Piedmont’s softball team started the CCS tournament 2-0 before losing twice on day three, eliminating them in the semifinals. With a 10-6 conference record in the regular season, the Lions finished fourth in the standings. This year they will look to track down the regular season champions, Belhaven, and the tournament champions, Maryville.
“Winning the conference championship, going all the way to nationals and winning nationals,” is the goal for the Lions this year according to senior Jasmine Lowery. “Also, enjoying the experience and celebrating each other no matter the situation.”
The Lions lost a few key players but will return promising talent on the mound and at the plate. On the offensive side, Piedmont loses their runs and batting average (minimum 30 at bats) leader, Kaitlin Isley. They also lost RBI and home run leader, Kara Taylor.
Lowery will look to help fill that gap. She finished with a .375 batting average complimented by 25 RBIs last season. The team will also look for some big hits from transfer Kaylee Taylor. Taylor did not play last year, but in 2023 she made 32 game appearances at the NCAA Division II level for the University of Mount Olive.
Returning to the mound is senior pitcher Megan Steinmeyer who pitched more innings than anyone else on the team a season ago. Last year, Steinmeyer recorded 102.2 innings pitched and struck out 57 out of her 418 batters faced.
The loss of pitcher Riley Ford will hurt as she led the team in game appearances. Ford played in 20 of the Lions’ games and allowed a 2.51 ERA along with striking out 40 batters. There are no new pitchers to watch this season, but the Lions retain a lot of depth at the position with their returners.
“We have to lean on our fundamentals, communication and trust. With these three key elements I know we will go far in our postseason run,” said Lowery.
The Lady Lions enter the preseason poll in the same spot they finished last year, fourth, but they will look to prove everyone wrong with an even stronger finish.
The Lions start the season with a home doubleheader against Mount St. Joseph University and Emory University on Saturday, Feb. 15. They will open up their conference play against Asbury University on March 14.
