By Mike London
mike.london@salisburypost.com

GRANITE QUARRY— East Rowan’s softball squad was 23-4 in 2024, including four victories against a good West Rowan team that had a generational slugger and the state’s female athlete of the year (Tennessee freshman Emma Clarke) in the lineup.

East won its first conference championship in 11 years, backed it up with a conference tournament title and lost a 1-0 game to Kings Mountain in the fourth round of the 3A state playoffs that could have gone either way.

The Mustangs were third in the final MaxPreps rankings for 3A West, so they can truthfully say they were one of the state’s best.

So where do the Mustangs go from here?

They may be even better this season. On paper, they are better.

They have started the season 5-0 with four South Piedmont Conference wins, plus a road win at 4A Mooresville.

“We only lost one senior (Maddie Roberts) from a very strong team,” East head coach Todd McNeely said. “So I think we should have high expectations. I think our goal has to be a state championship.”

East has five all-county players (Rowan County Pitcher of the Year Madalynn Tigert, pitcher Camryn Perkins, first baseman Eleni Miller, third baseman Kori Miller and shortstop Lily Kluttz) who are back, plus two more sluggers (center fielder Jordan Dry and catcher Chloe Shank) who easily could have been honored.

There are no holes. There are no question marks offensively or defensively, and there’s lots of extra-base power. East will score 10 runs often.

There’s lots of experience. East has five seniors and a six-person junior class behind them.

“It starts with a really good 1-2 pitching punch with Tigert and Perkins,” McNeely said.

Tigert posted a 1.30 ERA as a freshman. Perkins is a senior who will play next-level at Roanoke. She pitched a one-hitter against Carson on Friday.

The outfield corners will be manned by Kimberly Troublefield and Gracie Barber. Both are experienced players.

Senior Kady Collins won’t swing a bat because of back issues, but she’ll help with her defensive versatility. She’ll be at second base or in center field whenever Tigert pitches. Tigert is a solid hitter and will play second base when she’s not pitching.

Ava Alderman and Kaley Pfister are juniors who have experience. Alderman has a strong bat. Pfister provides some pitching depth.

East doesn’t have a jayvee team, so all 18 girls in the program are on the varsity. Reserves will include junior Izzy Goodman, sophomores Morgan Efird, Emma Efird, Maicy Miller and Reagan Williams and freshmen Gillian Barber and Harlow Gardner.

The Efirds can run and could be a factor as courtesy runners for the pitchers and catchers and as situational pinch-runners for other players. Maicy Miller, Kori’s sister, is the future third baseman and homered on her first varsity at-bat.