SALISBURY — Shortstop Gina Gerone was Catawba’s homecoming queen last fall, but softball season is here, and that means the dress, crown and sash have been stored safely in a closet.
The daughter of a cop, Gerone is a feisty New Yorker. She’s all business this time of year. She puts on her dark shades, pulls her black hair back in a ponytail, pounds her glove like Rocky Balboa punching a frozen slab of raw meat, and looks eager to kick sand in the face of opponents.
Gerone, who belted three straight homers in a SAC tournament game against Anderson last spring, a feat no Catawba softball player had ever accomplished, offers a two-word goal for the 2016 season.
“World Series,” she growls cheerfully. “World Series.”
Seniors Gerone and Carley Tysinger, a once-in-a-lifetime pitcher, lead Catawba’s 18-person squad into a season that could be a banner one. Catawba is expected to be good partly because of last season’s 31-17 record but mostly because the Indians won 10 of their last 12. They roared through the SAC tournament without a loss. Then they won two regional games before being eliminated by North Georgia.
Left fielder Natalie Naturile, first baseman Kim Fesperman and DP Emily Huneycutt are missing, but Catawba has a proven returning starter at seven positions.
That’s why Catawba is picked to win the SAC championship.
“This is the first time that’s ever happened,” said Nan Whitley, who has coached Catawba to 556 wins in 26 seasons of fast-pitch softball. “That means there’s a bull’s-eye on our backs, but the players are looking at it as a motivational thing and all our returners have been in the playoffs and have high expectations. I don’t think we’ve gotten as much respect as we deserved the last several years. Now we are getting respect. That’s a positive thing.”
Catawba leaves Friday to play three weekend games in Georgia, one against Lincoln Memorial (it won’t count in the SAC standings) and two against Armstrong.
“We’ll find out where we are quickly,” Whitley said. “Armstrong is very good. This first weekend will tell a lot.”
The Indians are preparing for the grind of the long season by working out like a football team. They pound tires with sledgehammers, toss heavy medicine balls and drag sleds.
SAC tournament MVP Tysinger will again be the centerpiece of Catawba’s effort. Search for Tysinger in the Catawba record book and you get more than 100 matches.
Her 27 wins last season tied the school record set by Lindsay Ettinger in 2007 and Tysinger’s 70 career victories rank second at Catawba behind Ettinger’s 87.
Tysinger owns school records with 325 strikeouts for a season and 942 in her career. She posted 10 shutouts last season, including four in a row. She has 24 in her career. Tysinger has been phenomenal for three seasons, so there’s no reason to expect anything different in her final one.
“She has expectations of herself that are very high,” Whitley said with a smile. “She’s a big reason we have the potential to do well.”
Gerone (.367, 9 homers, 29 RBIs) was only Honorable Mention All-SAC last season. That probably helped fuel her late-season power explosion.
Juniors Taylor Adams (.303, 27 RBIs) and Katherine Shumaker (.304, 5 homers, 26 RBIs) will again rotate at catcher and third base. Both will hit in the middle of the lineup.
“It’s important to have two experienced catchers,” Whitley said. “Our catchers call the games, and it’s a very demanding position mentally.”
Caroline Turner (.280, 9 homers, 28 RBIs) gives the Indians power at second base and has been a steady No. 2 pitcher.
Catawba also has a lot of slap-hitting speed. Whitley said junior center fielder Kristen Stinnard (.220, 25 runs) is one of the best in the region defensively.
“She can come in on the ball, she can go back, and she’ll lay out to make catches,” Whitley said. “She hasn’t gotten enough recognition.”
Senior Holli Chandler (.270, 14 RBIs) is a returning starter in right field.
Other returners are second baseman Delane Smith, utility player Ashley Wagoner (injured most of last season), outfielder Savana Hollingsworth and Morgan Brann. Brann is competing for the first base job.
Catawba has six newcomers on the roster – outfielders Beth Ann Martin, Reagan Bray and Lynnsey Taylor, third baseman Leah Huggins, pitcher/first baseman Preston Ellenberg and infielder Sierrah McCarthy.
Huggins, a lefty slapper, might be an impact player. Whitley said she’s the team’s quickest and fastest player. Taylor is currently sidelined by an injury, but she also has outstanding speed. Martin, who played at South Rowan, has good speed and a good arm. Bray has developing power. Ellenberg, a transfer from Averett, could get time at first base and in the circle. McCarthy was a prep shortstop and hit with power.
Whitley said the Indians have signed 10 players for next season, including West Rowan’s Taylor Martin. Most of the recruits are from nearby counties. Four are pitchers.
“High school softball in this area has really gotten more competitive in recent years,” Whitley said. “It’s not like we have to go to California to recruit. There are plenty of good players in the Carolinas.”
Adrian Gantt and Shane Prescott return as assistant coaches.