2020 Spring Preview: Exeter Softball

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MSHSAA announced on Monday, Mar. 16 that they would not be cancelling spring sports due to the Coronavirus. There will be delays to the start of the season and you can read the full MSHSAA release on spring sports by clicking here. Many area schools have called off classes and extracurricular activities through at least Apr. 3 and will reassess at that time. We will continue to post our spring previews. Please note that this preview was written before delays for the spring season were announced.


By Chris Parker

Exeter softball is looking to build off last season’s 15-win campaign with six starters returning to the fold this year.

Those returning starters include: Aubry Antle (sophomore pitcher/third base/first base), Abbi Caddell (junior first base/third base), Aubrie Graham (junior second base/outfield), Hailey Mattingly (junior shortstop), Macy Barrett (junior outfield) and Izzy Lee (junior catcher).

Mattingly and Antle were both first-team all-conference selections last year. Mattingly hit .500 with a .557 on-base percentage. She was a powerful run-producer with six home runs and 44 RBI and 26 runs scored. Antle was constantly on base with a .633 on-base percentage. She scored 29 runs and drove in 21 runs.

Lee and Caddell were also solid hitters with averages of .442 and .333, respectively.

Juniors will be the leaders for this team according to coach Ashley Fly.

“We will rely on our junior class leadership to develop and lead our team throughout the season,” Fly said. “The junior class has many leaders that lead in many different ways. We relied on these young ladies as sophomores last season, but will really rely on these ladies to step up and lead our team this season. We have two young ladies that have stepped up over the summer to help and will be expected to step up this season to fill the gap of leadership that we graduated last year. Hailey Mattingly and Izzy Lee were key sophomore leaders that will be expected to step up and help lead this spring as juniors. Hailey Mattingly and Izzy Lee were leaders on the field but leaders that had stepped off the field last year as well.”

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Freshmen will also play key roles this year according to Fly.

“The incoming freshman bring a variety of options to our line-up. Madison Crumpler is a left-handed pitcher and will play first base when needed. Alyssa Whisenhunt is a right- handed pitcher and will play as a utility player to fill in some gaps from last year. Emma Sorensen will play as an outfielder. Jasmine Hall will play third base and outfield this spring,” Fly said.

Exeter has a deep pitching staff that will keep opponents guessing this season.

“This season we will rely on the strengths of our three pitchers. We have three young ladies that are very talented and will be expected to produce the results on the mound. Each of the three young ladies bring a variety of pitches and speeds. Alongside these ladies we will have the strengths of our scrappy defense that will help come up with the big plays in key situations,” Fly said.

Developing strong leadership will be a key to success for Exeter softball this year.

“The overall expectations for this year’s team is keep developing the game, but to develop the leadership that will carry us through adversity. We will expect our junior class to come up with big plays in key situations, but we will rely on our younger ladies to step up and be able to help produce at the plate and on the field,” Fly said. “Our goal at Exeter is to keep getting better every day and focus on the little things that we can get better at every day. This group of girls have high expectations for themselves, their school and for their program.”

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