One area that improved noticeably this season for the Knoxville Softball Squad was hitting. Last season the Panthers had a team batting average of 275, this season that average was 70 points higher at 345 which put the Panthers fifth in class 4A. Coach Steph Christner tells KNIA/KRLS Sports all the girls worked on their hitting in the off season and says next year should be even better as the juniors have made hitting a source of pride. Ricki Hall will come back as the leading hitter, she batted 410 and lead off hitter Carrie Chambers will also be back after her career best 402 batting average this season.