Red Devils’ Spring Break Trip to Myrtle Beach Almost Here

EUREKA – EC softball coach Juell Hodges has been waiting for this weekend for a long time.

Ever since she was hired to take over the Red Devils' program last summer, she has been looking forward to seeing her team compete on the field. That day is almost here.

On Sunday, Eureka will open the 2022 softball season at the Fastpitch Dreams Spring Classic in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The Red Devils will play their first game of their spring break trip against Anna Marie at 10:30 a.m. CT.

"I'm more excited than anything," Hodges said. "These girls have worked super hard from last semester until now. I'm ready for them to get out there and go."

At Myrtle Beach, Eureka will play six games over four days. The team's second game of the season will be against Lynchburg on Sunday at 2:30 p.m. The following day, the Red Devils will face Penn State-Harrisburg and Centenary (N.J.) back-to-back at 2:30 p.m.

After a day off to enjoy the beach on Tuesday, they'll take on Cedar Crest at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday and wrap up the tournament at 4:30 p.m. against Gettysburg.

"We have grown so much just in the last month of practice," Hodges said. "Going into these games down at Myrtle Beach, I'm really looking forward to kind of seeing everyone put things together."

After being an experienced and highly-touted team for the last few seasons, the Red Devils are now a young and rebuilding squad. They feature two seniors, seven total returners and five freshmen.

The team's most experienced and accomplished players are seniors Raelyn Payne and Sidney Wightman.

Payne, a shortstop and two-time All-SLIAC honoree, led the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference last year with a .493 batting average, a .557 on-base percentage and an .800 slugging percentage. She also recorded a career-best .904 fielding percentage with 97 assists and 35 putouts while helping turn three double plays.

"Raelyn Payne is probably going to lead our team defensively and offensively," Hodges said. "She's probably the most athletic player in our conference, and she has the experience that is going to make us a higher-caliber team.

"She's really stepped up and helped us out with our younger hitters. I'm excited to see what she can do in her last season."

Wightman has been one of the Red Devils' starting pitchers for the past three seasons, racking up 138.1 innings pitched in 37 appearances and 21 starts in the circle. This year, she'll be the team's No. 1 option and expected to carry a lot of weight.

"She has worked a lot this past year to get where she is now," Hodges said. "I think her senior season is going to be fun."

Her batterymate will be freshman catcher Delaney Douglas. Hodges expects Douglas to be a vital part of the team's starting lineup and one of its top hitters at the plate.

At first base, sophomore Bria Wessel takes over for the Red Devils' all-time home runs leader, Morgan Ledbetter. Wessel got a little experience at the plate last year, recording 10 at-bats and getting some in the field. Hodges says that she will be a quiet leader on the field.

Another sophomore, Tressa Grisham, will slide in next to Wessel at second base. She wasn't able to play last year, but she has already made a big impact in the offseason and preseason, getting voted as a team captain. She'll provide speed to the top part of the order and will be a threat on the basepaths.

At third base, the Red Devils have another strong freshman bat in Mackenzie Daniels, as well as freshman Bri Tanksley behind her.

In the outfield, sophomore Elly Maier has earned the starting spot in center, stepping in for First Team All-SLIAC honoree Jordan Heinz. She'll be joined by freshman Kate LeMasters in left field and junior Christine Mepham in right. Sophomore Abby Newmister is another outfielder who will be in the mix. Mepham and Newmister are both vocal team leaders, as well.

"The main thing I'm hoping to see (this season) is growth," Hodges said. "Growth on the field and growth off the field. We're going to be competitive. We're going to work hard, but growth is really what I'm looking for."