NTL SOFTBALL: WYALUSING LOOKS TO IMPROVE IN 2025 (2025-03-17)

BY CHRIS MANNING
Northern Tier Sports Report
With plenty of returners from last year’s district qualifying team Wyalusing softball feels they should be even more competitive in the NTL this season.

“To be back out here year two feels good,” said head coach Brett Jayne. “I’m looking forward to hopefully, a little better start to this season than what we had last season, and hopefully we’d be competitive right out of the box, and not have to play catch up through the season.”

An 0-3 March last year put the Rams in the hole, but they played above .500 ball the rest of the way, and even got a road playoff win at East Juniata, showing what they could do as a team.

“We basically have our entire infield returning, and our outfield is pretty much the same,” said Kylie Pickett. “I think we should be able to just pick up where we left off, and keep going.”

With only one defensive spot needing to be replaced allows the Rams to focus on other areas that they’d like to improve, particularly at the plate.

“We’ve done a lot of batting drills, especially since we’ve been inside the first week,” Treanna Nickeson remarked. “I think we should be pretty good at batting this year.”

They lose power hitter Allie Liddick, who hit over .300 and had five home runs a year ago, along with Danielle Wilson.

They return their top hitter from a year ago in Addisyn Bly (.431), while feature three other batters who hit over .300: Emily Johns (.355), Addison Fluck (.346), and Pickett (.321). 

“You don’t have to change too much,” Bly said about returning plenty of starters. “We have a year of maturity, the girls know each other. We know how to work with each other. It helps a lot with only having to replace a couple of spots.”

The one spot they’ll need to fill is behind the plate.

“I have a sophomore that caught some last year, so I’m hoping that she can jump right into that position,” Jayne said. “I have a freshman that just come up that is a catcher, who just got released, and she looks promising. She was in the gym a couple times with us catching, so I’m hoping that the two of them can work together, and we can solidify the position.”

Jayne, once again, has options in the circle as he returns Fluck and Pickett. Fluck tossed 64 innings a year ago with 73 strikeouts against 61 walks, while Pickett threw 44 innings with 31 strikeouts, and 27 walks.

“I’m really hoping the competition in the pitching position strengthens the pitching a little bit,” Jayne said. “We’ve got a freshman that throws pretty decent, she keeps the ball around the plate, which is something that, if the other ones are struggling, will be very helpful.”

Pickett hopes the bigger bullpen will help in other areas, as well.

“It’s not as much pressure on Addison, and I to make sure that we’re throwing perfect,” she said. “We have younger girls that can develop, so they can take over for us later.”

The team is really focusing on getting out of the gates fast as they open with two road contests, then have five games in a row at home.

“I think last year we came out a little slow, we didn’t focus on hitting that much,” Nickeson said. “This year we’ve really focused on it a lot.”

“I think we really started to put together some quality games,” By added about how they finished last year. “We started to play really well together as a team towards the end of the season.”

They’d like to be able to get into the NTL Large School title race with NP-Liberty, Troy, Athens, and Towanda.

“I would really like to see if we could stay competitive with what I feel are the three better teams in the league,” said Jayne. “Maybe throw a little ruckus in there, maybe we would have a chance at being league champs.”

As for districts, they’d like to get a little bit higher seed so they don’t on the same side of the bracket of the top seed. If they do that, they feel they can make a run.

“At the start of the season I don’t think anyone expected us to ever get to districts, let alone with a game,” said Bly. “I think that gave us a huge boost of confidence.”

ROSTER

Kylie Pickett (12)

Emily Johns (10)

Alaina VanDeMark (12)

Raelea Harvey (10)

Addison Adams (10)

Kenda Millard (11)

Addison Fluck (11)

Grace Burridge (12)

Josie Ferris (10)

Addisyn Bly (11)

Kyla Carpenter (11)

Treanna Nickeson (11)

Rachel Wilson (12)

Marci Gowin (9)

Callee Warner (9)

Ellie Adams (9)

Kirra Millard (10)

Destiny Schum (9)

SCHEDULE

Mar 18 at NPL, 4:30 p.m.

Mar 20 at Towanda, 4:30 p.m.

Mar 25 vs Troy, 4:30 p.m.

Mar 27 vs Athens, 4:30 p.m.

Mary 29 vs Blue Ridge, 1 p.m.

April 1 vs Wellsboro, 4:30 p.m.

April 3 vs NEB, 4:30 p.m.

April 5 vs CV, 11 a.m.

April 10 at Williamson, 4:30 p.m.

April 12 at Canton, 1 p.m.

April 15 vs NPL, 4:30 p.m.

April 18 vs Wyoming Area, 4:30 p.m.

April 24 vs Towanda, 4:30 p.m.

April 29 at Troy, 4:30 p.m

May 1 at Athens, 4:30 p.m.

May 2 at Northwest, 4:30 p.m.

May 6 at Wellsboro, 4:30 p.m.

May 8 at Sayre, 4:30 p.m.

May 12 vs Canton, 4:30 p.m.

May 14 at Montgomery, 4:30 p.m.

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