The Lady Wildcats return nearly the full roster from 2023 — a team that commonly fielded only 10 players. On top of that, five faces have joined, or rejoined, the program and have a shot of being involved this spring.
“We knew that we would have a little bit of a rough year last year when the majority of the team was sophomores. We knew we had to get reps into those sophomores to build ahead and we did,” Sweetwater coach Sarah Davies said.
Sweetwater has multiple upperclassmen who have been starting for two or three years.
“We don’t have to worry about those first-year varsity jitters at all. It is going to be instrumental to our program to have that kind of experience,” Davies, who has coached Sweetwater through nine seasons, added.
Sweetwater adds two freshmen and a trio of returning students who have played in middle school or previously in high school.
“The point where we are last year is we had 10 players last year. This year, we are sitting at 15. Adding more to the roster means we have the experience but also have internal competition with each other,” Davies said.
The team should be capable of improving on the Lady ’Cats' six wins last season and could challenge for a return to the district semifinals and deeper.
“We talk about doing the little things right. Those are things we did not see last year — we had so many errors that cost us ballgames,” Davies said. “It is not the flashy play, it is executing every single play. Every bunt coverage has to be perfect.”
Last season ended a five-season stretch of advancing past the district tournament.
“They have been working hard on realizing that, understanding that and coming together. This is the most I have seen this team,” Davies said. “They are competing against each other and there is going to be friendly competition, but I genuinely feel this team is here to have a better outing and win ball games.”
In the circle
Lady Wildcat fans will recognize the name of freshman pitcher Lilly Woodruff. After strong campaigns in volleyball and basketball, she makes her way to sport No. 3.
Davies said Woodruff’s game reminds her of the freshman’s mom, Sarah Houser-Woodruff.
“She is going to step in and be a day one leader on this team,” Davies said.
Brooklyn Alexander and Ella Morgan return after pitching a combined 97.1 innings and facing nearly 600 batters. Morgan struck out 41 batters, Alexander 36.
“They all have their strengths. They all played a whole lot of softball in the offseason. It is going to show,” Davies said. “Lilly is going to be our go-to and then I will be able to sprinkle in the relief. The drastic difference in speed is really going to throw teams off.”
Alexander has added speed to her pitching while Morgan has created movement that Davies said she has not seen in three years.
Suddenly it’s different
For a team that returns all starters, the infield could see notable changes. A player who can be expected to be consistent there is Danielle Jones at shortstop.
“She is fast, has great instincts and is diving after everything. She really came into her own last year,” Davies said. “I was not sure she would be able to handle an infield position, but she really got us out of a whole lot of jams in those positions.”
Madisyn Vestal returns after seeing plenty of time on third base. She has competition, though, with Tori Thompson.
Thompson played as a freshman before sitting out last season.
“We are just mixing things up. I have stressed that players need to know two infield positions and outfield. They could be going into any of those positions at any time depending on who is pitching and who is hitting well,” Davies said. “We are so evenly matched defensively, it is going to come down to their bats. Whoever is hitting well that week is going to get the starting position.”
Alexander, Morgan, Kylie Pliske and Vestal also return with time in the infield.
Maddy Sewell is another option with her speed and athleticism. Freshman Andrea Jones, Danielle’s younger sister, could see time in the infield or outfield.
Winning spots in the outfield might have to be done at the plate, which speaks to the options that Sweetwater has grown in one season.
A stalwart could be Shanea Jewell. She was last season’s newcomer of the year in Sweetwater who won her job in centerfield during the season.
“She has grown up a lot in the past year and matured so much. Kylie Baylog is right there with her. Whoever is hitting could be taking that centerfield spot,” Davies said.
Kylee Kamps is another returner in the outfield. Junior transfer Kellie Matoy is a candidate in the outfield and as a designated hitter.
“They know the pressure is on and it could change day to day or inning to inning. Those outfield positions, it is who is going to work the hardest, put the ball in play and make those hustle plays,” Davies said.
Having worked with all three pitchers, Kylee Richeson returns after catching 90 innings last season, perhaps the most experienced player on the field.
“When she came to me as a freshman she was tiny and I thought how is this little thing a catcher? But she has grown inches and gotten a lot taller,” Davies said. “She has gotten taller and got a lot more strength. It is impressive with what she has done in the last two seasons.
“Just that experience back this year is exciting. She has been working on her hitting hard and her strength is really showing.”
Digging in
Sweetwater batted .310 last season as a team with 134 hits and 104 runs scored.
“We struggled a lot at the plate last year. It was the first time in my coaching career we did not record a home run,” Davies said. “That is not what we are looking for — we are looking to get it out of the infield. We are going to look at our speed.”
Baylog, Thompson and Sewell bring speed to Sweetwater as does Matoy. Jewell, Danielle Jones and Pliske bring speed back.
“We are going to really look at our short game,” Davies added.
Woodruff can bring a bit of power to a team that finished with 25 extra-base hits and zero home runs in 2023.
“Lilly has added a ton of power at the plate hitting-wise. We are going to count on her at the No. 3 hole, but we need to get our runners on around her,” Davies added. “We are excited to actually make things happen, top to bottom, in this lineup.”
Adding to the growth in offense is a new assistant, Addie Lowe, who holds several batting accolades in Sweetwater and was a part of the 2017 and ’18 state tournament teams.
She played softball at Carson-Newman.
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