Softball Taking Aim At 13th Straight Title

Everything about the 2020 softball season will look different for the Lady Eagles.

With half of last year’s lineup in college and the specter of COVID-19 hanging over the season, head coach Ashley Crump said she’s taking her 14th season “week-by-week.”

Crump and the Lady Eagles are in pursuit of their 13th straight district championship. They are coming off a four-year run that saw them win more than 100 games, advance to the Final Four three times, win second place twice and third place once.

Some of the most important pieces of that team graduated, but as always, the Lady Eagles retain several talented players.

Now it’s just a matter of getting through the season.

“It’s just a weird start because of the (COVID-19 situation),” Crump said on Monday at the conclusion of practice. “We’re just hoping we can get school started and everything goes well and we get a full season.”

She described a “looming feeling” of wondering whether they will even get to play, though. Spring sports were canceled as the pandemic set in. Several colleges won’t even have fall sports next month, instead pushing it off to spring.

It’s a season of “what ifs?” in more ways than one. Not only are the Lady Eagles hoping a district tournament will be held in October, they are looking to get there as a new unit.

Sullivan was able to get in their full summer workouts, albeit in small groups that focused on certain aspects, like outfield or infield defense.

Crump said they had to be more strategic with their planning than what they are typically used to.

As the second week of practices began Monday, Crump said the 2020 group is at about the same level of sharpness as previous teams.

“It’s where it normally is,” she said. “A lot of them have been playing ball still. Several teams didn’t play at all this summer, but a lot of these girls did. They kept sharp.”

A softball team is normally defined by its starting pitching and the Lady Eagles will count on senior Hanna Johanning and sophomore Jaedin Blankenship to fill the shoes of Addison Purvis.

Johanning has been all-state three times. She has excelled at the plate and in the field, where she will play third when she’s not pitching.

But Crump and her coaching staff, which includes Heidi Blankenship, Jason Harbour and Shannon Purvis, will have to find the right combination behind Johanning on days she pitches. That’s what they will have the next two weeks to figure out.

Other changes are in store. Senior Madyson Stahl, a speedster that has covered center field, will move to first base. Crump said she has looked excellent there so far.

Sophomore Kayla Ulrich was quietly one of Sullivan’s best players last season. She finished with a .398 average, hit 14 doubles and drove in 24 runs while playing catcher for the first time.

“KU” — as Crump refers to her — will move to shortstop.

“She’s got range, she’s got grit, she’s a hard-working kid,” Crump said. Ulrich learned the position before the start of the 2019 season and worked that summer with Addison Purvis. Sullivan had to find somewhere for her to play and she happened to excel at catcher, but she will join the left side of the infield.

Sophia Weirich moves to catcher and Crump said she looks great.

“Last year, she dabbled in the outfield, but we feel good about her at catcher,” she said. “She looks strong, she looks like she’s grown up in her confidence and she’s got a great arm.”

Alexis Johnson is set to take over at second, while the outfield will see Riley Branson and freshman Hayli Venable. Crump said they are still working on finding another outfielder.

Alyssa Sharp has a fractured ankle and she will be out until the middle of September. She will be part of the infield mix upon her return.

In the previous three seasons, the Lady Eagles mostly knew what they were during the first few weeks of practice and it was a matter of tuning up. It’s different this year and Crump said they will spend their hours working on the little things.

“We’re looking to do those little things right, those back to basics types of things,” she said. “If we can do those right, we can win games we shouldn’t.”