After advancing to the playoffs last season for the first time in 34 years, the softball team hopes to only improve this set standard this year. Going into the 2025 season, the Knights are looking to build on this momentum. Starting the season with an overall record of 2-3, and 2-1 in region, they are currently third in 4-AAAA.
The team roster drastically changed coming into this season, with three key seniors graduating, and six freshmen making the team. Senior captain and pitcher Ava Anderson sees her three previous years of varsity experience as crucial to helping the new players adapt quickly to the high school pace.
“My goal is to constantly cheer them on, especially when they make mistakes,” Anderson said. “It’s important to let them know it’s ok to shake it off. Half of softball is a mental game, and if I can help them with that, I hope it can improve their confidence as a player on this team.”
The number of new players has changed the energy and environment of the team. Coach Bookspun, who is returning for his second year as head coach, believes that the mix of new talent and returning experience will be key to success.
“We lost three really good seniors, but we have 11 underclassmen who all came on with experience, which will be huge for us in building the program,” Bookspun said. “Having key seniors like Anderson and Natalie Johnson leading the team provides the team with the perfect balance for a great season.”
Like most of the new players, freshman Marley Winer said she is adjusting to the switch from being the oldest on the Howard Middle School team to playing on a team where she is not only the youngest, but the competition is more competitive.
“Being on the team is a really fun experience,” Winer said. “It is weird being the youngest on the team, and a lot of the teams we play are very good. The team is very inclusive, and no one treats us any different.”
The team has focused on maintaining energy and improving team cohesion after their first preseason game loss to Decatur 9-1 on Aug. 9, and the team bounced back and beat Mays 17-1 on Aug. 14. Anderson said that having a good mindset during matches and resetting is crucial and is going to be important throughout the season.
“I think just us staying hype, keeping our energy up and trying our absolute best will always make a game worth it even if we don’t win,” Anderson said. “We reset and put in the work in practice to win the next game.”
Bookspun said his goal for the team this year is to try to get a higher seed going into the playoffs so that they can have an easier schedule, and hopefully go even farther than last year.
“Last year we were the three seed going in and it was great, but we are aiming for the two or one seed this year,” Bookspun said. “Our team this year has a really good attitude, and they are hungry to win. The teams in the playoffs are all good so no matter what seed we finish, I will be proud of the team, and I know they will do their best.”
Anderson views the success of the team as more than just the wins and losses, but as the overall improvement from the start of the season to the end.
“I 100% believe we will make it to the playoffs this year,” Anderson said. “We have a great team this year with excited, athletic players. Last year we made it to the playoffs, and I think we can do it again if we work hard and focus.”
Bookspun said the young energy of the team will set them apart from other teams, and with practice, he hopes to further the softball team to do even better things than last year.
“The young energy of the girls gives us a leg up compared to the older teams that may be burnt out,” Bookspun said. “We have such a positive group of girls, and I can’t wait to see all we do this season.”
