Photo by Bruce Crawford The Lady Blue Eagles’ softball team got in practice despite the cold recently.

As always in high school softball, the center of attention fixates on the circle. And the Magnolia Blue Eagles haves a ringleader who can really fling it in junior Ashley Tharp who racked up all but two of the Blue Eagles’ 20 wins in 2017. She struck out 147 batters, plus chipped in a .450 batting average, .680 slugging with three home runs, one triple and 12 doubles, while knocking in 34 RBIs.

“I think Ashley expects to take her game to another level,” stated Magnolia second-year head coach Angela Johnson. “We’ll just have to wait and see a little, because she’s been a little sick and will need to get into pitching shape. It might take her two or three weeks to really get her arm into shape.”

But, to go deep into the post-season you normally need a good second and third arm to get you by in post-season play, and the Eagles have a few good arms to spot here and there if needed. You don’t have to look very far as junior Ashlyn Piekarski is available at a moment’s notice if needed. Piekarski won the other two of the Eagles’ 20 wins, that included a no-hitter, while being a very good bat, too.

Johnson knows they have lost quality talent that just graduated in Tylar Seckman, Taylor Ludwig, Brooke Hostetler and Emily Shank that helped pave the way for Magnolia to succeed last season. Not only did they lose their starting outfield they lost leadership, and will look to seniors Alex Berger, Kenna Petin, Lauren Anderson and MacKenzie Ash to recuperate in their own way in both departments.

Johnson and veteran assistant coach Danny Anderson expect pitching and defense to carry their team throughout the season. Nevertheless, the Blue Eagle bats are not lacking in run producers, led by Tharp and Piekarski. sophomore first baseman Kyndra Pilant (.364 batting average and .496 slugging) and shortstop classmate Paige Brill (.346 batting average and .514 slugging) are very good batters in their own right too. Plus, they have senior Via Anderson at the hot corners, as well as her younger sister Kayna Anderson at second base to solidify the infield.

However, one piece of the puzzle is missing and that’s who is going to be behind the plate? It’s returning starter Katy Hamrick. She has been waiting her time during her first several seasons, and she came through with flying colors last season.

Bu what about the younger players, where do they fit in? There are three junior returnees that can spell in the outfield and will eventually take over in Rian Dawson, Lakin Young and Lindsay Whiteman.

With all three of their sophomores starting in the infield in Pilant, Brill and Kayna Anderson, what’s coming up in the freshman ranks that can help right now if needed and in the future.

Haleigh King looks to play in the outfield, while Bayli Fluharty looks to be the catcher in waiting, that can also spell Hamrick when needed. Then there is Kady Postlethwait who is another young pitcher, as well as Shyanna White who can play at first and third.

Last season, the Lady Blue Eagles also benefited from an unusually tight spirit of kinship in the dugout. That camaraderie carried over onto the field and helped spur the team’s run into the sectionals and one game-shy of making it to the state tournament. It’s something that the Eagles coaches knows can’t be faked or conjured out of thin air, but are hopeful that their team can replicate a similar sense of unity this year.

“I expect it to happen, but you never know,” said Johnson. “But, these girls love to cut up and joke around, but they also know when to be serious.”

Magnolia will open the season March 22 at home against Clay-Battelle at 5:30 p.m. start, before traveling to South Harrison March 23 also at 5:30 p.m. and at St Clairsville at noon on March 24th.