Beloit Turner softball returns several strong players from last season's state-bound squad

BELOIT—In the lead up to opening day, the Beloit Turner softball team decided to promote their players on social media by doing profiles on each athlete, asking them what their favorite pregame snack was or about their nickname.

The final question asked what was their favorite softball memory. The answers were pretty much unanimous.

“All the upperclassmen had going to state,” head coach Brian Maxwell said.

The Trojans now have the tall task of following up a 2023 season that saw them finish 22-3, win regional and sectional titles before falling 2-1 to Freedom in the WIAA Division 4 State Semifinals.

“I kept telling them last year that this is magical,” Maxwell continued. “And to enjoy it and not to take it for granted. They're excited about (this season), but, as we also keep informing them, it's a different team, it's a different year. Everybody's retooling.”

That includes Turner, which is replacing a stout outfielder in Mikaya Pingel, a lockdown first baseman and strong hitter in Taylor Viens, who hit .313 last season, and one of the best pitchers in the Stateline in Ryleigh Rose, who boasted a 0.73 ERA in 124 innings pitched.

The Trojans have just one senior on their squad this season, but shortstop Kamdyn Davis is a special one. She went into the state tournament batting .500 and is a sure infielder after only committing one error all season.

“It’s exciting to get Kam back in the leadoff position with what she can do offensively and defensively,” Maxwell said.

In addition to earning First Team All-Conference and All-District honors in softball, Davis is a stellar defender in the elite AAA Chicago Mission program and will play hockey at the NCAA Division I level at the University of Minnesota-Duluth.

“She's working on the playoffs in hockey right now and has been in and out of practices, which I'm okay with,” Maxwell said. “She's pursuing that as a DI and hopefully I see the kid in the Olympics someday. So, it's really been up to our three juniors (to step up in the leadership role so far).”

The head coach praised juniors Sammi Schleis, Kamryn Clark and Autumn Meris for welcoming the freshman and helping build new chemistry with the new team.

Clark will return at second base while Meris plugs back into third base to help fill in the experienced infield that saw plenty of action behind the ground ball-inducing Rose.

“Our outfield got bored last year,” the head coach said. “They didn't have a lot of action with the way Ryleigh hit her zones down low and forced ground balls. We have a team banquet at year's end and Autumn, Kam Clark and Kam Davis, in addition to Taylor and catcher Maddy (Hoenig), all got Gold Glove Awards because their fielding percentage was in the high 90s.”

Replacing Viens at first will be sophomore Cacee Carl, who was a backup shortstop and outfielder last season.

“She was like 'I'll learn first base.' And I love it,” Maxwell said. “She's taken the opportunity and she's been doing very well with it.”

Schleis, who got hot from the plate late in the season and finished hitting .345, will return as the starting left fielder while sophomore Emma Bue returns as the center fielder.

“Just two athletic young ladies,” Maxwell said. “In the action they saw, they performed at a very high level.”

Jayden Pozzani will be in right field when she isn’t pitching, and freshman Genna Brown will man the area when Pozzani is on the mound.

“Genna brings a ton of speed and athleticism to the outfield for us,” Maxwell said. “We're excited about what she can do.”

Hoenig’s role as a hot-hitting (.486) and defensively dominant catcher will be even more important with two young arms making up the starting rotation this season.

“Maddy is calm, cool and collected,” the head coach said. “She's going to be a little bit more of a mentor this year, even though she's a young sophomore. And we're stronger than last year at the plate. Maddy demonstrated that by doubling off the wall in the first inning (of our scrimmage against Beloit Memorial).”

After senior Gabby Champeny, the only thrower outside of Rose last season, decided to not go out this season, the Trojans turn to Pozzani and freshman Maddyn Saunders.

“Jayden had the talent to play varsity last year, but I needed her to get innings last year and she did that for JV,” Maxwell said. “Jayden is an athlete. She comes in and she's poised, throwing hard and hitting her spots. And Maddyn is a kid who absorbs everything. She is very confident and if she’s nervous, she doesn’t show it. She mixes it up, she's got like 3 or 4 decent pitches and she’s getting stronger. (Her pitches) are hitting her mark.”

Pozzani injured her arm in the scrimmage against the Purple Knights, so Saunders is expected to start the first few games while she recovers.

The Trojans are competing in the six-team Rock Valley Conference Rock Division this season, which includes Division 5 state champion Brodhead. The Cardinals are expected to be a favorite for the conference title this season while Evansville returns several strong players as well.

Turner is set to begin the season against McFarland on Monday at home at 5 p.m.