East Peoria, Ill. - It's softball season. Numerous four-year institutions and some junior college programs have gotten their seasons underway already, but Thursday at the Gulf Shores Sportsplex, it'll be the Illinois Central College softball team's turn, with coach Heather Doty's group partaking in the annual Coyote Classic, hosted by Coastal Alabama College. The Cougars are coming off a (28-17) campaign in 2023, making it to the Region Tournament Semifinal. ICC is excited to showcase a new-look pitching staff, coupled with two of their top four hitters from a year ago back - hoping to bound that into a successful 2024.
IT'S BEEN AWHILE... BREAKING DOWN 2023
The Cougars played incredibly tough competition from the get-go, but didn't come away from said competition without some roses. That included defeated D1 #4 Seminole State and D2 #3 Des Moines Area in Georgia. When it came to region play, the Cougars secured a (3-1) series win against #16 Spoon River and Lincoln Land. ICC was also able to get (4-0) series sweeps against Heartland and Lewis & Clark.
In the postseason, the Cougars got off to a 2-0 start with wins over Lewis & Clark, but a couple close, tough losses to Danville Area ultimately ended ICC's season in the Region Tournament Semifinal.
WHO'S BACK?
When it comes to returning pieces, you'll certainly want to look at the plate.
Shylar Boze (50 hits) and
Marley Williamson (38 hits) make up the aforementioned two hitters within the team's top four that are back. Boze, while running the hot corner, also led the team with a .385 batting average.
THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES
ICC has lost some players that have meant a lot to them over the past few years. Among those contributors include
Kiersten Manning, who at the plate slugged .798, hitting a team-high 15 home runs and drawing a team-high 12 walks. As the team's ace in the circle, Manning struck out 204 batters, averaging 10.7 K's/7 inn..
Olivia Drish was another player that brought a power-hitting pitcher to the roster that is no longer with the Cougars. Drish dazzled a year ago, hitting 13 homers and striking out 89 in the circle.
NEW PLAYERS ON THE BLOCK
With key players from the 2023 team now gone, look for names like
Nivarra Oredina (SS/C - Athens HS),
Graci Guenther (C - Pekin HS),
Courtney Campbell (OF - Pekin HS) to all step up. In total, there are 11 freshmen on this year's roster.
When it comes to the previously discussed new-look pitching staff,
Hanna Evans (So. - IVC HS),
Addison Church (Fr. - Richwoods HS),
Broghan Hall (Fr. - Pekin HS), and
Marlee Brown (Fr. - Beardstown HS) make up the pitchers on the team here in 2024.
OUT THE BACK WINDOW - LOCAL PLAYERS APLENTY
One thing that would certainly entice a crowd out to Thome Field and nearby road games this season is the high amount of local talent on the roster. In fact, Beardstown's Brown is the 'furthest' away, but that's only about an hour and a half. Outside of the aforementioned Oredina (1h8min from home), no ICC Softball player is from more than an hour away. Despite the hotbed of talented players right nearby, Coach Doty makes sure to note it doesn't make it easy cherry-picking necessarily.
"I wouldn't say it's easier to recruit local, as opposed to out of state, you still have to create a connection with the athlete to want to attend ICC. Kathy (Holzhauer; assistant coach) and I have always tried to find the best fits for our program."
PRESEASON PREP IN THE BOOKS
The Cougars were tested with their fall ball slate, including taking on two NCAA opponents in Bradley University and Eureka College. With plenty of other high-quality NJCAA opposition having been on that fall schedule, it's that and other elements that have Coach Doty pleased with where the team's at.
"It's the way they interact with each other on the field that shows they support one another. We had a great offseason preparing for the spring and we are ready to show our efforts."
KEY GAMES TO WATCH
For those that have followed the program for the past few seasons, some notable matchups are frankly just givens - #4 Parkland, #13 Spoon River, and (RV) Danville Area are all matchups that Coach Doty says always brings out the best in both programs. Fans can locate the full 2024 schedule at
THIS LINK.
WHAT'S NEXT FOR THE COUGARS
2024 Coyote Classic
vs. East Central Missouri & D1 Iowa Western
Gulf Shores Sportsplex - Gulf Shores, AL
Thursday, February 15th - 4:00 & 6:15 PM
Watch Live (GameChanger)
Live Stats (GameChanger)
