Coaches Pat Love and Beth Haynes with seniors on Senior Day in 2023 (from left): Jenna Manning, Marlee Stewart, Haley Baker, Abbie Davis, Brooke Royster. Photos by Kyle Thornton.

Softball Tigers open season on Feb. 15

By Michael Butler

The Tallassee softball team opens the 2024 season on Thursday, Feb. 15 in Prattville. It is the first of six regular season tournaments on the schedule. In addition, there are 18 more game dates on the slate.

The Tigers are coming off of a 28-19 season last year that included the area tournament title and another trip to the Class 5A Regionals at Lagoon Park. THS head coach Pat Love has compiled a 207-89-4 record in seven seasons, so expectations are high once again.

"We've got the same goals every year. It's no different this year," Love said. "We expect to go out and win and play quality softball."

Tallassee has just two seniors in Madeline Weldon and KeKe Hutchinson.

"We've got a pretty good group. We've got some seasoned girls and young girls. We're liable to have five ninth graders in the lineup at one time. They're going to get after it."

Weldon has the most experience among pitchers. She threw 85 1/3 innings last season going 13-6. She struck out 45 and walked 17 with a 2.54 earned run average.

Madeline Weldon at the season-opening Prattville Lions Classic last year

"She's our number one. She's good. She's been working hard. She's ready to go."

Three freshmen are also in the rotation; Olivia Hammonds, Kam Tate and Marlee Osborne.

Osborne hit .303 last year. She will be in the infield rotation with returnees Regan Easterwood and Cheyann Easterling. Easterling hit .343 last season and led the team in runs scored (52) and stolen bases (24). Easterwood batted .282 with 3 homeruns and 37 runs batted in. Alli Smith is back behind the plate. She hit .265 with a homer and 20 RBIs in 2023.

Tallassee will look to defend its area title against Elmore County, Beauregard and Valley. The Tigers beat their rivals from Eclectic for the area championship last year but lost in the rematch at the regionals in a wild ten-inning affair.

"They got the better of us two times last year and we got the better of them two times," Love added, "but they got it when it counted."

Game one of the Prattville Tournament will be against Chilton County on Thursday at 3:30 p.m.

"They start these tournaments on Thursdays with pool games," Love explained. "On Friday we play Pleasant Grove. Our pool has Spanish Fort (playing) Smiths Station. Winners play the winners. Losers play the losers. That's how it will seed us for Saturday. It's loaded from top to bottom."

THS Pat Love Era (207-89-4)

2023: 28-19
2022: 29-15
2021: 34-13-4
2020: 15-1
2019: 44-9
2018: 32-15
2017: 25-17

Varsity Schedule
SMS/JV Schedule