By Chris Parker
Dixon softball has high expectations this year with six fall and eight spring starters returning.
The Lady Bulldogs will have one of the area’s top pitchers in the circle in senior Maddie Ryan. Ryan earned first-team all-conference and all-district along with second-team all-region last year. She was 12-11 with a 2.85 ERA and 192 strikeouts in 140 innings pitched last fall. In the spring, she threw 41 innings with 73 strikeouts and a 2.90 ERA.
Emma Brinkley is a utility player who could also see time pitching.
Emma Thiltgen returns behind the plate at catcher. She earned second-team all-state honors as a sophomore. Thiltgen hit .463 with a 1.251 OPS driving in 15 runs and scoring 17 more.
Abby Overshon played first base last year and earned second-team all-district honors. She hit .250 with 23 RBI as a junior.
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Other returning varsity players with experience on the infield include Kinsley Lipscomb (sophomore) and Rylenn Veasman (sophomore). Lipscomb has also played in the outfield.
Mackenzie Cross (junior), Anna Moore (senior) and Alyssa Morgan (senior) all have outfield experience.
Belle Magner, Abby Scott, Michaelyn Perry, Andi Jo Wilson and Kelsey Eddleman are incoming freshmen to watch.
Head coach Michael Flaugher will look for his team to cut down on strikeouts at the plate.
“We need to do a better job of putting the ball in play,” Flaugher said. “Last fall we had too many strikeouts, but the girls did a much better job in the spring. I am hopefully that will continue this fall.”
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Dixon opens the regular season on Aug. 27 at the Halfway Tournament.
“We feel we have a good team and can compete with anyone on our schedule,” Flaugher said. “We have some holes to fill, but I am confident we will be a better team as the season goes on and will be able to compete with whoever we see in districts.”
