Greg Campbell returns as Piqua softball coach.

The Lady Indians were 9-14 a year ago.

“While we are a young team, we will be looking to improve and continue to build from last year,” Piqua coach Greg Campbell said.

Seniors for Piqua include Kenzi Anderson, Ashlynn Coppess, Chai Sowers and Reagan Toopes.

Anderson batted .437 with 10 double, two triples and 13 RBIs last season.

Toopes batted .449 with five doubles, two triples, six home runs and 34 RBIs.

Sowers batted .329 a year ago with five doubles.

The juniors on the roster included Olivia Anthony, Brielle Penley, Caylee Roe, Tarika Sutters and Brienna Finfrock.

Roe batted .500 last season with 12 doubles, one triple and 23 RBIs.

The sophomores include Julie Coppess, Brooklyn Larck and Braylin Shaner.

Coppess had a 3-4 record last season, while Larck was 1-4.

Larck batted .408 with a double and 26 RBIs and Coppess batted .333.

Rounding out the roster are freshman Audrey Bean, Julia Curl, Elizabeth Hubbard, Emily Kiser and Miranda Sweetman.

TIPPECANOE

Michele Stoltz takes over as Tippecanoe coach.

The Lady Red Devils were 19-8 a year ago.

Returning letterwinners include seniors Kaela May, Anna Quinn, Ashley Aselage and Maddie Carner; and juniors Kailey Bryson, Ally Broering and Emma Davis.

Also on the roster are juniors Charli Clausen and Emily Miller and freshman Ella Henn, Kyla Fry and Gracie Raiff.

Quinn will head up the pitching staff, along with Miller and Henn.

Quinn had a 5-2 record a year ago with a 6.807 ERA and 21 strikeouts.

Broering returns behind the plate, with Fry and Raiff backing up.

A year ago, Broering batted .431 with six doubles, three home runs and 25 RBIs.

Aselage and Carner will see action at first base, Bryson, Davis and Quinn will see action in the middle infield and May will see time at third base and shortstop.

Aselage batted .554 a year ago, with six doubles, two triples, a home run and 22 RBIs.

Carner batted .444 in limited plate appearances.

Bryson batted .450 last season with 17 RBIs, Davis batted .473 with six doubles, two triples and 18 RBIs and Quinn batted .500 in limited plate appearances.

May batted .383 with nine doubles, two triples, a home run and 22 RBIs.

Clausen, Davis, Carner and Aselage will all see action in the outfield.

“We have an all new coaching staff, and having graduated six seniors from 2021, we have a young team who will be shifting positions this season,” Stoltz said. “Look for this hard working group to surprise a few teams due to their work ethic and dedication.”

TRC

BETHEL

Tiffany Pekas takes over as Bethel softball coach.

The Railroaders finished 7-15 a year ago.

Returning letterwinners include seniors Courtney Eschete and Macy Hawk; juniors Aly Bird and Lily Williams and sophomores Paige Kearns, Faith Moorefield and Morgan Rogers.

Bird and Williams return on the mound and will be joined by freshman Adaline Etherington and Eschete.

Kearns and Sheen will handle the catching duties.

Eschete and freshman Ellie Larkins will head up the infielders, while Rogers and freshman Ryleigh Fisher will see action in the outfield.

“I am proud of the growth and dedication the girls have shown since I took over the program in July,” Pekas said. “They are doing everything we are asking of them. We are going to be a young team and have some work to do and there are some upperclassmen that are leading the way.

“We look forward to getting back out on the field and competing in the Three Rivers Conference. If we keep raising the standard and showing up to do the work, anything can happen.”

COVINGTON

Dan Cain returns as Covington coach.

The Lady Buccs were 17-12 a year ago and are looking forward to their first season in the TRC.

Returning letterwinners include seniors Kierra Hinnegan and Parker Metz, juniors Nigella Reck, Mara Newhouse, Reaghan Lemp, Meg Rogers and Erika Gostomsky and sophomores Karyanne Turner and Kamryn Barnes.

“We return seven starters ,” Cain said.

Rogers, Gostomsky and Reck all return to the pitching staff.

“Nigella Reck’s versatility will be be a big help,” Cain said. “She will play outfield, shortstop, pitch and possibly some third base. Meg Rogers will be one of the top pitchers in the league, plus our leadoff hitter.”

Newhouse will handle the catching duties, backed up by freshman Elizabeth Coblentz.

“Nigella Reck and Mara Newhouse combined for 110 RBIs last season,” Cain said. “They will be two of the best hitters in the league.”

Covington will feature a young infield, including Barnes and freshman Taylor Kirker, Alexa Hitchcock and Maggie Anderson.

“We will start freshman at third base, shortstop and second base and a freshman at first base,” Cain said.

Turner, Reck and Gostomaky will be in the outfield.

“Karyanne Turner can really fly and has a strong arm,” Cain said. “Nigella Reck has a strong arm and can really track the ball.”

Cain is excited about his team.

“We have a great team attituded chemistry,” Cain said. “This is our first year in the new league. Miami East, Milton-Union and Riverside — along with ourselves — should battle it out for the top spot. Bethel has a new coach and could slip in there as well.

“Playing a home and away format will be nice, but challenging. If we can stay healthy, we can make a nice run in the tournament.”

MIAMI EAST

Brian Kadel returns as coach.

The Vikings were 20-7 a year ago and 9-3 in the CCC.

They move to the TRC this year.

Returning letterwinners include seniors Kyleigh Kirby, Kalli Teeters and Kayly Fetters; juniors Kiera Kirby and Rachael Haak and sophomores Maddie Maxson, Abigal Kadel and Reagan Howell.

Kyleigh Kirby, junior Annabelle Penny and freshman Jacqueline Kadel will handle the pitching duties.

Kirby was 10-2 last season with a 1.84 ERA and 98 strikeouts in 102 innings.

Penny had a 4-0 record and 4.20 ERA.

Senior Braven Mills (broken ankle last season) and Kiera Kirby will handle the catching duties.

The infielders will include Maxson, Howell, Fetters and Kyleigh Kirby.

Kirby batted .500 last season with six home runs and 41 RBIs.

Maxson batted .370, scored 27 runs and had 21 RBIs, Fetters batted .412 and Howell batted 371.

The outfield will include Teeters, Abigail Kadel and Jacqueline Kadel.

Teeters batted .385 last season and scored 40 runs.

“We return eight starters from last year,” Brian Kadel said. “The team has great senior leadership and we are looking to continue building on last year’s district semifinal appearance. This our first year in the Three Rivers Conference. There will be several good teams including Covington, Riverside and Milton-Union.

“Playing home and away in the new league will be a new experience for us. The team expects to compete for a top spot in the league and make a good run in the tournament.”

MILTON-UNION

Curt Schaefer returns as coach.

The Bulldogs were 16-9 last season.

Returning letterwinners include seniors Taylor Falb, Rhi Emmons, Maddie Winemiller, Regan Robinson, Maddie Baker and Jenna Booher; and sophomores Carley Zimmer and Raegan Fulton.

Zimmer and Fulton will handle the pitching duties after seeing limited action there last year.

Baker and Maria Lopez will handle catching duties.

Baker batted .459 a year ago with 12 RBIs.

The top infielders will be Mylee Jones and Fulton.

Fulton batted .421 a year ago with four doubles, one triple, one home and 20 RBIs.

Booher, Robinson and Emmons will head up the outfield.

Booher batted .433 in limited plate appearances a year ago.

“It should be a good year,” Schaefer, whose team is moving from the SWBL to the TRC this year said. “We have a lot of returners coming back and should finish above .500.”

WOAC

BRADFORD

Shon Schaffer returns as Bradford coach.

The Railroaders are coming off win the D-IV state title and are moving from the CCC to the WOAC.

The Railroaders finished 30-2 a year ago.

The returning letterwinners include seniors Austy Miller, Abby Fike, Nylani Beireis, Alexis Barhorst and Zoe Brewer; juniors Izzy Hamilton and Remi Harleman and sophomores Alani and Tegan Canan.

Pitcher Skipp Miller has move on to Ohio University and Beireis and Hamilton will take over the pitching duties.

Austy Mille, an All-Ohio selection last season as shortstop, will see action behind the plate with Alani Canan and also play infield.

Beireis and Fike return in the infield and Hamilton will move from the outfield to the infield.

Canan is back in the outfield and will be joined by Barhorst and Shay Swick.

“Our goal is just to keep getting better for when tournament time comes around,” Schaffer said. “We want to stay healthy and enjoy playing the game.”

NEWTON

Kirk Kadel returns as coach.

The Indians finished 8-12 a year ago.

Returning letterwinners include seniors Laci Miller, Molly Norman, Ashley Evans and Camryn Gleason.

The top pitchers will be Miller, Layla VanCulin and Sienna Montgomery, while Norman and Breanna Ingle will handle the catching duties.

Gleason, Cori Haines and Lexi West will be the top infielders and Montgomery and Evans will be the top outfielders.

“We are looking to be more consistent in the field and at the plate this year,” Kadel said. “We lost a lot of offense from last year, but we will be able to score runs playing small ball more consistently, Our overall team defense should be improved. With a little more depth in our pitching, we should be able to stay fresh and consistent.”