The Kewanee Boiler Girls are three games into the 2024 season and, this far, the team has experienced some mixed results.
After defeating LaSalle-Peru 5-3 on Monday, the Boiler Girls suffered an 11-1 road loss to Ottawa Marquette on Tuesday and then fell to IVC, 6-1, Wednesday night in Chillicothe.
Last year’s team finished with a record of 16-8 and had a runner-up effort of 9-3 in TRAC-East play. Their season ended with a tough 1-0 loss to perennial softball powerhouse, Rockridge, in the regional championship game.
The Rockets (TRAC-West) have now won three consecutive state titles and will be seeking a fourth with pitching ace Kendra Lewis in the circle. Lewis boasts a record of 65-0 and is ranked one of the top five pitchers in the nation. She is set to continue her pitching career at the University of Wisconsin. Kewanee is slated to host Rockridge April 19 at 4:30 p.m. at Northeast Park.
The Boiler Girls lost four talented players to graduation (Marissa Stevens, Ava LaFollette, Makaela Salisbury and McKensey Stontz), but they have nine returning varsity players. The 17-player squad has seven seniors, one junior, five sophomores and four freshmen.
Head coach of the Boiler Girls is Daymon McDowell. Varsity assistant coaches are Emma Lindenmeyer and Josh Hicks.
Seven returning seniors:
Tori Dennison (1B)
Hannah Tiska (CF, LF)
Hope Peed (3B, RHP, 3B)
Cheyanne Rodgers (SS, RHP, 3B)
Addison Gerard (1B)
Lexi Dillender (RF, LF, 2B)
Alison Bartell (LF, RF)
Junior:
Avaliz Marcus (LF, RF)
Returning sophomores:
Kalleigh Gale (RHP, 3B, SS)
Payton Galli (RF, LF)
Varsity sophomore newcomers:
Mikayla Ouart (RF)
Abigail Nebinger (LF, RF)
Rylie Pfister (LF, RF)
Varsity freshman newcomers:
Remy Hicks (LF, 2B, CF)
Kieryn Abernathy (1B, C, 3B)
Macee Pickering (C, 1B)
Lyric Duytschaver (2B, 3B, RHP)
