Sports

The New Franklin Lady Bulldogs softball team could be a team to watch in 2024.After finishing 11-14 overall and 4-3 in the Central Activities Conference last fall, first-year coach Cory Nicholson will return all but two starters this season to go along with 12 returning letterwinners.But better yet, New Franklin will have plenty of depth on this year’s team with 17 players suited out for the 2024 season.

New Franklin baseball coach Erich Gerding has seen it all in his 17 years of coaching the Bulldogs.However, the 2024 season could be the biggest challenge of his career with only three returning starters and seven returning letterwinners off a team that finished 16-7 overall in the spring and 11-4 last fall.

Pilot Grove Lady Tigers softball coach Avery Reardon knew the 2023 season would be a learning curve not only for him but also for his players.While entering his first season of coaching at the high school level, Reardon had little time to learn his players’ names, much less their parents before the season started.

The Pilot Grove Tigers baseball team fell just short of reaching its goal of winning a conference and district championship during the spring season.Although the Tigers still finished two games above .500 for the season at 12-10, they were 6-2 in the Central Activities Conference for second place.This fall, Pilot Grove will return only three starters and nine letterwinners from last year’s team but will have 18 players suited out for the 2024 season.“We are adding nine new players to the team this year, seven of whom are freshmen,” Lorenz said.

The Prairie Home Panthers baseball team got a little taste of success during the 2024 spring season by finishing 9-7 overall and 3-0 in the CCAA Conference.But after switching to a new conference for the 2024-25 school year (Show-Me Central Conference), the Panthers now have their sights set on competing against seven other schools.The good news is that of the 14 players suited out for the upcoming fall season, the Panthers return seven starters and 10 letterwinners under first year coach Jacob Clevenger.Clevenger, a graduate of Bunceton High School, said he believes the season will be another good one with the returners they have for the 2024 season.

After taking a year off from competition, the Bunceton Lady Dragons volleyball team is looking to get back on the floor to prove they belong this season under head coach Tony Braby.Although the Lady Dragons last played during the 2022-23 school year, where they finished 2-16-1, Braby said the junior class this season has the most experience as they were freshman the last time they took to the volleyball courts.