If last season is any indicator, the Varsity Softball team has a legitimate chance to take home the league title in their final season in the Flint Metro League.
Under the guidance of Head Coach Kristi McDevitt, the girls finished 25-10 last season and third in the FML, one game behind Clio for second place. Lapeer West won the division, going undefeated.
‘That was the best record that Oxford softball has ever had,? said McDevitt.
‘But the way we finished last year and what we added to the team this year, we are a lot tougher and we had a great season last year,? she added.
The team has six returning starters from last year’s squad, starting with the four senior captains: Allie Laidlaw, Corrine Luxton, Kelly Cartner and Chelsea Kessler.
Laidlaw, who was last year’s starting shortstop, tore her ACL at the end of basketball season and is trying to rehab it in order to possibly be the team’s designated hitter. ‘She was so vital for the team last year. If she can get enough mobility in it to swing, that would be huge for us,? said McDevitt.
Fortunately incoming freshman Autumn Cervantez, who lives softball according to McDevitt, is going to fill in for Laidlaw at shortstop.
McDevitt added that they were going to have the duo of Cartner behind the plate catching and Luxton, who pitched over 250 innings last year, pitching again.
‘She and Kelly (Cartner) compliment each other very well because they both are great softball players and they both make each other look really good,? McDevitt said.
Returning at second base will be Kessler, who is one of the most fundamentally sound players on the team. She will also bat leadoff for the Wildcats. ‘She is a slapper,? said McDevitt. ‘She (Kessler) is almost always on base and is a leader on the team and does a fantastic job.?
Third base will occupied by returning sophomore Cassie Edgemon.
‘She is so strong defensively and offensively she hits way beyond her years. She has the confidence at the plate to makes things happen and lay down a bunt when needed,? said McDevitt.
Junior Alyssa Hurtado will patrol centerfield, and according to McDevitt, has a ton of range. ‘She basically covers everything out there.?
McDevitt added that even though she was sad to see the seniors from last year’s team graduate, she knows that they have filled in the gaps and brought in some girls who bring a lot to the program.
One of the first girls she mentioned was senior Megan Tilley, who hadn’t played softball since middle school. McDevitt asked her play before the season started, and she has been impressed by Tilley’s ability to pick up the game in a short amount of time.
‘She is like a sponge. If we have to correct her on something, she does it,? McDevitt said.
She noted that sophomore Hannah Rogers was going to be the team’s back-up pitcher and junior Brenna Helmuth would challenge for a outfield position.
McDevitt noted that one of the strengths of the team was going to be their offense, which surprised her because the strength of last year’s team was it’s defense.
‘Every single girl can lay a bunt down and every single girl has a great swing and can make contact with the ball,? said McDevitt.
The team will play Rochester Adams on Tuesday, April 13 before heading to the Owasso Invitational in April 17.