Bloomington area IHSAA softball preview: Top players, outlooks for every team in 2024

The 2024 softball season is here so let's take a look at the five teams in the Bloomington Herald-Times area, starting with the only squad to win a sectional title last year. Here's the big question each squad has to answer this season:

Can Edgewood's youngsters keep it rolling?

COACH — Mick Hammett, 29th season. LAST YEAR — 22-8, 9-1 WIC.

RETURNING STARTERS — Piper Stephens, Sr. (SS); Kaylee Hawkins, Sr. (CF); Cortney Hamilton, Sr. (C); Ally Bland, So. (P); Madi Bland, So. (LF); Ella Sproul, So. (1B).

OUTLOOK — Edgewood's defending sectional champs have a huge, talented sophomore class to go with five important juniors and seniors so there's plenty of experience to make another run at a WIC and postseason titles. But Northview, Indian Creek, Sullivan and North Putnam and Owen Valley will have a say in that, too. "Our three seniors, Piper's been there four years and the others three years, we should be steady there," Hammett said. "The other four, they got enough playing time last year that they are not going to be totally green, so they should have a little confidence there. We have some others who should get some time and fill in as subs as well."

Pitching: Ally Bland, will go from part-time pitcher to staff ace. Injuries took out another top arm but freshman Brylee Moore performed well in the scrimmage, Hammett said, and sophomore Autumn Coons and junior Carly Colier may also get some innings. Bland was 4-1 with a 2.79 ERA and 45 strikeouts last year. "I watched her bit in travel ball and she did a nice job," Hammett said. "She has nice control and good pitch location." Batting order: The top of the Mustangs order will be a potent bunch as it was last year. Stephens and Ally Bland will lead it off, then some combination of Hamilton, Madi Bland and Sproul will give Edgewood plenty of pop. Defensively, the graduation of Alaina Flynn leaves big shoes to fill at second base by sophomore Addison Yearby, while Piper's sister Jayden, another sophomore, will be a strong presence at third. Sophomores Ava LaRoche and Lizzy Austin will get a chance to claim the open spot in right while junior Olivia McPherson's bat will find a place in the lineup as DH. Sophomore Lindzey Rains is also in the mix for playing time.

How far can pitching take Bloomington South?

COACH — Meg Montgomery, 22nd season. LAST YEAR — 13-10, 3-2 CI.

RETURNING STARTERS — Morgan Cockerill, Sr. (P/OF); Kinsey Clopton, Sr. (P/1B); Brooke Koontz, Sr. (3B); Akasha Burton, Jr. (CF); Evie Carpenter, Jr (LF).

OUTLOOK — Panthers should have one of the top pitching combos in the area with Clopton (Charleston Southern), the 2023 H-T Player of the Year, and Cockerill (DePauw). Both will give teams much different looks with Clopton's speed and Cockerill's more control/off-speed approach. "They will be a great complement to each other with their different styles of pitching," Montgomery said. "I'm excited for our pitching." They'll be working with a new starting catcher in sophomore Lindsay Blanton. The coach also likes the speed she has, which will help on the base paths and in the outfield on defense. Sophomores will man three spots in the middle of the infield (C-SS-2B).

Pitching: Panthers are locked in with All-Stater Clopton back as their ace. She struck out 132 last year, which included a single-game record 20, and walked just 23 while splitting time with Marin Jacobs (St. Mary-of-the-Woods). Cockerill made six appearances last year, a number that will rise. Clopton will play first and Cockerill will also have her bat somewhere in the lineup at all times. Batting order: Sophomores will fill some key roles. "I have a lot of sophomores in the lineup," Montgomery said. "But what I know is that they have worked so hard, taken extra ground balls after practice, hit the weight room. They want to learn and get things right. I know they're young, but they have a lot of experience." Carly Reed takes over at second and will bat leadoff. "She's one of the fastest kids I've ever coached," Montgomery said, noting she has a little pop to her bat, too. Larkyn Ivey is the new shortstop and has shown good range, and Sloane Barrett takes over in right after a strong off-season of work. She'll work next to Burton, who is back in center to run things in the outfield and bat high in the order. "She's one of our hardest working kids," Montgomery said. "She's spent a lot of time in the weight room and she's good going back on a ball. When she's near the fence, she's not scared to go for it." Carpenter, a good contact hitter, is back in left. At third is Koontz with her dependable glove. Also looking for time are junior Olivia Roberts at first and speedy senior outfielder Tyana Jones. Senior Lexi Tamewitz and freshmen Taylor Crohn, Remy Neal (OF), Abby Purtlebaugh (3B/C) and Aminah Saahir are all looking for varsity roles.

How will Bloomington North's rebuild play out?

COACH — Kat Edmonds, 1st year. LAST YEAR — 6-17, 2-3 CI.

RETURNING STARTERS — Kendyl Feutz, Jr. (P/SS); Molly Klein, Jr. (P/SS); Kinsley Stanley, Jr. (OF); Jocelyn Parrish, So. (C); Kaydence Silvers, So. (OF).

OUTLOOK — Cougars are in a rebuilding mode under a new head coach, but Edmonds is a familiar face having been elevated from her spot as an assistant coach. North will forego a JV team this year with a roster of 15 but will have two experienced pitchers to build around. It may take some time to see who plays best and where under the lights. "I feel like it's going to be a younger team," Edmonds said. "So it's super helpful to have those relationships already. The girls trust where we are going. We're just rebuilding a lot of the culture and build that core team-building aspect."

Pitching: Klein (an early commit to Goshen College) and Feutz struggled at times in their sophomore seasons, but they are the building blocks and used last year as a learning experience. The Cougars can use them in tandem to keep teams from getting more than two looks at either hurdler. "They're going to be super important," Edmonds said. "Their experience, the leadership, both are in key positions. When one's pitching the other will be at shortstop. They are the people to keep the positive going and they're good, positive players. They're the loud ones cheering everyone on. They both have strong arms. I've seen a lot of growth. Both worked hard in the offseason and their confidence is where it should be. It'll be important to use them as a team." Batting order: Parrish takes over at catcher for the graduated Nat Burns (Florida International). She got some time behind the plate at the end of last season and is developing the chemistry she'll need with Klein and Feutz. Silvers and Stanley will take care of left and center field with their speed. The rest of it is a work in progress and several players will get opportunities. But the infield early will include transfer Keylee Taylor (3B), Kendon Galligher (2B) and Grayson Gill (1B). Jillian Parrish, Madison Porter-Maxwell, Joelie Feutz and Audrey Crider will all get shots at playing time. "We're still working things out," Edmonds said. "But we have a ton of utility so they have to be ready to play anywhere. It'll take the first couple weeks to work out what works best for us. We're not losing much so it will be a good rebuilding year."

How well will seniors lead Eastern Greene?

COACH — Tommy Bell, 4th season. LAST YEAR — 6-18, 2-5 SWIAC.

RETURNING STARTERS — Claira McGee, Sr. (C/INF); Ashlynn Bellman, So. (3B/2B); Addison Ramey, So. (P/SS); Jessica Hovious, Sr. (SS/P); Taylor Konermann, Sr. (DH); Bailee Tieman, Sr. (1B), Chyann Padgett, Jr. (OF), Bianca Wyatt, Sr. (OF), Dalanie Davis, So. (C/IF).

OUTLOOK — All those freshmen Tommy Bell had when he first started are all grown up now, so he's looking for them to go out with a bang as seniors. All that experience, Eastern graduated just two starters, should allow the T-Birds, who won't field a JV team, to field a more competitive group within its conference and sectional opponents. "Watching the players progress in their careers and improve lets us be a lot more competitive," Bell said. "But without a high-level player, this is a team that will have to pull together and really focus on the fundamentals. We let some games get away last year so we have to reduce our errors and execute at the plate. But our seniors know how to play the game."

Pitching: T-Birds bring back their ace Ramey along with Hovious. Both will man shortstop when they aren't pitching. "Ramey is a groundball pitcher," Ball said. "She's grown in velocity and she's stronger and faster, physically, in her running. She works at it and will be a good college player. She's also mastered one more pitch, which will make her tougher. We'll have Hovious pitch a little bit more and both will relieve the other." Batting order: McGee (who led in homers, RBIs, average last year), Hovious and leadoff hitter Tieman will bring big bats again and Ramey fanned just six times in 70 ABs last year. Junior Clara Hawk will split time with track again after leading Eastern in steals last year (14). Senior Melanie Wyatt gives EG a solid fourth outfielder and junior Emmalise Roach will fill a utility role.

Will pitching, defense lift Owen Valley over .500?

COACH — Brian Greene, 6th season. LAST YEAR — 12-13, 4-6 WIC.

RETURNING STARTERS — Abby McDonald, Sr. (P); Andi Burkhart, Sr. (C/IF); Taylor Monroe, Sr. (SS); Taylor York, Sr. (CF); Taylor Bernard, Sr. (C/3B); Anya DeFord, Jr. (RF); Lucy Dyer, Jr. (1B); Kalyn Greene, Jr. (IF).

OUTLOOK — OV is in position to take a big step up this year with a senior/junior-laden lineup that is as athletic as anyone in the WIC with several multi-sport standouts. The Patriots have some strong bats but keeping the other teams from scoring will be key to any improvement. "I think our strength is our defense," Brian Greene said. "We have a good infield and outfield. What we're going to preach is throw strikes and let us catch it behind you. We're athletic across the field."

Pitching: The Patriots will lean hard on McDonald again this year. She depends more on location, spin and keeping hitters off balance more than overpowering them, but has added strength and some mph to her offerings. But Greene is also looking for sophomore Mallory Tamplin, junior Liddia Moler and freshman Haley Amador to give his team some quality innings as well. "That will help a ton with keeping Abby fresh," Brian Greene said. "She's been a workhorse for us and it's as much mental as it is physical so it's nice for her to have a chance to be a leader. She's pitched in a lot of tough situations so she can mentor a little bit, too. It's just been nice to have an actual staff." Batting order: Monroe, good for double-digit homers and 30-plus RBIs every season will have strong bats on either side of her with Bernard, Kalyn Greene and Burkhart and York will cause problems on the base paths with her speed. Sophomore Makynlee Bonds takes over in left but Greene likes his players ability to play multiple spots. "1 through 9, we should be able to be versatile," Brian Greene said. "I feel like we've spent a couple years talking about how young we are. Now, we're not. Our juniors and seniors have a lot of experience, they're capable bunters and good base runners, so we can put plenty of pressure on the defense.

Contact Jim Gordllo at jgordillo@heraldt.com and follow on X @JimGordillo.

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Bloomington area IHSAA softball preview: Top players, team outlooks