Kennedy softball is back with plenty of offense

Spencer returns after slugging 5 home runs

The Eagles have seven players back who started at some point last season including senior captains Katie Edmonds and Ava Taylor.

The versatility of the lineup allows for multiple options for coach Alex O’Connor to play the matchups better in her fourth season in the Eagles dugout. Edmonds (shortstop/third base) and Taylor (outfield) were solid batters hitting .375 and .368, respectively.

Joining the captains is junior Emily Spencer who will split time between third base and catcher after being a go-to hitter last spring hitting .457. Spencer led the team with five home runs while her since-graduated sister Olivia Spencer was the most prolific batter last spring hitting .507 with 12 doubles and three home runs. She drove in a team-high 33 runs, slugging .812. Emily Spencer slashed 12 extra-base hits, driving in 24 runs, and drew seven walks. Her 1.305 OPS was the best among the returners.

Junior Emma Skibbie split time between pitching and outfield where she hit .343 and will look to lower her ERA of 5.93. Skibbie drove in five runs while scoring six times in 35 at-bats spanning 16 games. She returns with the most experience in the pitching circle where she split the bulk of the work with since-graduated Mary Hajduk. Skibbie was 2-4 with a pair of shutouts in 12 appearances. Across 46 innings she struck out 42 batters and walked 14.

Sophomore Allie Sheehan hit .377 last spring and will split duties between the outfield and shortstop while classmate Sasha Nicholson will see time in the outfield.

Sophomore Noelia Fierro hit .482 last spring and will split time between pitching and second base.

Junior Gigi Morabito is back in the middle of the infield after missing last season with an injury.

The newcomers looking for innings are sizable with 10 players between sophomore Sophia Kostecki, freshmen Pearl Zemple, Hope Heinz, and Sophia Junnila-Holz, eighth grader Isabella Zeimet, and five seventh graders including Audrey Skibbie, Paulina Grunz, Abby McGinn, Jamie Perlick and Grace Spangle.

Kennedy will host a Future Eagles and Teacher Appreciation Day against Holy Angels Thursday, May 2, with the first pitch set for 4:30 p.m. at Kelly Playfields.

Kennedy will open the season 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 16, against Fridley-Columbia Heights at Kelly.

Senior Day will be 4:30 p.m. Monday, May 13, against Robbinsdale Armstrong at Kelly.