Softball boasts experience, toughness

By Jayden Hewitt
Sports Editor

The season is set to begin soon for the LCC softball team. The Stars’ first game will be played in the “Kick Off Classic” in Columbus, Ga., against Seminole State College of Florida on Friday, March. 3.

The game is just the start to a grueling beginning of the schedule for the Stars. LCC Head Coach Marc Kibby spoke about the trip.

“Our spring trip we open up in Columbus, Ga., in the Kick Off Classic, then to Mississippi and finish in Florida,” Kibby said. “We will be playing six ranked teams on (our) trip in Division One and Two of the NJCCA.

“(We are playing the number) two, three and 11 in Division One and (number) eight, 15 and honorable mention in Division Two. … We are ranked 19th in the country.”

LCC will have some familiar faces returning to the team this year. The team will feature six sophomores and 12 freshmen.

The returnees will have to step into big shoes by replacing last season’s second leading hitter in batting average, Peyton Perrin, and the home run leader from last season, Kara Mahoney.

Kibby said all six sophomores will be leaders for the team. The returnees include pitcher/outfielder Morgen Ahlfeld, third baseman Shelby Warner, center fielder Peyton Lehman, pitcher/infielder Lydia Davenport, shortstop Jillian Harris and right fielder Raygan Williams.

LCC does return its leader in batting average from a season ago in Harris, who hit .445 and belted nine home runs for the Stars in 2021-22.

Kibby mentioned some of the key returnees this season. He said Alfold and Davenport will be the aces on the mound, with Harris and Warner pacing the Stars in hitting and defense.

Of the 12 newcomers, Kibby mentioned two freshmen who will step into the starting lineup and produce for LCC: catcher/infielder Paige Antcliff and catcher/infielder Jenna Morse.

With being ranked 19th in the country come high expectations and off-season work. Kibby spoke about the focal point of the off-season.

“(The) biggest thing we worked on this winter is mental toughness,” Kibby said. “This is what LCC softball is known for.”

That toughness will hopefully translate onto the field once again. Last season the Stars were 27-21 overall and 21-7 in MCCAA Western Conference last season. They finished in a second-place tie in league play.

Head Coach Marc Kibby is assisted by Bill Cross, Carl Chaffee, Janet Hengesbach and Kaelin Cross.

LCC’s home games are played at Ranney Park, located at 3201 E. Michigan Ave. in Lansing. The first home games are scheduled for Friday, March 24; a doubleheader against Jackson College starting at 3 p.m.