By Chris Parker
Dadeville softball is poised for a breakthrough season with a deep roster heading into 2025.
“2013 has been the last time Dadeville Softball had a winning record,” Dadeville head coach Brent Rountree said. “This is the most players we have had on a roster since that time as well (21). I expect us to compete every pitch. If we do that, we will have a winning season and be competing with any team we play.”
The Lady Bearcats return 13 letter winners from last season’s team.
Emma Sayers is back in the circle pitching after earning all-conference, all-district and all-region honors last season as a sophomore. Sophomores Katelyn Holman and Claire McGee will also log innings pitching.
Sophomore Charleigh Toler will be the anchor behind the plate with freshman Lucy Proctor also seeing time.
On the infield, look for Laurynn Sinclair (senior third base), Claire Mitchell (senior shortstop/first base), Mady Cornelison (senior first base), Addyson Buck (junior second base), McGee (second base), Proctor, Hattie Stanek (freshman) and Macy Kelly (freshman).
Sinclair earned second-team all-conference honors as a junior. Cornelison will also hit as a designated player.
The outfield lineup will largely be determined by who has the hot bat. Senior Kate Chism returns in centerfield coming off all-conference and all-district honors. Juniors Avery Kelly, Addison Orr, Buck and Sykora Burks along with McGee and freshmen Proctor, Evangaline Black and Jordyn Horn are all candidates for time in the outfield.
This team will be senior-led.
“Our seniors, Claire Mitchell, Mady Cornelison, Kate Chism, and Laurynn Sinclair will be the voice of our team. They all have played since they were freshmen and know what it takes to compete in our schedule,” Rountree said. “Claire had to come back after suffering a broken leg her sophomore year. She has improved in all aspects of her game because of that reason. Mady continues to be a power threat every at bat and made huge strides last year defensively at first base. Katelyn came to us from Stockton as a junior. She is a very smart player with really good outfield instincts. Laurynn has been a top defender at third base. She has made improvements every year and I don’t expect that to change.”
Better execution in close games are one thing in particular that could take Dadeville to its first winning record in more than a decade.
“We lost six one-run games last year,” Rountree said. “That would have flipped our record to a .500 team. I want us to have confidence to execute in close games.”
Dadeville opens the season Aug. 29-30 at the Humansville Tournament.
