Westfall Mustangs Softball
Coach: Lance Heath
2022 record: 15-9, 9-5 third in Scioto Valley Conference
Key returnees: Olivia Dumm, pitcher; Makayla Cook, catcher; Delana Landefeld, shortstop; Grace Long, first base; Ava Heath, second base; Gabby Henry, left field; Emma Henry, center field; Madison Kearney, right field; Sydney Fuller, third base
Key losses: Abbie Bickenheuser, third base
Senior Olivia Dumm returns for her third season in the circle and fellow senior Makayla Cook is back behind the plate for a second consecutive season. Dumm signed with Thomas More in the offseason while Cook will be off to Findlay after she graduates.
“Olivia and Makayla are quite a combo, because they know each other well and they are both competitors who want to excel on the field,” coach Lance Heath said. “We’re expecting big things for both of them and for Olivia to rack up the strikeouts from the circle.”
The Mustangs return eight of their starters from a season ago, but did lose third baseman Abbie Bickenheuser, who was one of the top power hitters in the area a season ago.
“Losing Abbie is tough, because she was a tremendous player for us, but at the same time we felt like we had some players behind her that would have started for most other teams around here,” Heath said. “We still feel like we have some pop in the lineup, hitters who can drive the ball into the gaps, speed and athleticism and we want to score a lot of runs this season.
“We believe in our girls and the ability they have from one through nine in the lineup.”
Heath would like to see the Mustangs have a bounce back season after finishing third in the conference and losing in a district semifinal to Fairfield.
“Our goals are to win the SVC, win a district championship and go from there,” Heath said. “Hopefully we can build up a lot of momentum during the season and peak during the tournament.”
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