With only two seniors departed from last season’s 8th-District runners-up, the Hopkinsville softball team returns in 2023 with a stable of contributors at the plate and in the circle.
The Lady Tigers finished 9-18 last season, falling to Christian County in the district championship and bowing out in the first round of the 2nd-Region tournament with a loss to Madisonville-North Hopkins.
Senior Shaniyah Straight is off to a strong start this season, batting 1.000 with a home run and eight RBi through four games after hitting .305 with three homers and a team-high 24 RBI a year ago.
Fellow senior Daijha Owen Morand hit.344 with 17 RBI in 2022, and Taylor Joachim is also back after smacking two home runs and driving in 19 runs as a junior.
Sophomore Jakaya Grubbs led the Lady Tigers last season with a .403 average and four long balls. She was also a perfect 30/30 in stolen base attempts.
Straight has already been in the circle for 23 innings this season after posting a 5-6 record with 44 strikeouts and a 5.88 ERA in 60 innings as a junior.
Junior Esther Pepple is back after hitting .300 last year, and 8th-grader Bailee Ladson leads a group of five middle-schoolers on the roster.
After a 1-3 start, the Lady Tigers will host Dawson Springs on Monday before travelling across town to face UHA on Tuesday.
