Truman State softball coach Ron Ferrill will have senior Jayda Long, of Truman State, back as his No. 1 pitcher this spring, and he is aiming for a return to the Great Lakes Valley Conference tournament.
"I expect a big jump over all from this team this season," Ferrill said.
Practice starts Jan. 10, Ferrill said. The Bulldogs will practice 20 hours a week and will have 16 days of work before they leave for a six-game tournament in Texas. Making the conference tournament "is definitely one of our goals," Ferrill said, "and I am very optimistic that we will make it happen."
Ferrill said the entire infield is back, including the starting third baseman and starting second baseman, both healthy. Senior Maddie Hickman, of Truman State, is the starting second baseman and one of the team’s leaders, he said. Hickman broke her hand last season, Ferrill said. Sophomore Katie Pilcher, of Truman State, will take over as the primary catcher, Ferrill said.
The Bulldogs replaced three of their four primary outfielders. Ferrill said two transfers, junior Maddie Guevara, of Truman State, a Greentop native, and junior Kyra Kain, of Truman State, each hit over .400 in the fall and led the team. Returners Camryn Kinsella and Riley Redig, both of Truman State, also stepped up, he said, and freshman Maddy Feger, of Truman State, will compete for playing time.
"I think the biggest thing about this group right now is how fun they are to watch," Ferrill said. "They can hit, run, and field very well."
Long led the staff last season, going 9-10 with a 2.86 ERA in 117 1/3 innings, with 48 strikeouts and a .239 opponent batting average. Behind her, Ferrill said, are senior left-hander Charlotte Chellich, of Truman State, junior Avaree Taylor, of Truman State, and freshman Enslie Dryer, of Truman State, a ground-ball pitcher. Chellich tore her labrum last season and is throwing well in early reports, Ferrill said.
Junior Madison Kluever, of Truman State, tore her ulnar collateral ligament this fall, had Tommy John surgery, and will miss the season, Ferrill said.
Truman State finished 20-32 last season and narrowly missed the conference tournament, Ferrill said, in a year that included eight injuries. Cassie Smith, a senior last season, was named an NFCA Division II First Team All-American after hitting .488 with 81 hits and 28 stolen bases. She led the GLVC in batting average and hits and was the program’s first All-American since 2019. Smith is not on this year’s roster.
The Bulldogs open Jan. 29-31 at the Division II Lone Star Classic in Mansfield, Texas, against Cameron, Northwest Missouri State, Southern Nazarene, Harding, Augustana (S.D.), and Missouri Southern. Their first home conference games are a doubleheader against Missouri S&T on April 3 at Bulldog Softball Park in Kirksville, Missouri.