Softball Preview: Titans Hope To Repeat District Success This Year
April Ellis
Herald Staff
The Mercer County Titans softball team are gearing up for opening day as Head Coach Rob Tharp prepares for his ninth season leading the team. The team graduated five big contributors with all of them going on to play at the collegiate level. The team hopes to build on their late success they found last season with a 46th District championship before struggling in the first round of the 12th region tournament.
In the 2021 season, The Lady Titans finished with a record of 17-19 and took home the District championship with lopsided wins over both Jessamine County schools.
As Tharp prepares his team for their first official game set for March 21 at Taylor County, so far what he likes most from his team is their togetherness.
“I like how this team really has worked on their togetherness. It’s worked. They seem together and want to play for one another,” he said.
He expects his seniors, Elle Prewitt and Presley Bradshaw to help lead his young team and motivate them to fill the shoes of last year’s talent that graduated.
“Both are great kids and will lead us through this season. They are talkative, fair, and lead by example. They are great with the young and the inexperienced players we have this year. They will lead not only by performance, but as great teammates to others,” he said. “This becomes evident when traveling with the team and in the dugout.”
Bradshaw, an infielder, has been working in the offseason to make the most of her senior year. While she isn’t excited to see her high school career come to an end, she is excited to see what this year’s team can do.
“I have been doing workouts by myself during the winter months and I always give my best during practice. I know that what I show in practice will determine how well I will do in a game,” she said. “Some goals I have for my senior season is to be a leader for the team on and off the field. Most of the underclassmen look up to us and so they will watch what we do on and off the field. Not only to be a leader in softball but at school as well. I hope that this year we can bring home another district title and hopefully region and state as well.”
