NTL SOFTBALL: NEW LOOK TROY LOOKING TO KEEP THE SAME OLD SUCCESS (March 17, 2026)

BY CHRIS MANNING
Northern Tier Sports Report
The winds of change have blown through Troy softball as they say good-bye to a senior class that that dominated the line-up for three years, and say hello to a younger squad that will be looking to take up the mantle.

“We have lost a lot,” said Troy coach Sadie Hardy. “We lost six of nine starters from last year, so we’re young. Some girls are getting time in places that they didn’t before; we’re just trying to figure out what fits for us right now.”

One big returnee is pitcher Erinn Knapp, who showed to be one of the strongest in the league as a freshman last year. They also return another hurler in Haidyn Watson, giving them two good arms, a good starting spot to build around.

“Pitching definitely helps,” Hardy said. “Having the two of them ready to go from day one is a blessing. What we work around them were unsure of right now, but at least we know we’re good to go there.”

Knapp has been busy on the travel circuit, and is has set some high goals for this season.

“I’m ready to break some of my own stats from last year, and just improve,” she said. “I worked a lot  on all my spins, and speeds, and mechanics.”

Elsewhere they have one senior this year in Lauren Reed, who knows she has big shoes to fill.

“Its definitely hard without the core group that I had to look up to in years prior, but now I think I need to step up, and kind of be al leader for these younger underclassmen,” Reed said. “I think I can do it.”

Sydnee Bellows will be another returnee from last year to go with Watson, Reed, and Knapp, while freshman Izzy Renzi might see time behind the plate. 

“She’ll definitely step up,” Reed said about Bellows. “We don’t know whether she’s going to play outfield or infield, but she’ll definitely be a core part.”

Pretty much everywhere else is up for grabs.

“We have a lot of potential this year with a lot of young players,” Knapp said. “They’re definitely hard workers.”

They’ve come very close the last two seasons to winning the NTL Large School title, so, despite the turnover, they feel that’s a goal this year, too.

“It’ll definitely be difficult if we want to do what we did last year, but we’ll see how the season goes,” said Reed. “We have a lot of young talent on this team.”

Coach Hardy believes with these girls’ work ethic they’ll be coming around sooner than later.

“These girls work hard,” she said. “I think we’ve got a mountain to climb. This league is very good in several different places, so we’re going to work hard, and we’re going to try to be competitive.”

ROSTER
Sydnee Bellows
Aubrey Kenyon
Haidyn Watson
Danielle Roy
Jazmyn Frisbie
Lauren Reed
Taylor Brown
Izzy Renzi
Delaney Kendall
Erinn Knapp
Aleiyah Kurt
Keira Coles
Maddyson Muir

SCHEDULE
Mar 21 at Wellsboro, 11 a.m.
Mar 24 vs Athens, 4:30 p.m.
Mar 26 vs Wyalusing, 4:30 p.m.
Mar 27 at South Williamsport, 4:30 p.m.
Mar 31 at NPL, 4:30 p.m.
April 2 vs Towanda, 4:30 p.m.
April 7 at Williamson, 4:30 p.m.
April 11 vs Canton, 11 a.m.
April 14 vs Wellsboro, 4:30 p.m.
April 18 at Midd-West, noon
April 21 at Wyalusing, 4:30 p.m.
April 23 vs NPL, 4:30 p.m.
April 28 at Towanda, 4:30 p.m.
April 30 vs NEB, 4:30 p.m.
May 4 vs Jersey Shore, 4:30 p.m.
May 5 at Sayre, 4:30 p.m.
May 7 vs CV, 4:30 p.m.
May 9 vs South Williamsport, 11 a.m.
May 11 at Canton, 4:30 p.m.
May 12 at Athens, 4:30 p.m.



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