The Gallatin and Princeton softball teams made the trek to Legion Field in Milan on Friday afternoon, with the Milan Lady Wildcats hosting a three-squad jamboree featuring Grand River Conference squads all having new head coaches and increasing expectations.
In the trio of three-inning scrimmages, Princeton claimed a pair of 5-1 victories, with the first effort against Gallatin and the second against Milan. Milan and Gallatin played in the first scrimmage of the night, finishing in a 1-1 tie.
Despite being hit by the disappointing injuries to the anticipated 1-2 pitching punch of Lauren Krohn and Megan Spencer over the summer, Princeton’s depth and youth was on full display with new coach Steve Richman, coming to the Lady Tigers with a wealth of experience in the sport in Trenton, both at Trenton High School and North Central Missouri College.
Among the players seeing time in the circle for the Lady Tigers were sophomore Hannah Meighen and freshman Kelsey Goodin:
With the recent success of postseason runs and talent continuing to flow into the Tiger program from the middle school ranks, numbers are more than adequate for the program in 2021:
Princeton opens the weekend on Saturday, August 28th at the Albany Tournament.
Milan has new leadership heading into the season, opening at home on Saturday, August 28th against Brashear. Ched Hurley, who helped lead the Lady ‘Cats basketball program into the state quarterfinals last March, took the softball opening over the offseason.
Much like the basketball program, the Lady ‘Cats will feature a dominant presence in senior pitcher Cady Pauley, a force from the circle and at the plate. Developing the talented but inexperienced youth around Pauley will prove key for the Green ‘n Gold this fall, where a number of eight freshman out of a 19 girl roster could see significant playing time:
While Gallatin did have difficulties getting their offense charged up in the jamboree, there is youth and talent for a Lady Bulldog program taken over by new coach Penny Gardner in 2021. Junior Ella Bradford and sophomore AnnaBelle Ball handled the majority of the pitching duties on Friday afternoon. Fifteen young ladies make up the Gallatin squad this fall. Neither Gallatin nor Milan wanted to show anything of substance to the other, with the two squads meeting in the GRC opener on Tuesday, August 31st at Gallatin High School. Princeton has a road challenge on the same night, traveling to Maysville, with other GRC openers on the final night of the month seeing Trenton at Putnam County and Polo at South Harrison.
