The competition on the softball fields will be stiff this spring when area schools take the field.
Iola, Humboldt, Crest, Yates Center and Marmaton Valley will all field softball teams this spring. Humboldt and Yates Center have been powerhouses before and look to do the same this year with their impressive rosters.
Iola
Iola fell to Wamego in the regional tournament last season and is focused on making an even deeper run this year. The Mustangs have been in the middle of the pack in the Pioneer League most recently with top dogs Prairie View and Santa Fe Trail the toughest teams to take down. Head coach Chris Weide is in his eighth year leading the program.
Seniors Aysha Houk and Jadyn Kaufman will be counted on at the plate and in the field. Houk starts at shortstop and knocked 20 hits and eight RBI’s last season while Kaufman plays a smart second base. Junior Reese Curry will also be a staple at catcher.
Last season, Curry had a .333 batting average and took Second Team All-Pioneer League. Elza Clift will lead the Mustangs on the mound where she put together a 3-2 record and a 4.92 ERA last season while also striking out 37 batters in 37 innings.
Humboldt
The Lady Cubs will be focused on claiming their second straight Tri-Valley League championship title this season after finishing as runner-up in the regional tournament and just missing the state tournament a year ago.
Head coach Brad Piley believes he has the pieces in place this season to make an even deeper run. Senior catcher Emily Ross, who has signed to play softball at Neosho Community College, returns her .533 batting average and an ability to see the field.
Senior Carsyn Haviland also returns after hitting a .493 batting average last season and earning All-League honors. Other seniors include Karley Wools, Chloe Daniels and Morgan Sterling, each bringing hot bats to the lineup.
Yates Center
The Yates Center High softball team has historically been known as a top dog in the Three Rivers League. Newly hired head coach Scott Grogg wants to make sure that expectation and responsibility is upheld this season. 
Grogg has 20 players on this year’s team, six more than last year, and has coached many of the Wildcats in summer and club ball before. Molly Proper will be one of the team’s leaders both at the plate and on the mound after setting the school’s single-season home run record last year.
Callyn Miller, Grace Westerman and Isabel Lewis will also lead the Wildcats this season. The Wildcats’ speciality will be their ability to drive in runs. Yates Center finished last season at the regional tournament championship game at Central Heights.
Crest
The Crest High softball team has doubled its number of players on their roster this year. Senior returners Alyssa Adams, McKenna Hammond and Sydney Stephens along with Kaylee Allen and Liliana Blaufuss hope for a promising season.
Head coach Kelly Ball is in her fifth season leading the Lady Lancers and believes she has a strong group of returners sprinkled in with newcomers. The mix will be a good way for leaders to show new talents how to step up in practice.
As long as the Lady Lancers are having fun and giving 110% of their effort, it’ll be a fun year for Ball and the Crest High softball team.
Marmaton Valley
Marmaton Valley head coach Brenda Mills has put together a team of returners and first-year players of which she hopes can gel and play as a team this year. There are eight returning Wildcats on this squad and they are led by junior All-League catcher Payton Scharff.
Tayven Sutton will take the lead role in the pitcher’s circle while Mary Brown and Bailey LaRue are the other two seniors on the team. Brown starts mostly in the outfield while LaRue has started at designated hitter and third base.
