NTL SOFTBALL: YOUNG CANTON BATTLES THROUGH REBUILDING YEAR (2024-05-31)

BY CHRIS MANNING
Northern Tier Sports Report
It was definitely a year of newness for Canton softball - a new coach, a new group of starters, a new season - but despite a rebuilding season the Warriors had some high points.

“A very young team, being a young team offers quite a bit of promise for the future as we practice and develop together as a team, but it accounted for quite a few errors this season,” said Canton coach Darryl Jannone. “That comes with the territory. I’m still very proud of the girls as there were plenty of games where they could have rocked back on their heels and waited it out but there was never any quit.”

Canton went 4-16 on the season, but did have a spurt in the middle of the year where they went 3-1.

After a tough opening loss to Sayre they defeated Millville 15-0 in their home opener. 

They lost their next five games, but then beat Millville a second time, 17-1. After a loss to Troy they had back to back wins over Sayre (19-4) and playoff bound Williamson (7-4).

They lost their final nine games, but had some good battles in there. They fought district semifinalist NEB to a 9-6 contest, took Wellsboro to the limit 12-11, and in their season finale, they lost 7-3 to a playoff Montgomery team.

They were led by two freshmen at the plate - Nevaeh Vroman (.475 average) and Jaylee Ward (.425). Ward also had 9-RBI, 22 runs scored, five doubles, and two home runs with Vroman also hitting five doubles.

Senior Rylin Graham hit .371 with a team leading 14-RBI with Addi Pepper (.308) also getting over .300 with 12 runs scored. Senior Andriane Katona stepped up, too, with a .385 average in limited action.

Tara Gilbert hit .273 and saw most of the action in the circle, with 35 strikeouts on the season. Senior Chelsea Lehman also hit .273 on the year.

They say good-bye to four seniors - Katona, Graham, Lehman, and Morgan Wesneski - all of whom played crucial roles on the team. However, they return much of their roster, including a very talented freshman class.

“Bottom line, if I wasn’t on a Hawaiian beach, the next place I want to be is with this group of Warriors on any ball field in the Northern Tier,” said Jannone. “These girls did exactly what we needed them to do, recognize that talent will get you on the field, but good attitude and good effort will keep you there.”

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