Veteran Carroll Academy softball coach Rusty Miller hopes that last year's learning experience helps lead the Lady Rebels back to the playoffs, especially since they host the North AA tournament this year.
The Lady Rebels return all nine starters from last year’s team that won just one district game last year.
“We are a little more experienced and a little better than we were last year,” Miller said. “We moved kids around last year and had to teach them what they needed to know during the season. Now, we have had the summer to teach those girls more of what they needed to know and that has helped a lot. The girls have worked hard and are anxious to get going.”
Miller said he has three seniors on the team, led by Sandy Rhea Tackett, who has started since she was in the seventh grade.
“She has played since she was in the seventh grade and she has played everywhere,” Miller said. “She will pitch and play short stop for us this season. She is a good athlete and has played a lot of softball. She has been through the battles and we have got to have her step up and she has done that this summer.”
Tackett is joined seniors Anna Grace Cleveland at second base and Katie Lauren Clark in right field.
Miller said junior Sara Austin Welch will play third base while junior Layla Hall is competing for playing time and has become a threat at the plate because of her speed.
Among the sophomores, Kaitlyn Chamblee returns in centerfield where Miller said she has “the strongest arm on the team and is very good defensively.” The other sophomore is left-handed pitcher Kaylee Ferguson.
In the eighth grade, Presley Woods will start in left field while twin eighth graders Mary Braxton Cobb and Ellen Claire Cobb will share time at shortstop.
Seventh grader Bella Carter is expected to start at first and Miller says she is “a big strong girl and a really good player.” She is joined by catcher Meri Brynn Reeves who started as a sixth grader and played third base last year and “may be the best athlete on the team and has a really good bat.”
“Most of the girls that will play have better than average speed,” Miller said. “And because I have had them since they were 10, they know how to run the bases and understand the game. We have a little bit of speed and have a good bit of softball knowledge.”
The Lady Rebels compete in district play with defending AA state champion Marshall along with Central Holmes, Winona and Oak Hill.
“We always play a tough schedule and then we have a really tough district,” Miller said. “I have a lot of confidence in our girls and we don’t back down from anybody. We have 27 girls so we have a lot of competition and that makes practice fun. We play two tournaments and four games next week so we should get a gauge where we are at.”
