By Blake Colston
Sports Editor
Softball season is underway in Piedmont this week as the Lady Wildcats aim for a return trip to the state tournament after a one-year hiatus.
Piedmont hopes its growing pains from last season are all, or mostly, out of the way after the 2020 campaign with a youthful roster ended in relative disappointment.
The Lady ‘Cats went 30-7 – not exactly awful – but were eliminated in the regional round of the playoffs one season after claiming a state title.
“After losing 14 seniors, we knew there’d be some growing pains,” sixth-year head coach Keith Coleman said.
The youngsters from last year’s squad are less young now, but not exactly grizzled veterans yet. Their talent is undeniable, however.
“We feel great about this year. The kids have so much more experience and are all just better players overall,” Coleman said. “We feel like we’re going to be really good and the expectation every year is to make the state tournament.”
Lineup is Loaded
Piedmont’s lineup, which returns more than 90 percent of its production from last season, could be ‘dynamic’ Coleman said.
PHS has speed and power and can manufacture runs when necessary.
“I like that we can score in different ways,” he said. “And we can space the lineup so that there really won’t be any drop off from top to bottom.”
Payten Schibbelhute, a sophomore, is back after driving in a team-high 45 runs while hitting .567 last year. Shortstop Karissa Fiegener batted .359 with 18 RBI’s in 2020 and also returns.
Tylar Short, who scored a team-best 40 runs in 2020, and catcher Aubrey Pyle, (.392, 32 RBI’s) are expected to play major roles, among several others.
Schibbelhute the ace, but pitching staff has depth
Coleman said Schibbelhute (12-2, 1.95 ERA in 2020) is considered the team’s ace, but that as many as four pitchers could see time in the circle.
“We will go by matchups,” he said. “We have other kids that do things well.”
Kylynn Brunson led the team in innings pitched (120.1) and strikeouts (114) last season while compiling a 15-5 record.
Addison Underwood, a freshman, and Hannah Nieuwenhuis, a transfer from Deer Creek will be in the mix.
Quick Hits
Piedmont’s schedule is jam packed with tough competition, including games versus Jenks, Southmoore and Stillwater…Piedmont will officially open its new stadium this season, though the exact date isn’t set in stone yet. Coleman said a Sept. 2 date vs. Enid is a possibility.
