team’s success.”
Among Warsaw’s returnees is senior catcher Taylor Howe. She earned Class 2 All-State First-Team honors last year and has signed to play college ball at Evansville.
“Taylor is an exceptional athlete and leader,” said Daleske, who was an assistant at Warsaw the past three years. “We are very excited to have her returning and setting an example for (our) young team. We expect to see the same hard-work ethic and determination that we have seen out of her the last three seasons. Her hard-nose attitude is contagious and sets the tone for practice daily.
“Taylor could go out and compete to be the best player at every position on the field but we need her leadership and talent behind the plate,” Daleske added. “We like that she can see the whole field and direct from there and mentor our young pitcher.”
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Howe could hit anywhere from leadoff to the middle of Warsaw’s batting order.
“We can’t say definitively where we will see her in the lineup this year, but we are positive she will be successful at whatever role we need her to fill,” Daleske said. “She is fast enough to get on base with a bunt and steal the next one and strong enough to hit it out of the park. We will just have to see where she can be used most effectively.”
Other starters back are first baseman Karlie Jones and shortstop/third baseman Madison Coskey. Jones joined Howe on the All-Ozark Highlands Conference Team last year.
Junior Faith Tharaldson and sophomores Jaylen McCullick, Olivia Stange and Autumn Walton also saw varsity playing time last year.
Warsaw hopes the start of a middle school program last year will pay immediate dividends.
“We have some promising talent coming in the freshman class who could end up on the varsity roster,” Daleske said. “We have seen several new faces this off-season who give us some options. Everyone will be competing for a spot in the lineup.”
The Lady Cats like their mix of veterans and youngsters are optimistic their winning ways will continue.
“Although we are young, we have talent all over the field and three great senior leaders,” Daleske said. “We expect to be extremely competitive in any game this year.”
