NTL SOFTBALL: TOWANDA LOOKS TO TAKE THE NEXT STEP IN 2026 (March 17, 2026)

BY CHRIS MANNING
Northern Tier Sports Report
It will be a bit of a different type season for Towanda softball, beginning at the top as Dean Johnson steps in for head coach Caitlyn Crawford, who is out on maternity leave. They also have some roster turnover from last season, particularly in the circle, but the coaching staff is confident in the players who return - both veterans and newcomers to the varsity field.

“I think the thing we have going for us is we have six returning starters,” Johnson said. “And we have a really good group of freshmen, so they should blend well between youth and experience.”

Brooklyn Evans, Caedence Wells, Brynsen Vargason, Payton Perry, Layla Miller, and Leila Cobb all return from a team that made districts a year ago.

“We’ve been working all and it will definitely turn over,” Evans remarked. 

Johnson said they made hitting an emphasis this winter.

“We did hitting at MVP, and then we worked out in open gyms,” he remarked. “I think they’re ready to go.”

They’ve also worked on bunting so they can add small ball to their offensive repertoire. 

“We have a very, very tough plate,” said Wells. “If you’re throwing to us, it’s going to be tough.”

They have some competition in the circle this year as they say good-bye to pitchers Aleah Johnson and Tae-Lynn Brabant.

“We have two returning players who can pitch, and we have a freshman whose going to mix right into the rotation,” Johnson said.

Cobb is one player they’re looking to, while Kendal Cook has had success all throughout her career at the younger stages.

“I think we’ll be really strong,” Evans said about Cobb. “We have others, and then we have Kendal Cook coming up.”

And, of course, defensive positions are another worry, though Wells returns behind the plate, Perry is back as short stop, and Evans at third.

“It be tough, but I definitely think that our freshman class, and our underclassmen can do a lot for us,” remarked Wells.

In fact, the players are just as excited about the freshman class as the coaches are.

“They’re bringing a lot of energy,” said Wells “They’re a very competitive group, so I’m super excited to work with them.”

Looking across the league things look open in Large School. Athens, NP-Liberty, and Troy return key pitchers, but have other holes to fill, while Wyalusing has the most returnees, with seven starters coming back. 

Five of the six NTL Division-I teams made the playoffs a year ago.

“We can be as competitive as they are, and we can play with them,” Johnson said. “It’s just a matter of how bad do we want it. We can play with most teams in the districts, that’s not an issue. I think as the season goes on, we’re just going to get better, and better, and we’ll be ready for districts.”

The players themselves feel they’re close, as long as they can stay consistent, something they’ve struggled with in years past.

“It is very tough, because I know once we lose, we can’t lose our heads, and lose another game,” Evans said. “I think we are up there, we need to show the rest of the teams that we are.”

ROSTER
Brooklyn Evans
Caedence Wells
Layla Miller
Leila Cobb
Hannah Crawford
Allyla Beachy
Brynsen Vargason
Payton Perry
Ily Benjamin
MacKenzie Vanderpool
Molly Roberts
Maris Cobb
Taylor Aquilio
Kaylen Sluyter
Kendal Cook
Sadie Overpeck
Maci Alexander
Kylie Chilson

SCHEDULE
Mar 3 vs Athens, 11 a.m.
Mar 24 at Wyalusing, 4:30 p.m.
Mar 25 at NP-Liberty, 4:30 p.m.
Mar 31 vs Wellsboro, 4:30 p.m.
April 2 at Troy, 4:30 p.m.
April 7 at Canton, 4:30 p.m.
April 9 at NEB, 4:30 p.m.
April 14 at Athens, 4:30 p.m.
April 16 vs Wyalusing, 4:30 p.m.
April 20 at South Williamsport, 4:30 p.m.
April 21 vs NPL, 4:30 p.m.
April 23 at Wellsboro, 4:30 p.m.
April 28 vs Troy, 4:30 p.m.
April 30 vs Williamson, 4:30 p.m.
May 5 at CV, 4:30 p.m.
May 7 vs Sayre, 4:30 p.m.
May 8 vs Hughesville, 4:30 p.m.



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