Spring Sport Previews: Softball

*there are no photos of the softball team online, but if you have some that you would be willing to let the Trumansburg Sports page use, then please send them to jacobshelley@students.tburg.k12.ny.us*

Softball is back in Trumansburg, and there is a lot of excitement surrounding the upcoming season. Over the course of the last few years, the softball program has not had the best of records, but moving forward there is a good future for Coach Edwards' team. After losing 7 senior-starters from the team last year, the Raiders are in a rebuilding stage, but also contenders for the IAC divisional crown. Losing solid players in Tavia Black, Samantha Dean, Chloe Mount, Kassadi Woods and Taylor Murphy, the young Trumansburg team looks to work hard and make up for the loss of these players. This year the Raiders are led by senior Katelyn Artibee, who is one of the main arms on the Raiders pitching staff, and has strong production on offense. Artibee has leadership abilities that also will help the young Raiders team. Joining her on the pitching staff will be junior Alexis Vogtman, who has had some experience pitching and shows promise with a strong arm. Artibee and Vogtman will be joined on the pitching rotation by junior Shaylee Sprague. Sprague is one of the strongest players on the team, displaying a powerful arm and being the backstop as the catcher on the Raiders. Sprague also is one of the better hitters on the team, being a reliable and consistent bat. Junior Merissa Lelik is also going to be a crucial part of this Raiders team. Lelik has played the shortstop position before and her defense is stellar and she adds a fast bat. Lelik could be huge for this Trumansburg team in terms of run production and run protection, as she is an all-around solid player. Other big names to watch for are Meredith Stilwell and Zoe Golden. Both have a secure set of fundamental skills, and the contribution from both Golden and Stilwell could very well be the defference maker for the Trumansburg season.

Coach Edwards is very hopeful for the upcoming season. He says: "Everyone across the league has lost their starters. Which means that everyone has a chance." Edwards also adds that "the girls have been working really hard the first two days of practice. We worked on fundamental stuff the first day which was okay, but the second day was pitching/catching with outfield work, and I was really happy how hard the girls were working."