2023 Highland County Softball Preview

HILLSBORO LADY INDIANS 
Frontier Athletic Conference (FAC)
Head Coach: Gary Breeden
2022 Overall Record: 16-5
Last Conference Championship: 2022 (FAC)

The Hillsboro Lady Indians are looking to stay at the top of the Frontier Athletic Conference for a third straight season, as they are entering the 2023 softball year as the defending back-to-back champions of the conference. 

Hillsboro is led by head coach Gary Breeden, who is in his second season at the helm of the Lady Indians’ softball program, a team that finished 10-0 in the FAC en route to the conference title and earned a 16-5 overall record, playing in the sectional finals. 

The season for Hillsboro, they have a total of four seniors, and those players are: Kayla Roberts (pitcher), Hannah Burton (pitcher/first base), Chloe Page (utility) and Kinsey Gilliland (catcher). 

Juniors for Hillsboro are: Eowyn Brown (utility), Morgan Garman (utility), Alexandra Magee (catcher/first base) and Halle Reveal (third base). 

The sophomore class includes nine players, as that group consists of: Addie Huff (outfield), Isabelle Brunck (middle infield), Mylea Fridley (utility), Camryn Spruell (pitcher/utility), Reagan Clemons (catcher), Rhianna Clemons (utility), Madison Dearmon (catcher/utility), Halle Jones (utility) and Brylee Thornburgh (utility). 

There are two freshmen on the roster for 2023, and they are Meredith Dietrick (outfield) and Chloe Roberts (outfield).

Hillsboro lost five seniors (including most of their top pitching) who played a big role on their roster the past few seasons, as they were a big part for HHS finishing 36-10 overall the past two seasons combined. 

The Lady Indians open the ’23 season on the road on Saturday, March 25 at Rock Hill in the Queen of the Hill Classic, with a start time of 10 a.m.

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MCCLAIN LADY TIGERS
Frontier Athletic Conference (FAC)
Head Coach: Ed Bolender
2022 Overall Record: 5-15
Last Conference Championship: 2012 (SCOL)

The McClain Lady Tigers are back on the field for the 2023 season with Ed Bolender returning as their head coach. McClain has players in all four classes on their roster entering the new season, as Bolender wants his team to play with confidence and use all of the hard work they put into improving this offseason onto the field this year.

Seniors for McClain are Jaden McCoy (CF), Ava Beatty (LF), Vivian Dennis (P/1B/OF), Cariann Todd (OF), Payton Pryor (OF) and Kenedi Wise (2B/3B).

Juniors on the roster are: Harley Peabody (3B/C), Allie Flowers (C), Gracie Bowen (1B/P) and Jacolyn Bolender (OF).

There are also two sophomores, Kenzie Wise (SS/P) and Lindsey Hutchinson (2B, SS). The two freshmen are Brie Cummins (OF/3B/P) and Leah Lovett (1B). 

As for the team, McCoy is described as a leader of the team, being a third-year starter for the Lady Tigers. Beatty returns to the outfield for a second consecutive season, and Bolender said she gained valuable experience a season ago. 

Dennis is the top pitching option for McClain in ’23, but there are high expectations for her at the plate as well this season. Todd missed the ’22 season with an injury and is a player Bolender is excited for in ’23. Pryor is new to the team this year, and the MHS head coach says she brings a lot of athleticism to the team. Wise is fully healthy to start the ’23 season, and Bolender said they are looking for her to be a “bigger piece of the puzzle” in ’23.

The juniors for MHS will see Peabody be the starting third baseman, as Bolender described her as a “hard-nosed” player. Flowers is in her second season with MHS, and she’ll be the top option at catcher. Bowen is another pitcher whom the Lady Tigers will look to in ’23, as she had valuable experience a season ago in the circle. There is also Jacolyn Bolender, who is new to the varsity team and brings depth to the outfield, while also bringing speed to the bases. 

Kenzie Wise played in every game her freshman season, and Bolender said he wants her to be another leader on the team this season. Hutchinson is in her first season with MHS on the varsity roster, and she also brings athleticism to the team, being another player who can gain hits while succeeding defensively. 

For the two freshmen, Cummins is going to play several different positions for McClain, according to Bolender, while teammate Lovett is described as an “above-average fielder” and could also play some outfield when not at first base. 



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LYNCHBURG-CLAY LADY MUSTANGS
Southern Hills Athletic Conference (SHAC)
Head Coach: Brad Griffith
2022 Overall Record: 2-16
Last Conference Championship: 2014 (SHAC, Div. I)

Last season was a year of learning for the Lynchburg-Clay Lady Mustangs softball team, with Brad Griffith being in his first season as the LCHS head coach.

This season, the Lady Mustangs’ lone senior is Somara Donley (2B/RF). Juniors include Ella Barry (3B), Sarah McKinney (P/SS), Rylee Turner (utility), Autumn Griffith (C/2B) and Brya McClain (CF).

The two sophomores for LCHS are Morgan Baker (LF/P) and Miranda Smith (CF/RF). The freshmen for 2023 include: Sophia Michael (2B/P), Avery Blankenship (3B/utility), Caitlyn Collins (SS/C), Kami Collins (RF/1B), Noel Barnhill (P/OF/1B), Reese Ruble (LF/utility) and Madison Baker (1B).

With players who return to the team from last season, the top returning batting averages include Somara Donley (.372), Autumn Griffith (.373), Brya McClain (.386), and Sarah McKinney (.340).

The top returning defensive players for the Lady Mustangs from last year were Morgan Baker (.833 fielding percentage), Autumn Griffith (.959 fielding percentage), Brya McClain (.793 fielding percentage) and Sarah McKinney (.647 fielding percentage).

The lone returning All-SHAC player for the Lady Mustangs is Autumn Griffith.

LCHS opens the 2023 season Saturday, March 25 at home in a doubleheader against Western Latham, starting at 11 a.m. 



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FAIRFIELD LADY LIONS
Southern Hills Athletic Conference (SHAC)
Head Coach: Lesley Hattan
2022 Overall Record: 20-5 
Last Conference Championship: 2022 (SHAC, Div. I)

The Fairfield Lady Lions are looking to continue their tradition of excellence as they are the reigning Southern Hills Athletic Conference Division I champions, and they finished district runners-up a year ago, but one of the main differences will be Lesley Hattan being promoted to head coach as Mark Dettwiller resigned from the position. 

Hattan has been with the Fairfield program for a number of years as an assistant coach, and she along with the rest of the Fairfield coaching staff (Tom Purtell, Matthew Zimmerman, Dettwiller and Grace (Larrick) Moreland) all have high expectations for the team in 2023. 

The ’23 Lady Lions team has three seniors, and they are Faith Miller, Sydney Sanders and Jaylie Duncan. The junior class consists of Addison Bales, Katelyn Chambliss, Gwen Cox, Sydney Hooper, Caitlyn Quickle, and Emily Vance. 

There are four sophomores on the ’23 roster, and they are Emmalee Caudill, Kelsey Clark, Jobey Hattan and Carly Sanders. Fairfield also has five freshmen this season, and they are Keira Bartley, Lillyan Bradley, Kaitlin Eidenier, Rilee Quickle and Kyla Thomas. 

Returning pitcher Caitlyn Quickle is currently rehabbing a torn ACL, but last season she was the top pitcher for FHS, as she was 13-4 overall (141 strikeouts, six shutouts, 0.96 WHIP, 99.1 IP). She was also their best hitter with a .575 batting average.

FHS will look to Chambliss to pitch again this season, because in ’22 she was 7-1 last season where she pitched 41 innings, had 32 strikeouts, one shutout and a 2.22 ERA. 

Vance last season had a .547 batting average with six home runs, 41 RBI, 35 hits and eight doubles, along with a .571 on-base percentage. 

Hattan in ’22 batted .425 with an OBP of .484. In 80 at-bats, she collected 43 runs, 34 hits, five doubles, three triples, two home runs, 25 RBI and three steals. 

Carly Sanders played in 19 games a season ago, where she had 51 at-bats, totaling 11 runs, 20 hits, five doubles, one triple, two home runs, 27 RBI, one steal, a .436 OBP and a batting average of .392.

Hooper batted .382 in 22 games, as she had 17 runs, 21 hits, six RBI and seven steals in ’22. 

Miller in 23 games (61 at-bats) had a .361 batting average, with 17 runs, 22 hits, three doubles, 13 RBI and two steals. 

Sydney Sanders in 23 games collected 67 at-bats where she had 21 runs, 24 hits, four doubles, two home runs, 26 RBI and four steals, with a .389 OBP and a .358 batting average. 

FHS opens the ’23 season on Saturday, March 25 against the Miami Trace Lady Panthers at 3 p.m. in a non-conference game. 

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WHITEOAK LADY WILDCATS
Southern Hills Athletic Conference (SHAC)
Head Coach: Cindy Michael
2022 Overall Record: 7-11
Last Conference Championship: 2015 (SHAC, Div. II)

(Editor’s note: After posting the original article, Whiteoak and head softball coach Cindy Michael parted ways. Missy Payne has been announced as acting head coach.)

The Whiteoak Lady Wildcats softball team is looking to turn the corner in the Southern Hills Athletic Conference.

This season, the Lady ’Cats have one senior, six juniors, four sophomores and two freshmen on their roster, with the senior being outfielder Evelyn Lucas.

Juniors for WHS are Bri Hill (P/INF), Destinee Kipp (injured), Elena Limon (OF), Molly McMullen (3B), Kelsey Monteith (2B/1B), and Jaylie Parr (SS/OF).

The sophomores for Whiteoak are Janelle Clift (OF), Lillian Leston (P/1B), Elly McMullen (1B/C) and Addison Roberts (C/INF). WHS has two freshmen, and they are Matalyn Conrad (OF/1B) and Madison Davidson (P/3B).

Hill last season for WHS had a 3.36 ERA with 121 strikeouts, a 6-10 record and a 1.53 WHIP in 17 starts (100 IP). WHS at the plate saw Roberts have a .392 BA with 18 runs, 20 hits, six doubles, 15 RBI, two steals and an OBP of .426.

Parr finished last season with a .352 BA in 17 games played, as she collected 17 runs, 19 hits, nine doubles, two triples, one home run, 16 RBI and 10 steals, with an OBP of .407.

WHS softball opens the 2023 season Saturday, March 25 on the road in non-conference play against the Washington Blue Lions with a 1 p.m. start.