JASON McCLURE

Herald-Dispatch.com

HUNTINGTON  Huntington High softball is among the elite programs in the state and the bar is always set high for the Highlanders, who are coming off back-to-back state titles.

Several key players from last years championship team were lost to graduation. That includes standout pitcher Kayla Stinson, second baseman/pitcher Tressa Riley, center-fielder Samantha Spurlock, left-fielder Brittany Napier, catcher Trysten Gue and first baseman Lexi Svingos.

All six of those players were critical to the title run. The consistency the team played with was second to none. Stinson and Spurlock are still making waves on the softball field a few miles down the road at Marshall University.

Despite the loss of so much talent, the Highlanders appear ready to reload with another talented group of players. Experience is the key concern with a very young team, but the coaching staff believes the girls are capable of performing at a high level.

"Our goal is to get back to the state tournament and compete for a third-straight title," Huntington High coach Darren Woody said. "We have some talent, but we lack experience and having back-to-back state titles sets a high precedent for us."

Huntington High's top returning player is junior Kiara Chappelle, who was named as the West Virginia Gatorade Player of the Year for the outstanding performance she displayed as a sophomore. Chappelle had a .500 batting average with three home runs, 45 RBIs and 35 runs.

This season Chappelle will be in the pitching rotation, and play shortstop or third base when she's not on the mound.

"This is a brand new year and we have to start with small goals," Chappelle said. "The target will be on our back and hopefully we can continue to play well."

Woody said one of the first steps to replace the starters he lost is to put players in positions where they can excel the most. It's another giant puzzle to solve in the quest to be the state's best.

"We have competition going on at nearly every position," Woody said. "Early in the year we will be experimenting with the lineup and trying to find some consistency."

The only starting position that has been claimed is at catcher. Junior Ashley Byrd will move from third base to fill the catcher's spot. Junior Nikki Estep will be the relief catcher.

Junior Jennifer Jones and Estep will play first base. Senior Kara Hornbuckle and freshman Lyndsay Wilson are vying for playing time at second base. Junior Shawnice Jones, sophomore Marah Motley and Chappelle are all in the mix at third base.

Motley and Chappelle will split time at shortstop depending on who's on the mound.

The pitching rotation in no particular order consists of Chappelle, Ashley Davis and Motley.

A total of eight players are battling for starting positions and playing time in the outfield. They include Davis, Shawnice Jones, Jennifer Jones, Lauren Sizemore, Raquel Williams and Mariah Keith.

"It's going to be a very challenging season," Woody said. "We are just going to play hard and see what happens."

Huntington High opens the season with a home game at 5 p.m. today against Hurricane.

Spring Valley falls to Ripley in season opener

March 21, 2009 @ 12:07 AM

JASON McCLURE

The Herald-Dispatch

SPRING VALLEY -- Ripley softball pitcher Ally Southall entered a comfort zone that made her nearly unstoppable Friday against Spring Valley in the season opener for both teams.

Southall gave up only four hits and had 14 strikeouts in a 5-1 victory.

She fired the ball over the plate with a combination of speed and power that baffled Spring Valley hitters.

"I warmed up pretty good before the game and my pitches were on target most of the day," Southall said. "We had a good all-around effort with our defense."

Spring Valley opened the season with school principal Steve Morris as the interim head coach. Morris said coach Stacey Mabry is on maternity leave and he isn't certain when she will return.

Morris said he will remain Spring Valley's coach until Mabry returns.

"Ripley is a tough team and its my understanding that Southall is the best pitcher in the state and she showed that today," Morris said.

Ripley came out swinging hard in the top of the first inning. Catcher Carly Caldon hit a double to get things rolling and Carisa Ratliff smacked a single to bring her home. Later in the inning Taylor Fisher blasted another deep shot for a double that scored Breanna Ratliff.

Spring Valley's struggles at the plate finally came to a halt in the bottom of the sixth inning with one big swing.

With two outs and Spring Valley still trailing 2-0, Morgan Stickler focused in as Southall fired another ball across the plate. In her two previous at bats Stickler struck out, but this time she crushed the fast moving pitch and sent it out of the park.

The home run trimmed the lead to 2-1, but Ripley wasted little time by responding in the top of the seventh inning. Carissa Ratliff connected for a double and then Michelle Sayre brought her home by hitting a line drive single.

Breanna Ratliff had an outstanding day at the plate for Ripley, going 4-for-4 with an RBI double in a three-run, seventh-inning rally.

"This is a very good showing for us to start the season," Ripley coach Ken Swisher said. "It surprised me we started wellbecause early in the season teams don't hit the ball well."

Sayre and Carisa Ratliff were also solid at the plate for Ripley, batting 2-for-3. Taylor Fisher was 2-for-4 with a double and one RBI.

RIPLEY 200 000 3 -- 5 11 2

SPRING VALLEY 000 001 0 -- 1 4 1

Southall and Caldon; (SV) Carper, Wilson (6) and Stickler . WP -- Southall. LP -- Carper.

Hitting: (R) Caldon 2B; Carisa Ratliff 2-3, Sayre 2-3, RBI; Breanna Ratcliff 4-4, 2B; Fisher 2-3, 2B, RBI; (SV) Morgan Stickler 1-4, HR.