By Chris Parker
Waynesville softball returns six starters from last season’s eight-win team.
At the head of that group is pitcher Emma Ray. Ray is the lone returning all-conference honoree from last year. She earned second-team all-conference honors at pitcher as a junior.
“Emma Ray has gotten stronger on the mound with her movement and location,” Waynesville head coach Rochelle Maubach said.
The other returning starters include: Alyssa Hillman (senior outfielder), Rylie Voigt (senior third base and catcher), JoAnn Jones (senior third base), Brittany Davison (senior first base) and Jennifer Boyd (junior outfield).
Boyd and Hillman will be key pieces of a speedy outfield.
“Boyd is faster out of the box. We moved her to the outfield and she is showing that’s a strong attribute so far,” Maubach said. “Hillman is back from injury in centerfield she will surprise our opponents offensively.”
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Jones, Regan Grosvenor (freshman) and Kendal Cobb (freshman) will also be in the mix at pitcher.
Joining Voigt behind the plate catching will be freshmen Rilie Grovenor and Cobb.
The rest of the infield will feature Yisel Perez (sophomore first base), Cobb (second base) along with Rylie and Regan Grosvenor (second base).
“We will be young,” Maubach said. “We will have three freshmen starting in the infield. My seniority/experience will be on the mound and placing the right athletes in the right defensive positions.”
Those freshmen will be key to the success of Waynesville softball.
“The incoming freshman worked hard in the summer and preseason workouts,” Maubach said. “You will see some new faces taking the field as they year progresses. They are coming to take a starting position.”
The outfield will be rounded out by Anna Peterson (junior), Perez and Kamden Raines (sophomore).
“Our outfield will be fast with the ability to read the ball,” Maubach said.
Waynesville opens the season Aug. 26-27 at the Morrisville Tournament.
