Everyone returns to the Newcastle Racer fastpitch softball team this year.
Head Coach Mike Crossley said, “We have a lot of experience back. They’ve played in a lot of games, and I expect us to be a good ball team this year. Hopefully we’ll stay healthy and push hard at the end.”
Crossley said Newcastle loves its fast-pitch softball.
“We are always good and always talented,” Crossley said. “They work extremely hard, and they have a lot of pride.”
The coach added that the junior high is also good, and he expects Newcastle softball to be good for a long time.
“We have five seniors and seven juniors who are good players with a lot of experience,” Crossley said. “That should provide a lot of leadership.”
The five seniors are: Maddie Torrenueva, Meredith Strange, Aubree Ferguson, Halie Guthier, and Brooklyn Lyles. The seven juniors are: Jacie Brooks, Addison Mc-Cann, Lillyana Portillo, Vanessa Portillo, Amie Campbell, Lexie Lovelace, and Cortni Smith.
The four sophomores are: Joslyn Torrenueva, Carlee Bannister, Ava Hamilton, and Emma Bell. And six freshmen are: Tapanga Bornt, Jordie Brooks, Maci McCann, Leighton Wooten, Timber Harris, and Madalynn Powers.
Last year’s Racer team had 28 wins and 11 losses, but there were no seniors on the 2022-23 team.
Crossley has been the Racer fast-pitch coach for 35 years. He begins his 36th year with 1,089 wins overall. His assistant coaches are Brett Brooks and Ashley Filer.
“We should have a chance, but there are other teams who will also have a chance,” Crossley said. He mentioned Miami, Cache, Tuttle, Purcell, Tecumseh and Blanchard.
“Those schools will have good ball teams, and we will have to contend with some of those in the end,” Crossley said.
Early in the season, the teams will have to also contend with the lingering heat. This can play into the game particularly with pitchers, and Newcastle has one girl who will see most of the tosses. Aubree Ferguson, a senior, will lead the Racers here.
“I fully expect her to have a great year,” Crossley said. She’s a good quality pitcher and we can’t have her getting overheated or sick. We’ve got to protect her.”
Also seeing some playing time at pitcher are junior Jacie Brooks and senior Meredith Strange.
The Racers are strong on both offense and defense. Offensively, Crossley said the Racers can have seven or eight “sticks” in the game on any given day. He said any one of the girls could be the hitter.
“We send some pretty good sticks to the plate,” Crossley said.
Among leaders are Lillyana Portillo, and Brooklyn Lyles, who has committed to play on the next level at the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond.
“We are solid at defense,” Crossley said. “This defensive ball club is as good as the good ones I’ve put out there in the past. They have good gloves and know what to do to put the ball into play.”
Crossley said he fully expects 2023 to be a solid year with the Racers’ bats and the way they play defense.
The long-time Newcastle coach retired at the end of last year from his teaching position. He was rehired by the Board of Education as a lay coach for fast-pitch, but had to take off 60 days.
“You can’t do anything that resembles work,” Crossley said. “My 60 days are over with and I’m back at it.
“I love coaching fast-pitch and I fully expect us to have a good ball club this year and for years to come.”
Newcastle competes in Class 4A District 3 with Blanchard, Perkins-Tryon, Bishop McGuinness, McLoud, Harrah and Classen SAS.
The Racers opened the season at the Deer Creek Scrimmage Festival, and then played against Little Axe, and at the Norman North Tournament over the weekend. A Monday game this week with Perkins-Tryon was originally scheduled to be played away, but was rescheduled for home.
Newcastle travels to Marlow today (Thursday), and then play Harrah at home Monday, and Bishop McGuinness at Bishop McGuinness on Tuesday.
