By RICHIE HALL
Reporter Sports Editor
Experience will be the word for the Noblesville softball team this season.
The Millers have many returning varsity players, a handful of whom are part of a large junior class. Noblesville’s roster will be a big-hitting one, including five players that averaged over .300 last season.
“Noblesville softball is excited about the 2018 spring season as we return 11 varsity players from last year, including eight players that have started at some point,” said second-year Millers coach Deke Bullard.
The top returning hitter from last season is junior Julia Furiak, who batted .412 last season. Furiak is one of eight juniors on the team. Others returning are Emily Minett, a .383 hitter and Abby Brown, who batted at a .347 clip.
There are three seniors on Noblesville’s team. Grace Smith is back, entering her fourth year as a Miller varsity player – she started in the season opener her freshman year. During her junior campaign, Smith hit at a .395 rate and led Noblesville in runs batted in with 22. She also returns the most hits (30) and runs scored (26), while both she and Minett each had three home runs last season.
Maggie Hampton is another senior; she brings back 10 runs from last year. Also back for her senior year is Cheney Gertz, who hit .250 as a junior.
The Millers will play a noon scrimmage at Guerin Catholic on Saturday, then open their regular season Tuesday at Western Boone. Noblesville’s first home game is Friday, March 23 against Scecina, and its first Hoosier Crossroads Conference game is Tuesday, March 27 at Fishers.
“With a strong incoming freshman class that has depth we are excited and ready to get the season started,” said Bullard. “The conference continues to get stronger and will be a battle as it is every year.”
Noblesville roster
Seniors: Cheney Gertz, Maggie Hampton, Grace Smith.
Juniors: Abigail Brown, Julia Furiak, Kyleigh Lowry, Emily Minett, Baily Ryan, Taylor Sjoholm, Julia Skinner, Shea Sterrett.
Sophomores: Olivia Stinson, Chloe Traggesser.
Freshmen: Maddie Taylor, Ella White.
Noblesville’s Julia Furiak batted .412 during her sophomore season last year. Furiak is one of eight juniors that will be on this year’s Millers team, which scrimmages Guerin Catholic on Saturday and opens its regular season Tuesday at Western Boone. (File photo)