Murfreesboro area high school softball preview

With the high school softball season under way, here is a look at what to know about Murfreesboro area teams in 2018:

Players to watch

Kendall Andrews, Blackman, Jr.: The UT-Chattanooga commitment hit .506 with 23 RBIs last year.

Sami Cenizal, Riverdale, Sr.: The shortstop and Motlow State signee hit .444 in the preseason.

Ashley Dyer, Central Magnet, Sr.: The Christian Brothers signee hit .424 with 35 runs, 30 RBIs and 23 stolen bases last season.

Kendall Forsythe, Riverdale, So.: Earned second-team all-area honors last year.

Abby Frazier, Central Magnet, Jr.: Hit .483 with five home runs, 43 RBIs and 30 runs last year.

Sophie Golliver, Siegel, So.: Earned all-area first-team honors and 7-AAA Pitcher of the Year at Oakland, going 11-5 with a 3.01 ERA last year.

Kalei Harding, Blackman, So.: The Florida State commitment hit .419 with 10 homers and 32 RBIs as a freshman.

Lexie Harper, Smyrna, Sr.: Batted .496 with seven doubles, two triples, a homer and 35 stolen bases last season.

Alexys Haskins, Oakland, Sr.: The senior second baseman earned all-area player of the year honors last year by hitting .383 with 12 doubles, eight homers and 30 RBIs. Started the season recovering from an injury suffered in the summer.

Kaylee Hewitt, Riverdale, Jr.: The Oregon commitment is a transfer and expected to be a key addition on the mound and in the infield.

Katie Killen, Smyrna, Sr.: The first-team all-area infielder hit .563 with 50 runs with 40 stolen bases.

Gracie Kirby, Oakland, Sr.: The first-team all-area performer hit .367 with four homers and 27 RBIs.

Presley Leebrick, Siegel, Jr.: The centerfielder and Belmont commitment was a second-team all-area performer last year.

Caitlyn Manus, Blackman, Jr.: Was 10-6 with with a 3.06 ERA to earn first-team all-area.

Caitlyn McCrary, Siegel, Jr.: The Tennessee commitment and third baseman was an all-area player of the year finalist, hitting .439 with five homers and 30 RBIs.

Macy Murphy, Riverdale, Sr.: The Western Kentucky signee hit .625 with two homers in the preseason.

Kali Penny, Central Magnet, So.: Led the Lady Tigers on the mound last year (2.89 ERA) and also hit .300, earning first-team all-area honors.

Shelby Sargent, Oakland, So.: The MTSU commitment was a second-team all-area performer and all-district in the outfield last year.

Loryn Sherwood, Stewarts Creek, Sr.: The North Alabama signee and all-area player of the year finalist hit .444 with 12 home runs.

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Morgan Smith, Stewarts Creek, Sr.: Was one of the area's top hitters as a sophomore before sitting out the entire 2017 season with a concussion.

Rachel Tarpley, Blackman, Jr.: The Florida Atlantic commitment was a second-team all-area performer behind the plate, hitting .388 with six homers and 20 RBIs.

Alyssa Ward, Central Magnet, Sr.: The Union signee hit .382 with 32 runs and was 28-for-28 in stolen bases last season.

Vanessa Westfall, Siegel, Jr.: The shortstop earned second-team all-area honors last season.

Sydney Williams, Riverdale, So.: The first-team all-area performer last year hit .400 with 25 RBIs.

Around the horn

Nine days of softball: The Southern Warrior Classic tournament will begin Thursday and last through the following week (ending April 30). Games will be played at Riverdale, Stewarts Creek, Siegel, Smyrna, Barfield, McKnight, Starplex, Oakland and Wilson Central.

Numerous teams from across the state and Alabama, Illinois, Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana and Arkansas will play in the tournament, including area squads Riverdale, Siegel, Blackman, Smyrna, Stewarts Creek, Central Magnet and Oakland.

To see the full schedule, click here.

Other top tournaments: Soddy-Daisy Invitational (Siegel, Blackman), March 30-31; Brentwood Invitational (Siegel, Oakland), April 6-7; Bob Jones Tournament (Stewarts Creek), April 6-7; Lincoln County Tournament (Riverdale), April 20-21.

Awaiting return: Reigning all-area player of the year Alexys Haskins has been out with an injury since travel ball last summer but is expected to be back with Oakland sometime in April.

The senior second baseman hit .383 with 12 doubles, eight homers and 30 RBIs last season.

Reach Cecil Joyce at cjoyce@dnj.com or 615-278-5168 and on Twitter @Cecil_Joyce.