Mike London
mike.london@salisburypost.com

Second in a series of reports on high school softball …

MOUNT ULLA — Emma Clarke was still busy with basketball when West Rowan’s softball season finally got under way on Thursday after several disappointing rainouts.

It didn’t start all that well — a 14-7 loss to Lake Norman — but head coach Jimmy Greene attributed the opening-day struggle to “jitters and errors.” The Falcons swung the bats with authority, as they almost always do. As far as what happened in the circle, Arabelle Shulenberger didn’t get the calls on close pitches and got in bad counts against tough hitters, but Greene isn’t worried about Shulenberger. The junior handled all the big games last season and turned in a 1.83 ERA with 103 strikeouts.

“I thought she was as good any pitcher in the South Piedmont Conference last season,” Greene said. “She’s going to have a big year.”

Once she gets on the softball diamond, Clarke, a Tennessee recruit, also will have a big year. She could be one of the best high school players in the country. Her junior stats were insane — a .567 batting average, plus 24 walks. She scored 40 runs and drove in 32. Despite being pitched around, she walloped 10 homers, seven doubles and four triples. On top of that, she’s an excellent 6-foot-1 shortstop and a devastating base runner. She’s going to walk a lot, but she can turn a walk into a triple after a couple of pitches.

“She’s as good on the bases as she is in the batter’s box,” Greene said. “She’s a deer.”

Figuring out how to optimize the lineup around a generational player like Clarke is a task that falls to Greene, who is Clarke’s uncle as well as her coach. Clarke probably be the lead-off hitter to maximize her at-bats, although that guarantees she’ll be batting at least one time every game with no one on base.

While Clarke, power-hitting second baseman Riley Haggas, a junior committed to Tampa, and Shulenberger are still in place for a program that came out on top in a heated South Piedmont Conference race with Carson, Central Cabarrus and East Rowan in 2023, almost everything else is going to look different for the Falcons.

Haggas batted .377 with three homers and 21 RBIs and could have a huge RBI season because Clarke is going to be on base constantly in front of her. While she plays second base for the Falcons, Haggas has a shortstop’s arm and a lot of quickness.

“Now that her college decision is made, you’ll see a big difference in Riley,” Greene said. “She’s talented and she can just play now and not worry about who’s watching her.”

Graduation left four large holes, with the departure of catcher Brooke Kennerly, third baseman Karsen Simpson, center fielder Ashlee Ennis and left fielder Madelyn VonCanon.

“I’ve been spoiled rotten for a long time, because we’ve always had good catchers and center fielders,” Greene said. “Kennerly and Simpson are playing college ball now. Ennis could be. She was one of the best players in the county, a .477 hitter who ran down everything in center field. VonCanon had a great defensive season in left field.”

EA Nance was a vital component of the lineup in 2023 — .421, 5 homers, 26 RBIs — but her defensive responsibilities will increase as she moves behind the plate to replace Kennerly, an Appalachian State recruit. The plan is for last season’s regular right fielder, Taylor Keller, who contributed a dozen RBIs, to replace Nance at first base.

That means an all-new outfield, so that’s the Falcons biggest concern. Ella Doby, who got some at-bats last season, is expected to be the center fielder, with Lucy Shelton, who was used mostly as a pinch-runner in 2023, moving into the lineup in right field. Freshman Kayla Burns started on opening day in left field. Senior Maggie Leichman is also going to be in the outfield mix.

But it’s going to be an adjustment for Greene and for Shulenberger, as those new faces settle in and gain experience and confidence tracking balls.

Third base is a tough position that Simpson, an Emory & Henry recruit, handled smoothly last season. Lacey Houghton, whose main role in 2023 was No. 2 pitcher. started at third base on opening night.

Freshman Reese Poole is going to be an important addition. She gives the Falcons another pitcher and another quality infielder and she can swing the bat. She had a double in her debut.

West won’t have a jayvee team, so there will be a lot of young players in the dugout looking for chances to help. That list includes Kaylee Furr, Regan Eggers, Kaylee Hagler, Taylor Kelley and Alyvia Kelley.

West’s non-conference schedule is almost always a series of stout 4As, so there probably will be some growing pains. The SPC also figures to be tough, as some of the bottom teams, such as Northwest Cabarrus, are ready to move up.

South Rowan and East Rowan have a lot fewer holes to fill than the Falcons do. Greene believes East will be the team to beat in the league.

But the Falcons are always in the conference race and they frequently make it three rounds deep in the playoffs.

Those trends are unlikely to change this season.

” We’ve been doing every drill known to man, but I know the girls are tired of listening to me talking and tired of practicing,” Greene said. “When the weather cooperates, we’ll get into a routine of playing games and I think we’ll be pretty good.”

West Rowan softball

Coach: Jimmy Greene, 11th season, enters 161-51-1

Top returners: Emma Clarke, Riley Haggas, EA Nance, Arabelle Shulenberger

Key losses: Brooke Kennerly, Karsen Simpson, Ashlee Ennis, Madelyn VonCanon

Key newcomer: Freshman Reese Poole

2023 record:20-4-1overall, 12-2 South Piedmont Conference (1st)

Playoffs: Lost 3rd round to East Lincoln

2024 record: 0-1