By Chris Parker
Dixon softball climbed back over the .500 mark last year with a 15-12 record. The Lady Bulldogs graduated two seniors from that team in Ryli Martin and Lexi Graves. Both earned first-team all-conference honors.
Sophomore Emma Thiltgen is the top returning player after a stellar freshman season that saw her earn first-team all-conference, all-district and all-region honors. Thiltgen hit .571 with five home runs and 37 RBI.
“Emma had a truly remarkable freshman season in which she was first or second on the team in 10 different offensive categories. She is one of the best hitters in our area and has a ton of pop,” Dixon head coach Michael Flaugher said. “She is also a very skilled catcher and was a huge key to our success. If she continues to improve the sky is the limit for her.”
Senior Courtney Scott will be asked to step up offensively as she returns to her shortstop position. Scott hit .352 with 29 RBI last year.
“Courtney was asked to step it up this fall and become a true middle of the order hitter and she did a wonderful job. She has worked hard on being more consistent in the field at shortstop, and at the plate and her ability to improve these areas was a huge key to our success this past fall,” Flaugher said. “She is one of the hardest workers on the team and a true team leader whose work ethic sets a great example for our younger girls. I expect her power numbers to continue to increase as she enters her senior season and she will provide us with the rare combination of power and speed in the middle of our lineup next year.”
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Fellow senior Tristen Lipscomb will be a corner outfielder.
“Tristen has been a corner outfielder for us the past few years and has showed good range in the outfield. She has improved offensively each year and she has had a tremendous summer season. She has great speed and I project her to be a top of the order hitter this fall and play centerfield. This season we will need even more from her offensively at the top of the order and I am sure she will be up to the challenge. She is also an amazing teammate and leader and a great role model for the younger girls,” Flaugher said.
Junior Maddie Ryan was an honorable mention all-conference and first-team all-district selection last year. She will move to the circle as a pitcher this fall.
“Maddie played a solid third base for us last fall and she also pitched and did a great job. This fall her role as a pitcher will be increased greatly. She has worked hard to improve her ability to locate her pitches and she has gotten stronger and gained a lot more speed. She has hit well for us each of the past two years and I expect her to keep improving offensively and provide us with a lot of power in the clean-up spot this fall,” Flaugher said.
Senior Kyli Ballard provides a versatile option for the lineup.
“Kyli is a very versatile defensive player who can play multiple positions and she provides us with flexibility defensively. Each year she has gotten better offensively and I expect her power numbers to explode this fall and provide us with the production we will need in the middle of the lineup to be successful,” Flaugher said.
Juniors Abby Overshon and Anna Moore also return.
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“Abby will be asked to increase her role this season and I am sure she will respond and be up to the challenge. She has worked hard this summer to take over first baseman duties and she has the potential to be a middle of the order hitter for us in the future. She works hard and I believe this might be her breakout year,” Flaugher said. “Anna can play multiple positions and has a lot of speed. Every time she is able to get on base she has the potential to steal a base with her speed. She has worked hard to improve her plate discipline and this will be the key to her success offensively this season and extend our lineup or get us back to the top of the order.”
Newcomers on the varsity level to watch include: Mackenzie Cross (sophomore), Jenna Matlock (sophomore), Sophia Geary (sophomore), Autumn Khuzkian (senior), Alyssa Morgan (junior), Alexa Hall (sophomore), Kynzlei McMillian (sophomore), Kalie Marr (sophomore) and Faith Merkle (sophomore).
Incoming freshmen include: Klaire Crane, Jayci Stephens, Emma Brinkley and Kinsley Lipscomb.
Dixon opens the season on Aug. 30 at the Frisco League Tournament.
“I am extremely excited about the upcoming season. It will be difficult to replace the two seniors we lost to graduation, but we have several girls with varsity experience returning. We have had several girls who have worked extremely hard this winter, spring, and summer to improve, and we have had a good turnout for practices and games this summer and our freshmen are developing and progressing like they should and they seem to be a very promising and talented group,” Flaugher said. “If our pitching, hitting, and defense continue to progress throughout the season like I feel it should I feel we should be competitive this fall and be towards the top of the Frisco League Conference.”
