By Chris Parker
Stockton softball is poised to make a run at the program’s first district title since 2016 with seven starters returning from last season’s 11-win team.
The senior trio of Ellie Flora (catcher), Riley Graves (outfielder) and Abby Kiley (first base) will be the team’s leaders.
Flora earned second-team all-conference honors as a junior. She hit .488 posting a 1.096 OPS with two home runs, 29 RBI and seven doubles last season.
Junior Ellie Pettit and freshman Shia Roberts will be in the circling pitching to Flora. Pettit threw 88 of 131 innings for Stockton last season with 61 strikeouts. She was strong at the plate as well hitting .438 with a 1.071 OPS and 22 RBI. Pettit was named honorable mention all-conference for her efforts last season.
Gracie Abercrombie (sophomore) and Sophia Yokley (sophomore) along with several others will be on the infield.
Juniors Raelyn Henderson and Nataleigh Brummett will join Graves in the outfield. Henderson is a terror for opposing teams when she is on the bases with 27 stolen bases and a team-high 33 runs scored last season. She earned second-team all-conference honors.
Look for the Lady Tigers to take a step forward offensively.
“We all have improved over the offseason offensively. We are swinging the bats better and better and have brought a new focus to our work in the cage,” Stockton head coach Jim Flora said. “We should be able to really hit the ball and score runs. We will have a great table setter in Raelyn Henderson and should have the power behind her to drive in runs, with Graves, Pettit, Flora and Abercrombie.”
On the other side of the game, Stockton will look to cut down on miscues that give opposing offenses extra outs.
“We really need to improve defensively,” Flora said. “Our pitchers will keep us in the game, but we cannot hurt ourselves with defensive mistakes. We will work every day in practice to build that defensive mentality.”
Stockton opens the season on Mar. 18 at Fair Grove.
