Busy Break Awaits EC Softball in Myrtle Beach

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. —Ten games in five days. That's how the season begins for the 2020 Eureka softball team.

After a long preseason indoors, the Red Devils are on the sand, dirt and grass of Myrtle Beach this spring break for the season-opening Fastpitch Dreams Spring Classic.

It begins with three games on Sunday morning, back-to-back-to-back. They'll take on Centenary at 10:30 a.m., Penn St.-Schuylkill at 12:30 p.m. and St. Joseph (Conn.) at 2:30 p.m.

The following day, they'll play two in the afternoon, facing Holy Family at 12:30 p.m. and Lycoming at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday will only feature one 8:30 a.m. game against Rhode Island College, while Wednesday and Thursday will both be doubleheaders.

EC will face Wells (12:30 p.m.) and Immaculata (4:30 p.m.) on Wednesday, and then close it out against Dean (8:30 a.m.) and Medaille (10:30 a.m.) on Thursday.

That's a lot of games in a short period time, but the good news for the Red Devils is that they have plenty of womanpower.

Eureka didn't lose a single player to graduation from last season's historic team, which captured St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and Tournament titles en route to its second trip to the NCAA Tournament in program history.

And the squad has a slew of promising newcomers who are ready to contribute.

"I think our lineup may look different every game," eighth-year EC coach Debi Neff said. "Our bench is deeper. We just need to find out where we're at and what improvements we need to work on to prepare (for conference season).

"Our players have a lot of grit and determination. They're ready to go. They're amped up. They're ready to get outside."

Perhaps the biggest difference between last year's squad and this one is pitching depth.

For the first time, Neff has enough arms to have a real pitching staff instead of alternating starters. This year, there will be one starter in the circle and four relievers ready to take her place at any time.

Senior ace Erin Smith is back after pitching every inning of the postseason, collecting the most wins in a single season in program history (17) and moving up to fourth in career wins in program history (38).

The team is also returning last year's No. 2 starter, sophomore Sidney Wightman, and junior Gabby Wood (who missed all of last season), and welcoming junior transfers Bailey Tibbetts (Culver-Stockton) and Torre Koontz (John Wood).

"None of them pitch the same," Neff said. "They've all got different stuff, different approaches, different pitches, different windups, so it's kind of a great mix to have."

At the plate, Neff expects the Red Devils to have balance and consistency up and down the lineup.

It will start with a familiar pair at the top in Raelyn Payne and Sydney Shubert.

Payne, the Red Devils' shortstop, was the 2019 SLIAC Newcomer of the Year and a Second Team All-SLIAC honoree as a freshman. Shubert, the center fielder, was a First Team All-American, the NCAA Division III batting champion (.587) and the SLIAC Player of the Year.

With those two setting the table, there's a number of players in the lineup capable of driving in runs.

Chief among them is senior first baseman Morgan Ledbetter. Last season, she earned First Team All-America honors, led Division III in home runs per game (49) and runs batted in per game (1.66) while earning First Team All-SLIAC honors, being named the SLIAC Tournament MVP and getting selected to the NCAA Division III Whitewater, Wisconsin All-Tournament Team.

She also set new program records for home runs in a single season and career (17) and highest slugging percentage in a single season (1.070).

Junior Adrianna Zeman was a Third Team All-SLIAC honoree last year and fellow junior Allison Cagley is another dependable bat in the heart of the Red Devils' order.

Sophomore Faith Bachtold and junior Klaire Wilmot, both outfielders last season, are both versatile players who can make an impact. Junior transfers Jordan Heinz and Kennedy Savage are two more new players looking to find a place in the lineup, and Aubrey Sanders gives EC depth behind the plate.

"We've got a good mixture of speed and strength," Neff said. "It's blessing to have athletes like the ones I have."