Southern Tier Sports ReportHORSEHEADS — Coming off a season in which they reached the state final, the Horseheads softball team got back to work this week as practices began for the new season.
“Super excited,” Horseheads coach Paul Richmond said. “We have been doing open gyms all winter. We have a lot of young talent coming up and we have 11 returners so we are in good shape.”
The numbers are strong for the Blue Raiders from the varsity down to modified.
“We do (have good numbers) and We also have large modified numbers,” Richmond said. “That’s not including all the seventh graders I already extraced from that, so the program is in a good place.”
With a lot of returning players from a state finalist, the Blue Raiders are ready to see what this team can do.
“A lot of excitement,” Richmond said. “Reagan (Burge), our No. 1 (pitcher) had some surgery in the offseason on her foot, so it will take her a while to get back in motion as a pitcher, but we’ve got other people ready to step up and get experienced, that’s what the season is for.”
While the team didn’t graduate huge numbers last year, they do have to replace all-state standout Megan Wolf.
“We can’t replace Megan,” Richmond said. “But, we have a lot of young kids that played last year a lot. So, we’ve got all our bats back practically. Some of the JV’s that are going to come in and fill spaces are going to be very powerful as well. So, I think we’ll surprise people.”
The team also had some young players last year, like starting catcher Presley McInnes who was a 7th grader a season ago. Those younger players all got a year more of experience as they caome into this year.
“It’s funny in open gyms you see an eighth grader that’s a returner,” Richmond said. “You forget what grade she’s in sometimes. But, she’s put in as much work as anybody. Working out, getting stronger, tons of hitting. She has a new hitting instructor that my own daughter, Alli, used back int he day. She’s primed to have a big season, I think.”
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PHOTOS BY BRIAN FEES
PHOTO GALLERY FROM PRACTICE:
