Lady Cat softball looking to bounce back from tough 2021 season

Louisburg starting pitcher Mia Wilson is the lone senior on the 2022 Lady Cat softball team and returns as the squad’s No. 1 starter/

It was challenging 2021 campaign for the Louisburg softball team.

The Wildcats finished the year with just one win and missed out on the regional playoffs. It was a team filled with freshmen playing pivotal roles on the varsity level.

As tough as that season was, many of those same players are returning with a year of experience. The 2022 version of Wildcat softball is still a young team with a roster filled with freshmen and sophomores.

With just one senior on the roster in pitcher Mia Wilson, Louisburg is looking to take several steps forward with a young group players.

“This was a young group last year and they experienced a rough season,” Louisburg coach Nick Chapman said. “They have definitely grown and have helped me grow as a coach. You can see confidence growing in everything they do from they way take routine reps, to laying out and practicing the top 10 plays, to how they lead and talk to each other. I’ve set expectations for this group and they are working to get there. I’m proud of them and I can’t wait to see them to put it together.”

Wilson is the team’s oldest player as she returns as the Wildcats’ No. 1 pitcher, however the other 12 players on the varsity rosters are either freshmen or sophomores.

Even with younger players, Chapman is excited to see the girls compete and improve as the season goes along.

“They are gaining confidence every day and they are hungry,” Chapman said. “You can tell in the way they practice, in the way they hold each other to a standard of wanting to be better every day, every rep. They cheer each other on, they pick each other up, they hold each other accountable so that our team finds success. From top to bottom, this is a special group of girls, at both levels. The program is growing and I’m excited to get this thing going this year.”

The Wildcats return their entire pitching staff from a year ago and it starts with Wilson, who was an All-Frontier League honorable mention selection a year ago with 47 strikeouts on the year.

Sophomores Megan Quinn and Izzy Moreland will also return and see time on the mound throughout the season.

“Izzy had to become a two game catcher last season and her pitching was not able to be utilized,” Chapman said. “She is going to step in nicely and I’m excited to finally get her on the mound this season. These 3 all offer something different and it’s a special thing that we are trying to grow, and what’s beautiful is they work together and coach each other and make my life way easier as a baseball guy trying to learn the art of softball pitching. This is going to a special staff. I’m excited for them. We are going to put a defense behind them that have their back and get the job done.”

When she is not on the mound, Wilson will play the shortstop position, while sophomore Ashley Moreau will also see time in the middle infield. 

Moreland will play either first or third base, depending on the situation, while returning starter, sophomore Jenna Cauthon, will play second or third.

Sophomores Rylee Hickey and Amaya Weilert will see time at catcher. Hickey will also see time in the outfield with freshmen Mackenzie Rooney and Sabra Brueggen.

Freshman Addy Stohs will also see time as a designate player and freshman Brynley Bauer could see time at catcher and in the outfield. Sophomore outfielder Brooklyn Harmon and freshman infielder Sami Lane are also listed on the varsity roster.

Offensively, this group also looks to improve as they feature players throughout the lineup that can do different things.

“At the plate, our goal is to get runners on, get them over and get them in,” Chapman said. “Team softball. Our lineup 1-9 in my eyes will work together very well and there’s not a point of in our lineup that worries me. We have speedy girls who will get on base any way they can and take advantage of whatever they can on the bases. We have girls that are solid contact hitters that will do a job in any situation and we have girls that have some pop. We just need to put it together.”

Louisburg opens its season Tuesday as the Wildcats host Baldwin for a varsity-only doubleheader at Lewis-Young Park.

Chapman is excited to see what his team can do on opening day and is looking for a lot of positive moments for the 2022 season.

“They want to be good,” Chapman said. “They want success and doing the right things to find that success. My goal every year is state as every competitor should have that goal, be the last team standing. Bigger picture is I want this program to grow into a consistent threat in the Frontier League, which is tough, as well as the state. We will see ourselves in a regional this season and work to break through to the state tournament. .500 is our goal and to make that the new norm for this program.”

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