By Mike London
mike.london@salisburypost.com

Fourth in a series of reports on softball teams …

GRANITE QUARRY — A glance at East Rowan’s softball schedule tells you all you need to know about the Mustangs.

That schedule includes a who’s who of high school softball in this part of the world — North Davidson, Alexander Central, West Stanly, Mooresville.

You don’t tackle that sort of non-conference schedule unless you know you’re really good.

East head coach Todd McNeely isn’t going to say it out loud, but he knows his team is really good.

“There are going to be some challenging games because we’ve scheduled great programs,” McNeely said. “We may take some lumps, but the plan is to be prepared to play the tough ballgames and to face the tough pitchers that we’ll see in the playoffs.”

East has a group of players from the teams that won Junior Lady Legion state championships in 2021 and 2022.

The Mustangs have been playing with a young squad the last couple of years and have been more than competitive. East couldn’t contain West Rowan’s offense in 7-4, 9-7 and 9-5 losses to the Falcons in 2023, but the Mustangs posted big wins against the South Piedmont Conference’s other elite teams — Central Cabarrus and Carson. East went 9-5 in the league and finished fourth.

East returns its 2023 lineup almost intact, while West, Central and Carson all graduated quite a bit of talent. East’s core class is now juniors. so the Mustangs are ready to compete for the South Piedmont Conference championship and to make a strong run in the 3A playoffs.

“Some of our girls decided not to play travel ball last summer, and I was afraid they might be getting a little burned out,” McNeely said. “I didn’t really know what to expect this season, but they’ve come back re-energized.”

East got off to a super start, allowing only one run while racking up four SPC wins. There was a 3-2, nine-inning road loss to North Davidson, but even that setback showed some growth. It was a battle with the Black Knights.

East has power, pitching and defense,

The most experienced Mustang is senior Maddie Roberts. The senior was all-county and all-conference and batted .377 with 16 RBIs.

“We’ll have her in the outfield or DH,” McNeely said. “That’s a bat that’s got to be in the lineup.”

There are a host of juniors — catcher Chloe Shank, outfielders Kady Collins and Gracie Barber, third baseman Kori Miller and pitchers/first basemen Eleni Miller and Camryn Perkins.

Shank socked nine homers and was All-SPC and All-Rowan County. Kori Miller batted .357 with 18 RBIs and was all-conference and all-county. Eleni Miller, no relation to Kori, drove in 14 runs while starring in the circle and has been receiving postseason accolades since her freshman year.

East will have two hard-hitting sophomores up the middle. Shortstop Lily Kluttz and second baseman Jordan Dry have home-run power, as well as strong gloves. Dry can also be used in the outfield if needed.

Kaley Pfister, Kimberly Troublefield and Ava Alderman are the other sophomores on the varsity team.

East has added a serious newcomer in freshman pitcher Madalynn “Madi” Tigert, who already made an impact for East volleyball last fall.

Tigert pitched a no-hitter against an experienced South Rowan team early this season. Tigert, Eleni Miller and Perkins should give East one of the deepest pitching staffs around.

East will have the only jayvee team in the county and also the only one in the SPC.

“We’re trying to find some games for them,” McNeely said. “They’ll mostly be playing 4As.”

The absence of jayvee squads will mean a standard starting time of 5:30 p.m. for SPC games.

East lost in the second round of the 3A state playoffs last season to eventual state champion Enka, so the Mustangs know the level they’re going to have to play at to be there at the end.

Their league should help them get to a high level. Central Cabarrus and West Rowan always have outstanding teams, so that’s going to be four furious games, while South Rowan has an impressive roster packed with returning starters.

“We’ve set high goals, but we know our league is deeper than it has been,” McNeely said. “Concord got a freshman class full of travel ball players. Northwest has really improved. There aren’t going to be many walk-over SPC games.”

East looks like the team to beat, but only time will tell.

 

East Rowan softball

Coach: Todd McNeely (4th season, 40-23)

All-Rowan County returners: Maddie Roberts, Kori Miller, Chloe Shank, Eleni Miller

Key addition: Pitcher Madi Tigert

2023 record: 15-9, 9-5 SPC, 4th place

Playoffs: Lost to (state champ) Enka in second round

2024 record: 4-1