Eagles softball ready for upcoming year
Mar. 14—They may be young, but the Zionsville softball team is ready to compete against a challenging schedule this spring.
The Eagles graduated a large senior class from last year's 8-15 squad, but feel like they have pieces to take strides forward.
"I think we should compete in every game and can win," Zionsville head coach Mike Garrett said. "I don't think there are any games where we will be blown out, or will blow anyone out. Every game is going to be competitive and this group has the courage to not back down to anything."
Garrett said he has been encouraged by some of the Eagles early-season practices and the strides the girls have taken in just a short couple of weeks.
He said if they continue on that path, he thinks the Eagles will have a successful season.
"This group works hard," he said. "We are young, but they come ready to go every day. We are very junior and freshmen heavy. We are excited."
The Eagles do return some quality pieces from a year ago.
Leah Helton batted .365 with 22 runs scored, while pitching 49 innings in the circle.
Olivia Kohler batted .333 with 18 runs scored, and Maddie Benedict and Abbie Geib both batted over .300 a year ago.
Garrett said juniors Charli Westerfield and Emma Vargo, along with senior Kaylee Baxter, have shown good leadership throughout the beginning parts of the season as well.
"Charli Westerfield is a lefty and really versatile," Garrett said. "We put her at third base and she has never done it and is adjusting well. Emma Vargo in center field is a real good on the field leader. Leah Helton makes everyone better around her. Our senior Kaylee Baxter is going a really good job of taking care of things in the dugout and keeping things fun. These girls should be having fun. The wins will come, we will compete, but the girls should enjoy this."
Garrett said that while there may not be a lot of experience at the varsity level, a lot of the Eagles have had success at various levels growing up and that will help them having the right mindset.
He thinks that mental make-up for the group is going to be one of their biggest strengths.
"We aren't going to back down from anyone," Garrett said. "We have kids on varsity now that played JV and never got beat, and played summer ball on some really competitive teams. Our schedule is brutal, and we love it. We did that intentionally and we are going to line up every day seeing a talented team across from us."
The Eagles start the season off with a couple of road games, going to Danville on March 19 and Lapel of March 20.
They host Greenfield-Central on March 23 for the home opener.
With five games in eight days to start the season before spring break, Garrett said the Eagles have to use those games to get a feel on how best to play with one another.
"We have the right kids, it's just seeing who works well next to whom," Garrett said. "We are going to continue to work on our communication. Our defense seems to be ahead of our batting, and it is usually the other way around. We are on the right track for sure."
Will Willems is the Sports Editor of the Lebanon Reporter. Follow him on Twitter @Will_Willems.
