After a strong year in 2024, the Elkhart High softball team looks to take another step forward with a strong group of returning letterwinners.
Coach Matt Walker’s first Lions team went 15-9 last season, including an 8-3 mark in the Northern Indiana Conference. Elkhart was also the sectional runner up to Penn in Class 4A.
“Expectations are high for this group,’’ Walker admitted. “We return a core of strong talent who have done the right things this off-season to put us in a position to be extremely competitive.’’
For starters, the Lions return all four pitchers from last season, led by senior Laci Stimac. Classmate Natali Finkhousen, along with juniors Anna Knight and Natalie Smith also return after seeing action in the circle in 2024.
Sophomore shortstop Ava Walker, was a first-team All-NIC choice last season as a freshman after hitting .438. Junior catcher Bailey Harris-Rogers is also back, after earning second-team All-NIC honors despite hitting .434 with five homers and a team-high 28 RBIs.
Stimac, who hit .339 last season, will rotate between pitching and third base with Knight. Fiona Topolski is expected to play second after a solid freshman year, with Smith, Ambria Leedy and Gabby Wagner starting in the outfield. Freshman Addison Reid is also pushing for time in the outfield.
“The NIC has a handful of really solid programs that have done some big things in the past, but our focus is really about Elkhart this year,’’ Matt Walker said. “Out goal is to be the most competitive version of ourselves every time we step on the diamond.
Jimtown will be young this season, but coach Brandy Eberhart’s squad has three strong senior starters returning, while also getting out of the Northern Indiana Conference.
The Jimmies reached the 3A sectional title game last season, before falling 5-4 to defending state champion New Prairie with Jimtown’s No. 3 pitcher in the circle.
The top returning Jimtown offensive threat is senior shortstop-catcher Kendal McPhee, who returns for her fourth varsity season. McPhee his .437 last season with six homers and 38 RBIs. Skyler Pello returns to the outfield after hitting .389 with five homers and 26 RBIs.
The third Jimtown senior is pitcher Kiyla Eberhart, who battled a baffling leg injury last spring, missing most of the year after going 4-1 with 75 strikeouts in 40 innings.
“Kiyla is doing well,’’ head coach and mom Brandy Eberhart said. “Lots of doctor visits and specialists to see what was wrong with her legs last year, which shut her down after just a couple of weeks of the season. We never did get a real answer until mid-February of this year.
“It’s been rough, but she is tough and ready to give it one last ride.’’
Sophomore Lily Gaugler and junior Layla Winrott combined to go 15-7 in the circle last season after Kiyla Eberhart went down. The return of three pitchers, along with freshman Claire Carlson, gives the Jimimes some very important pieces.
The pitching will be especially important, as the Jimmies will be young at most positions.
Gaugler started at second base as a freshman, while Winrott and sophomore Olivia Campbell each started a handful of games in 2024.
“We are young ... this might be one of the youngest teams I am going to start a season with,’’ Brandy Eberhart said. “I have some great senior leaders that have taken the younger girls under their win and are really becoming coaches on the field.’’
Jimtown will move to Class 2A this year, escaping the South Bend St. Joseph-New Prairie sectional gauntlet they’ve faced recently. In addition, they will now be in the Indiana Northern State Conference, rather than in the Northern Indiana Conference.
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