NTL SOFTBALL: TROY HAS ANOTHER STRONG SEASON IN 2024 (2024-06-10)

BY CHRIS MANNING
Northern Tier Sports Report
Troy softball took another step forward in 2024, competing for a league title and making it back to the district semifinals.

“2024 was a year we had some areas we wanted to improve on, with goals being set to compete for the NTL, make the district finals giving us a birth into the state playoffs,” said coach Wayne Pratt. “For the most part we were successful, our errors were reduced by 60% from a year ago, that’s huge. We competed for the NTL title, as we did a year ago we came up short in our district semi final game, tho we had a good showing against South.”

Troy went 15-4 in the regular season, opening the year with a 4-game win streak as they defeated Athens (4-2), Wyalusing (15-0), Williamson (13-3), and Canton (15-2).

A tough 5-0 loss to NPL put them behind the Mounties in the standings, but they responded with an 8-game win streak.

They swept Wellsboro (24-3, 16-1), finished off the season sweep of Athens (4-3), Wyalusing (8-4), and Canton (21-0), before sweeping Towanda (9-3, 10-0), and beating NEB (10-7).

The Trojans would lose to NPL again, but came back with their best day of of the season, sweeping eventual district champions, Midd-West (4-2, 11-10) on the road in a double-header.

Their final win came in a forfeit by Sayre.

After eking out a 3-2 win over Northwest in the opening round of districts they fell to eventual district champions, South Williamsport, 3-0.

“The team atmosphere was also a big component to our success, the ladies care as much for each other as they do for themselves,” Pratt said. “As a coach when you have that hind of bond amongst the players, the coaching becomes so much easier.”

Lauren Ridall led the Trojans at the plate with a .512 average to go with 17-RBI, nine doubles, and 27 runs scored, with Kali Ayres hitting .410 to go with 19 runs scored and seven doubles.

Marlee Stanton batted .405 with 13 runs scored, as Olivia Champluvier hit .405 with 14-RBI, 14 runs scored, five doubles, and two home runs.

Madi Palmer (.325), Caitlyn Knapp (.323), Amber James (.310), and Sydnee Bellows (.308) all hit over .300, as well. Palmer had 18-RBI with three home runs, as Knapp had 16 runs scored and three home runs. James added 16-RBI and 20 runs scored.

Three different pitchers saw the circle with Champluvier going 30 2/3-innings with 23 strikeouts and a 1.60 ERA. 

Ridall went 34 1/3-innings with a 2.65 ERA and 23 strikeouts, while Ayres had a 3.89 ERA in nine innings action.

“Our success this year I would say came from several areas: as a team we fielded the ball error free 94% of the time, our pitchers (Olivia, Lauren and Kali) gave up minimal free bases, forcing the opponent to put the ball in play to score,” Pratt said. “Offensively we continued to pound the ball as a team with an average of .335 and seven different players putting it over the fence.”

Going forward the team is in a good spot to continue to be competitive in the NTL and district.

“Looking forward to next year as we return all but our catcher and captain, Caitlyn Knapp (Knappy),” Pratt said. “We cannot replace her leadership or incredible arm behind the plate.”   

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