By Mike London

mike.london@salisburypost.com

LANDIS — South Rowan’s softball team is 5-3, which sounds fine, but it’s actually been a frustrating 5-3 because the Raiders could just as easily be 8-0 as 5-3 right now.

South has bludgeoned two teams by 15-0 scores.

But now the bad news. The Raiders let a 6-0 slip get away against West Rowan, saw Northwest Cabarrus score three in the seventh to beat them 5-4 and allowed six unearned runs in a 10-9 setback against Concord.

Those were three painful one-run losses and all three came in the South Piedmont Conference.

Those setbacks were hard to swallow, but the Raiders learned from them. They closed a big 10-9 SPC win against a good Central Cabarrus this week. They did that right after making a comeback to take a dramatic, 4-3 walk-off victory against Cannon School.

The Raiders are good. They’re counting heavily on a freshman battery, so a month from now, they might be really good.

“We’ve got some talent,” South’s first-year head coach Shane Stewart said. “Girls are adapting to my coaching style which is a little different than what they were used to. We’ve got a very nice mix of young players and older players. They work hard. They’re coachable. Right now, it’s just a matter of learning how to close games out. We’re getting there.”

South’s senior class is small (three) but strong. Left fielder Carmen Thomas, shortstop Kynlee Dextraze and second baseman Lexie Ritchie have played a lot of games for the Raiders. Dextraze has been mostly a third baseman, but she likes shortstop best and is playing there this season. A Lenoir-Rhyne signee, she’s got power to all fields. Most teams pitch the right-handed slugger away, but she can drive the ball over the right-field fence.

Ritchie, a Chowan recruit, hits a lot of line drives and is outstanding at second base. She hasn’t made an error yet this season. Thomas smacks doubles and triples to the gaps and runs well.

South lost a couple of veteran players. Meghan Eagle and Campbell Withers dropped softball to focus their spring efforts on volleyball, a sport in which they have college aspirations. That hurts South’s depth, but the Raiders can still put a strong nine on the field.

Junior Avery Fisher, the catcher last season, has found a new home at third base and is settling in there. Junior Eva Shue is an experienced first baseman.

Sophomore Leisha Carter is off to a great start as South’s lead-off batter and center fielder. She’s been getting two hits most games.

Danica Krieg, a junior already committed to Coker, brings power and athleticism to right field.

So there’s an experienced core in place around the talented freshman pitcher-catcher duo that is the future of the Raiders.

Left-hander Remington “Remi” Hagerty has carried the pitching load in some tough games. She’s had some really good games and some struggles, ups and downs, which is to be expected for a freshman.

“Batters don’t see a lot of lefties, so Remi can be really effective,” Stewart said. “We’ve made defensive adjustments to help our lefty pitcher. More balls are going to be hit to the right side and right field than usual.”

Stewart’s daughter, Rylie Stewart Tucker, who was a standout pitcher at Carson, is on the coaching staff and is a mentor for Hagerty, especially as far as the mental aspects of being in the circle.

Catcher Cressley Patterson is a tremendous stick for a freshman. In the Raiders’ first eight games, she batted .625 with two homers. She socked the walk-off homer that beat Cannon School. She had two doubles in the win against Central Cabarrus.

Freshman Nora Wheeler can also swing it and will get plenty of at-bats, usually as the DP.

Cadance Castor is the second pitcher and has gotten some innings.

South’s 15-girl roster also includes Ruby Reta, Ashton Lamb, Carleigh Cline and Addy Martinez.

“The goal is to get better every week,” Stewart said. “I had a chance (as an assistant coach) to be part of some really good runs at Carson, so I know how much fun winning playoff games can be. South’s girls have a chance to experience what that feels like this year. I want that for them.”

South is in the middle of a substantial break and will play Carson on March 21.