Falkville Softball Preview

With a year of experience under their belts, Falkville High School’s varsity softball team is looking ahead with confidence they can turn around last season’s 8-26 record.

The Lady Blue Devils fielded one of the youngest teams in Class 2A a year ago. Their roster consisted of two seniors, two freshmen, six eighth graders and two seventh graders.

After losing the two seniors to graduation, they face a new season with two sophomores, six freshmen and two eighth graders.

“We’re still a young team but a more experienced team,” said second year head coach Meaghan Gray. “They took their lumps against stronger, more mature teams but played hard and ended the season with a positive attitude.” They felt the disappointment of not making it out of their area tournament and are resolved not to let that happen again.”

The Lady Blue Devils are matched against Winston County and Cold Springs as area opponents. They’ll take on Winston County in regular season games March 8 and 15 and are scheduled to play Cold Springs April 2 and 19.

Gray complimented her players for working hard in the off-season to get stronger and stay physically fit.

“Most of them play other sports, work with weights and play travel ball when school isn’t in session,” she said. “Our sophomores have stepped up as team leaders.”

The Lady Blue Devils return all but one starter from the 2017 season. They are: sophomores Halie Carroll, center field and Maddie Holmes, left field; freshmen Kameryn Scales, pitcher/shortstop; Alyzea Aguero, third base; Sydnee Fitzgerald, pitcher/outfield; Brooklyn Melson, catcher; Makenzie Veal, first base; Savannah Robinson, left field; Renie Shedd, right field; and eighth graders Brooklyn Owens, pitcher/shortstop and Maddie Stewart, second base.

“Hitting was a weakness last season as we finished batting .282 as a team,” Gray pointed out. “ It has been our main focus in preseason practice. Our goal is to reach .300 or better.”

“We’re further along on defense than we were at the same time last year,” she added.

The team’s goals are to improve each week, win the area tournament and make it to regionals.

Samantha Riddle is in her second year as assistant coach.

Clif Knight

Hartselle Enquirer

Falkville Softball Schedule

Feb. 23-24        @Elkmont Tournament TBA

Feb. 27               DANVILLE 4:30 p.m.

Mar. 1                @West Morgan 6 p.m.

Mar. 2-3            @Cherokee Tournament TBA

Mar. 5                WEST MORGAN 4 p.m.

Mar. 8                @Winston County 4:30 p.m.&

Mar. 8-10          @Cullman Umpires Tournament TBA*

Mar. 13              @Columbia 4:30 p.m.

Mar. 15              WINSTON COUNTY 4:30 p.m.&

Mar. 16-17      FALKVILLE TOURNAMENT TBA

Mar. 26              @Priceville 4:30 p.m.

Mar. 29              DECATUR HERITAGE 4:30 p.m.

Apr. 2                 @Cold Springs 4:30 p.m.&

Apr. 3             JEMISON 5 p.m.

Apr. 5                 EAST LAWRENCE 4:30 p.m.

Apr. 10               @Jemison 5 p.m.

Apr. 12-14         @Morgan County Tournament TBA**

Apr. 16               @Decatur 4:30 p.m.

Apr. 17               @Decatur Heritage 4 p.m.

Apr. 19               COLD SPRINGS 4:30 p.m.&

Apr. 20-21         @West Morgan Tournament TBA

Apr. 23               @Danville 5 p.m.

Apr. 24               @Whitesburg Christian (Autism Game)

Apr. 27-28         @Athens Pre-State Tournament TBA

May 5                 Area Tournament TBA

May 10-12        Regional Tournament TBA

May 16-19        State Tournament

Games in CAPITAL LETTERS represent home games

*Games to be played in Hanceville, Ala.

& Denotes an area game

Falkville Softball Roster

Kameryn Scales

Brooklyn Owens

Alyzea Aguero

Halie Carroll

Maddie Holmes

Sydnee Fitzgerald

Brooklyn Melson

Makenzie Veal

Renie Shedd

Maddie Stewart