The girls summer along Panther Drive in Knoxville will open up their season on Monday night against Little Hawkeye Conference team Newton. Knoxville is coming off a 13-17 season but must replace three of their top four hitters lost to graduation last year. Maddy Findley returns as the leading hitter for the Panthers. She had 30 hits and 16 R-B-I in 2016. Also returning for Knoxville is Hannah Hauschildt, who hit two home runs for the Panthers last season. Senior leadership will fall on the lone two seniors for Steph Christner’s club in 2017 as Shaye Nichols, who brought in 12 runs last year and Lucy Olson, who also had 12 R-B-I. The Panthers will take on a Newton team that returns nearly everyone from a 21-9 season last year. First pitch for varsity is scheduled for around 7:30.