29 Jan 2025 CBC offers softball season preview

Posted at 5:03 PMh in Sports by

CONWAY — Coming off a 32-22 season and a run to the semifinals of the American Midwest Conference softball tournament, Central Baptist College opens the 2025 season on Friday afternoon at the Louisiana Christian University Play Day. CBC will take on #21 LSU-Alexandria and Houston-Victoria on the opening day of the season, with the first pitch against LSU-A scheduled for 3:30 p.m. at Champions Park in Pineville, La.

“I feel really good about last season,” said head coach Keith Hinson, who enters his fourth season at the helm. “Our bats were strong and they will be strong again this season. We were a pretty well-rounded team last year and we will be again this year.”

Hinson returns 20 players from last season, led by second-team all-conference selections senior Alex Jeter, sophomore Kinley Johnson and senior Abi West, who was also a gold glove recipient and was named to the all-tournament team, as well as third-team all-conference selection junior Kori Truelove. Joining them as returners are seniors Anna Marie Sternisha, Baylie Ainsworth, Madalyn Tubbs, and Allie McWhorter, juniors Olivia Pickard, Melanie Phillips and Sydney Weiser and sophomores Taviah Bradley, Corina Garcia, Elizabeth Stoufer, Isabella Sawyers, Emalee Cook, Liv Lowery, Kayla O’Kelley, Dakota Hobson, and Keely Hoffman. “We’ve got some power returning with Abi and Kinley, our top two home run hitters, back from last season,” said Hinson. “Brought back all of our infields, apart from Lauren Anderson, and we have some returners that have some experience in the outfield.”

An all-freshman incoming class is very talented this season. Arkansas natives Ryleigh Keele (Harrison), Eden East (Hot Springs), Casi Saunders (Greenbrier), Meg Ainsworth (Magnolia) and Kayleigh Harp (Springdale) join Taylyn Shuffield (Amarillo, Texas), Hailey Marange (Madisonville, La.), and Faith Deitrich (West Hickory, Ala.) in an eight-person class. “We have a bunch of very talented freshmen,” added Hinson. “Fall was a dogfight. We have a lot of players with potential to get a lot of playing time.”

CBC finished third in the AMC in the regular season last year before making it to the semifinals of the AMC tournament, falling to eventual champions Cottey to end their season. The schedule, which is 50 games, includes three games against top 25 preseason teams and trips to Louisiana, Dallas, Texas, Branson, Mo., and Gulf Shores, Ala., before AMC play begins on March 21. “I feel good about this season,” added Hinson. “I feel really comfortable with our pitching. I feel comfortable with our bats. I feel comfortable all the way with where we are. I think we have gelled as a team on and off the field.”

The Mustangs will also be the hosts of the 2025 AMC Tournament at City of Colleges Park. The tournament will begin April 29 and continue through May 2 or 3. The schedule for the tournament will be announced in the coming days, so check amcsportsonline.com for more information.