Tellico Plains is eager to get on the diamond this spring.
The Lady Bears are loaded with returners and new faces joining the program to round out a stout defense and fill significant holes.
District 3-2A remains stout, but Tellico has shown it can battle in it. Depth in the circle and other areas could be the key to pushing the program forward.
“I expect us to be right in the hunt for the district. I expect us to do really well in the region. If our hitting comes along, we will be doing really good,” Tellico Plains coach Don Swanson said.
Tellico will look to improve on last season’s 12 wins.
“We have solid fielding in every position and good pitching — we have three good sophomores,” Swanson added.
Circle up
Though Tellico has graduated an integral part of their team and pitching in Monroe County — Caroline Gunter, who pitched 74.2 innings last season — the team is not short on experience.
Sophomore Kadence Moses tossed 67 innings across 14 games last season, facing 313 batters. Moses struck out 62 batters and finished with a 3.55 ERA as a freshman.
“Kadence is a sophomore now and a little more mature. We will be in pretty good shape,” Swanson said.
Meredith Linder factors into the pitching group after making one appearance last season.
Another addition is sophomore transfer Skylar Day. One of the newest Lady Bears, coming from Florida, Day can give her new team quality innings as well.
Aubrianna Lewis — the team’s lone senior — appeared on the mound once in 2023. Lewis is a four-year player who brings experience and leadership to Tellico.
Behind the plate is a familiar face. Kalli Yates-Matoy caught 140 innings last season catching seven runners stealing and picking four off.
“She is becoming more of a leader and has been more vocal in practice so far. She is taking on that obligation and she is still a good catcher,” Swanson added. “She does a good job with the pitchers and she swings a real good bat.”
Yates-Matoy is a three-year catcher for the Lady Bears. Swanson expects her to hold the role down, but a shoulder injury may limit her time.
Behind her, sophomore Jagger Ziglar is capable of stepping in.
“She is still throwing good, but I think she will have to get it fixed in the summertime,” Swanson said of Yates-Matoy.
Spreading out
Depending on who is pitching, Tellico can line up in different ways defensively. When Day is on the mound, Taylor Rose is expected to line up at shortstop and Bella Wright will return at second base.
With Moses on the mound, Day can move to shortstop and Rose will travel out to centerfield — a spot she is not a stranger to.
“She is a really good centerfielder. It just made us stronger,” Swanson said.
Moses is a candidate for the corner infield as well. She pairs with three new faces — transfer Dana Harmon as well as twin freshmen Addison and Briley Joines.
“Skylar has been taught well. She is a good player and she knows what to do, how to do and does it fundamentally sound,” Swanson said. “The twins — Briley and Addison Joines — look pretty good. They look like grown women already.”
Rose finished last season with 76 putouts. Meya Keener tallied 37 putouts and Wright totaled 49.
Moses finished with a .789 fielding percentage. As a team, Tellico notched an .876 fielding percentage with 66 errors and five double plays.
Batter Up
As a team, Tellico batted .288 last season with 173 hits, 14 home runs, 100 RBIs and 139 runs scored.
Yates-Matoy returns a .356 batting average with a .447 on-base percentage. She also tallied 26 hits, 10 doubles, three home runs and 10 RBIs in her All-County season.
Another All-County at-bat coming back is Rose. She batted .355 with a .405 on-base percentage and a .487 slugging number. Rose led Tellico with 27 hits, 20 singles, three triples, 12 RBIs and 21 runs scored.
Keener — the third returning All-County batter — powered 21 hits, five home runs, 19 RBIs, 22 runs scored and a .549 slugging percentage.
With a .329 average and a .424 on-base percentage, Moses will be a crucial part of the lineup. She finished the season with 24 hits, three home runs and 12 runs scored.
Day has fit into the lineup with the ability to hit for power or throw down a solid slap-bunt.
“They are all pretty good,” Swanson said.
A problem worth having
Rostering 24 players, Tellico has plenty of players to turn to across its 20-plus game season.
“We are ate up in depth,” Swanson said. “I have probably 17 kids that can catch, field, run and throw. Then I probably have eight more that can do three out of the four pretty good.”
Success for the Lady Bears starts in the dirt. The team’s strong defense will be key in improving on a season that allowed 109 runs to 139 runs scored in 2023.
“I think it will be our defense and our pitching. I think that will be our strong point. I feel we are going to be a lot stronger in the outfield,” Swanson added. “We have a couple girls that are a year older and we have some new athletes that have come in and can play.”
Tellico hopes to find the missing piece that will advance the program back to the region tournament after being knocked out in the District 3-2A semifinals the last two seasons.
“Maturity in the hitter’s box, that will be the key. I believe that will be the thing that pushes us over the hump,” Swanson said.
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