The Knoxville Softball Squad has a new coach this summer. Carla Smith, who was an assistant for the last two seasons, was elevated to the head coach position after last season. Smith says she is at an advantage with the girls because they already know her and they are not trying to get to know someone during these first few days of practice.

Smith:
“The girls have been in contact with me wanting to get started, so it’s beeb a good transition. We only lost two seniors last year, so defensively we should be sound, and looking to make a few fundamental changes on the field and making sure everything is good to go.”

The two seniors that departed were two of the best players on the team in Alex Griggs and Emery Neer, the respective left and center fielders. That said, everyone else is back this season including third baseman Maddy Findley, who had 34 hits and 21 RBI and a 391 batting average. Other players with pop in the bats returning are freshman Emma Dunkin, who as an eighth grader led the team in RBI with 22 and collected 30 hits ,which was third on the team. Knoxville is set to host Southeast Warren on opening day June 15th.