2024 Softball Season Preview
2023 record: 19-29 (11-15 Heart)
Starters returning/lost: 5/4 fielders; 2/1 pitchers
Letterwinners returning/lost: 13/10
Notable returners:
Chelsey Huff, Jr., Douds, Iowa
(First-team all-Heart, 10-14 record, 2.31 ERA, 154 1/3 IP, 147 K)
Abby Wilson, Sr., Calgary, Alberta
(Second-team all-Heart, .308 BA, 33 R)
Allyson Stewart, Sr., Delta, B.C.
(Second-team all-Heart, .298 BA, 11 RBI, 11 R)
Nayely Martinez, Sr., Carson, Calif.
(Letterwinner, .216 BA)
Notable losses:
Valeria Quiroga
(All-America)
Kiana Young
(Letterwinner)
Sarah Gallivan
(Letterwinner)
Shiloh Cunningham
(Letterwinner)
Notable newcomers:
Laila Smith, Fr., Olympia, Wash.
Tori Smith, Fr., Olympia, Wash.
Crystal Warren, Fr., Las Vegas, Nev.
Peyton Naranjo, Fr., Ripon, Calif.
Under new leadership, the William Penn softball team looks to make waves in the 2024 campaign.
The Statesmen, led by Laura North in her inaugural campaign, finished 2023 with a 19-29 record (11-15 Heart). The squad just missed qualifying for the Heart of America Athletic Conference Championship.
Chelsey Huff (Jr., Douds, Iowa, Exercise Science) will pace the Statesmen after garnering first-team all-conference laurels last spring. Second-team selections Abby Wilson (Sr., Calgary, Alberta, Nursing) and Allyson Stewart (Sr., Delta, B.C., Nursing) will also bolster the squad with returning experience.
Pitcher
Huff posted a deceiving 10-14 record as she posted a 2.31 Earned Run Average, striking out 147 batters in 154 1/3 innings of work to earn her the top spot in the rotation once again.
Emily Bryant (Sr., University Place, Wash., Nursing) adds more experience as she was 7-10 last season with a 4.02 ERA in 102 2/3 innings in the circle.
Karah Dunham (Jr., Weston, Mo., Human Services and Psychology) also saw time on the rubber last season and will compete for work.
Freshmen Tori Smith (Olympia, Wash., Secondary Education), Crystal Warren (Las Vegas, Nev., Secondary Education), and Janeiya Lopez (Riverbank, Calif., Nursing) are also in the mix.
Catcher
Returner Rebecca Warren (Jr., Las Vegas, Nev., Nursing) and incoming freshman Laila Smith (Olympia, Wash., Elementary Education) are fighting for the starting nod on the receiving end of the battery.
Both will be suiting up for the varsity for the first time this spring, while backup Madeline Pierce (Jr., McClelland, Iowa, Biology) will, however, enter the campaign with some past opportunities as she tallied a pair of hits last year.
First Base
A year after redshirting, Brianna Talamantes (Jr., San Pedro, Calif., Secondary Education) returns to the lineup as the projected starter. The now-junior hit .220 in 2022 with 15 RBIs and 12 runs.
Amber Kurtz (Jr., Savannah, Ten., Political Science) and Madisyn Tracy (So., Joplin, Mo., Nursing) add returning depth at the position and will battle newcomer Abby Thompson (Jr., Keokuk, Iowa, Secondary Education) for time on the diamond.
Second Base
Nayely Martinez (Jr., Carson, Calif., Business Management) will once again start at second base, having hit .216 with six RBIs and five runs scored in 2023.
Alexis Price (So., Oskaloosa, Iowa, Elementary Education) also returns for the navy and gold to add depth behind Martinez.
Shortstop
Charley Geguzis (Sr., Williamsburg, Iowa, Business Management), like Martinez, has been a mainstay in the middle of the infield for years and is prepared for one final season at WPU. The senior owned a .194 batting average a year ago with 13 RBIs and 20 runs scored.
Returner Emily Winkler (So., North Platte, Neb., Exercise Science) is ready in the wings as well.
Third Base
Ella Pierce (Jr., McClelland, Iowa, Business Management) is ready to man the hot corner after seeing action in a handful of contests in 2023.
When she is not catching, Laila Smith may also earn innings at third base.
Left Field
Returner Zoey Jones (Sr., Ottumwa, Iowa, Elementary Education) and new freshman Peyton Naranjo (Ripon, Calif., Biology) are currently scrapping for the starting nod. Jones notched several starts last season, hitting .161 with six runs.
Winkler, as well as fellow returning players Bailee Rinn (So., Omaha, Neb., Biology) and Hannah Gibson (Jr., Pleasantville, Iowa, Elementary Education), have figured into conversations about playing as well.
Rinn has the most experience of the entire group, scoring five times with a .149 batting average last year.
Center Field
Wilson has center field locked down and will be a contributor in all aspects. She had a strong 2023 campaign with a .308 batting clip that included 33 runs and three RBIs.
In addition to pitching, Crystal Warren is also hoping to see work in the grass.
Right Field
Stewart enjoyed a productive 2023 campaign, hitting .298 with 11 RBIs and 11 runs scored, while Rebecca Warren is prepared to replace Stewart, if needed.
Designated Hitter
Numerous individuals may find their way onto the lineup card because of their hitting prowess. The list includes Huff, Laila Smith, Rebecca Warren, Crystal Warren, Tracy, and Winkler.
Huff presents the best resume with a .338 batting average last year. She hit one home run with 26 RBIs and 21 runs scored.
Schedule
William Penn opens the season in Sioux Center at the American State Bank Dome Classic hosted by Dordt this Friday and Saturday. The Statesmen are away from Oskaloosa for over a month before finally beginning their home slate on March 20 against Waldorf, while the squad's Heart opener is March 23 at Benedictine.
WPU, which is set to host 14 games this spring, will be vying for a spot in the eight-team Heart Championship that will be held May 2-5 in Cedar Rapids.
