The Westside Warriors enter the 2026 season following a 12 – 15 campaign that included a trip to the regional tournament. Head coach Andy Parker will rely on a smaller but determined group of returning players as the Warriors work to develop a young roster and compete for another postseason appearance. Offensively, Westside will lean heavily on several experienced players. Landon Webb leads the way as one of the top all-around players on the roster. Webb hit. 409 last season while playing shortstop or third base and will again be a key presence at the top of the lineup. Blaine Smith provides another important bat after hitting. 354 last season while also contributing defensively on the infield. Will Ferguson adds versatility to the lineup as he can play catcher, third base, or first base. Ferguson hit. 338 last season and posted an impressive. 981 fielding percentage, giving the Warriors reliability both offensively and defensively. On the mound, Webb returns as the staff leader after posting a 5 – 2 record with 74 strikeouts in 44.1 innings and a 2.68 ERA. Smith will also be an important arm in the rotation after finishing 3 – 2 with a 3.81 ERA while demonstrating excellent control and the ability to keep hitters off balance. Sophomore Sawyer McBroom is expected to step into a larger role this season. McBroom will play middle infield and contribute on the mound while likely hitting near the top of the lineup. For Westside, success will depend on solid defense and consistently throwing strikes. The Warriors may rely on aggressive base running and manufacturing runs offensively while their young roster gains experience throughout the season.
Westside finished the 2024 season with an impressive 20-8 record, with the season ending in the first round of the state tournament. The Lady Warriors return several key contributors from last season, including a strong senior class and talented underclassmen who played major roles in the team’ s success. Senior Vada Watkins will lead off and patrol center field again this season. Watkins had an outstanding year at the plate, finishing with a. 475 batting average,. 580 on-base percentage, and. 738 slugging percentage. Her ability to get on base and set the tone at the top of the lineup makes her a critical piece of the offense. Senior Mckyna Craig will once again be a centerpiece for Westside, batting in the third spot in the lineup while also serving as the team’ s primary pitcher. Craig finished last season hitting. 475 with a. 526 OBP and. 662 slugging percentage, tying for the team lead in batting average. Her consistency in big moments provides stability both offensively and in the circle. Behind the plate, senior Mattyx Cureton returns as catcher and will likely hit in the five-hole. Cureton hit. 346 with a. 426 OBP and. 444 slugging percentage last season and provides strong leadership and reliability defensively. Sophomore Kimber Wynn returns at shortstop after batting. 316 with a. 427 OBP and. 392 slugging percentage last year. Wynn brings speed, competitiveness, and energy to the infield. Sophomore Emma Byrd will move into a new role this season at second base or right field after previously playing third base. Byrd finished last season hitting. 297 with a. 458 OBP and. 359 slugging percentage, and the coaching staff expects her to make a significant impact in her new position. Westside returns one of the most reliable pitchers in the area in Mckyna Craig. Craig has been dominant in the circle over the past three seasons, known for her excellent control and ability to limit walks while moving the ball effectively to keep hitters off balance. Last season she served as the team’ s only pitcher, recording 201 strikeouts while allowing just 35 earned runs and finishing with a 1.601 ERA. Her calm presence and competitive mindset help anchor the team in high-pressure situations. Westside will add two freshmen who are expected to contribute immediately. Madalynn Smith, a left-handed pitcher and first baseman, will provide important depth in the circle while also strengthening the lineup at the plate. Smith shows strong command and movement with her pitches and brings confidence and vocal leadership to the team. She also gained valuable experience competing in the USA Softball All-American Games over the summer. Laela Crites will step into the starting role at third base as a freshman. Crites is a smart and athletic player who brings strong communication and awareness to the field. Her quickness and strength should allow her to make an immediate impact both defensively and offensively. Westside’ s success this season will center around discipline, consistency, and teamwork. With a strong group of senior leaders combined with talented younger players, maintaining composure in high-pressure situations will be essential. One of the team’ s biggest strengths is its pitching, led by Craig’ s experience in the circle and the addition of Smith to help share innings. The Lady Warriors also bring excellent team speed, which gives them an advantage both defensively and on the base paths. Defensive consistency is another key strength, with solid infield play, strong communication, and reliable fielding expected to anchor the team throughout the season. The primary focus area will be offensive consistency. The team has made significant strides at the plate and shows increased confidence and power, but stringing together quality at-bats and capitalize on scoring opportunities will be important as the season progresses.
The Marked Tree Indians finished last season 9-13, falling in the first round of the state tournament. This season, Coach Corey Anderson is looking to a large group of returners to turn that record around and make a deeper run in the postseason. PJ Powell is a great overall player with good vision at the plate. Powell will see a lot of innings on the mound showcasing great control of his pitches. Peyton Willoughby makes good contact at the plate and is great in the field at shortstop. Willoughby will also be in the rotation with a good fastball. Colton Huff provides good strength with the bat and a good arm at third base, while Christian Revelle has a good glove across the diamond at first. Parker Wray will handle the catching duties with solid blocking skills, and Brayden Ivy has a high IQ and a good glove at second base. Bradley Dwyer will showcase his good speed in the outfield and hit in the middle of the order. Joe McAuliffe has moved in to help provide depth at several positions if needed, while Caleb Strange, Dracen Brittingham, and Aiden Rolland could all help provide some depth in the infield. Coach Anderson lists great contact with the ball and minimizing errors in the field as keys for his team’ s success.“ Fielding is something we have been hard at work on and it seems to be a big strength for us at the moment,” Coach Anderson added.“ Vision at the plate will be an area for improvement for us to work on.” Look for the Marked Tree Indians to be much improved and battle for the 1A-3 crown. The Indians could also be a tough out come tournament time in May.