Already down its starting pitcher, the Volunteer softball team suffered a second devastating blow before the season even started.
Junior catcher Bryleigh Salyer injured her shoulder, sidelining the Lady Falcons’ starting battery from their 2023 state tournament run.
Fisher went 18-5 as a sophomore, striking out 265 batters with a 1.31 earned run average.
Salyer, who normally had a courtesy runner, stayed on base and scored the winning runs in both the district championship against Tennessee High and Volunteer’s 3A sectional win over Halls.
“Losing her and Addyson, that’s a double whammy,” Volunteer softball coach Jackie Strickler said.
Though not guaranteed, there’s a chance Salyer could return later in the season.
While Fisher’s recovery has gone ahead of schedule, she’s not expected to pitch during the high school season.
“Just not having her around every day, it’s different,” Strickler said. “When she’s not in therapy, she’s right there with the other girls, on the bench with us. She’s got a future ahead of herself. She just needs to do what (the doctors) say.”
NEXT GIRL UP
The Lady Falcons have thrown three pitchers so far this season — seniors Elise Bous and Katelynn Trent along with sophomore Hadley Spears. Rylee Smith, another sophomore, is expected to join the rotation as well.
Bous (2-1, 3.19 ERA) and Trent both have three starts, the former having yet to issue a walk this season while striking out six. Trent leads Volunteer in strikeouts with 10. Spears (2-0, 4.31 ERA) has seen action in the pitcher’s circle five times this year.
The three have combined to strand 49 runners on base through eight games.
“There’s not really a difference in (pitching) style,” Strickler said. “Katelynn has a better change-up, Hadley has the off-speed and Elise has really been throwing it harder … my thing is we need to throw more first-pitch strikes.”
Smith has spent the majority of her time at first base, where she’s made 46 putouts with two double plays.
NEW LOOK
Right away, freshman Sydney New made an impact not just at catcher, but in the Lady Falcons’ batting order. In fact, she’s responsible for Volunteer’s only home run to this point.
New has batted .444 with eight hits over seven games, and her .500 on-base percentage is tied with senior Haley Russell and junior Zetta Smith for the team-high. At catcher, New has 19 putouts with three assists.
“She’s getting better defensively, starting to understand the catching aspect,” Strickler said. “It’s a big difference coming from middle school to high school, because you’re playing against 18-year-olds now. But she’s improving in all phases of the game. That tickles me for her.”
LEADING THE WAY
Russell, a four-year starter, is batting .429 with nine hits, including a team-high two doubles. She, senior Abby Fisher and sophomore Jayden Ford (.375) have all batted in seven runs. Ford and sophomore Averi Weston lead the Lady Falcons in runs scored with seven.
“Abby, I call her ‘the machine,’” Strickler said. “She might get seven or eight hits in a row before she gets out. Just a great kid.
“This (adversity) is a good learning tool for the girls.”
The Lady Falcons (4-4) are set to host county rival Cherokee for their District 2-3A opener Thursday.
