Submitted by Jenny Hannuksela

The Mt. Carmel Lady Aces softball team will open its season Saturday in the Edwards County Round Robin Tournament.

Mt. Carmel will play Edwards County at 10 a.m., Salem at 11:30 a.m. and Carmi at 1 p.m.

We are still a young team with only two starting seniors on the field. The rest of the lineup will be filled with sophomores and juniors.

Maddie Thompson, a junior, will be starting her third year on the mound, with her teammate, Katherine Tennis, who has been behind the plate for the last three years also. I look for a lot of leadership from these two.

Maddie's pitching has been getting better, with more finesse, every year. Katherine has worked extremely hard during the off-season on her throws to second, and her hitting.

Anna Walls is a four-year starter and returns with great knowledge and ability. She will be at third base. Anna has traveled all summer and fall, playing softball, and that has paid off with her signing with Wabash Valley College recently.

Another senior, Keturah Richison, was a part-time starter at second base last year. She will be stepping into the position full time.

Sophomore Jessica Kieffer will be back in center field; she can play anywhere but her speed is most needed in center. Kieffer will be leading the outfielders this year and will help direct them to the ball. She was one of our top hitters last year.

Sophomore Courtney Dunkel will be playing shortstop, a position Katelyne Raber held last year. Courtney can cover a lot of ground. Junior Sabrina Dougherty will be stepping into Jordyn Gehret's position in left field.

I look for Courtney and Sabrina to do extremely well in their positions.

Courtney Saxe is a returning three-year starter. She will bring a big bat to the offense, and can play either the infield or outfield. She will play in many different positions this year. Courtney is an asset on the field at any position.

Other players competing for varsity positions include senior Allison Neikirk, juniors Beth Burkitt and Cecily McLin, sophomores Lindsay Newkirk, Jessica Steckler, Holly Deisher, Amanda Guisewite, Kasey Hockgeiger, Molly Henson and Reagan Sweppy, and freshmen Patty Kieffer, Ashley Tennes, Kristen Porter and Evie Dunkel.

McLin is new to the team this year. She has speed and we hope to see her run a lot of bases and score.