Richlands softball team preparing for season opener

By DAVE COX/Staff
The 2008 Richlands High School varsity softball team faces a new and larger Southwest District this spring, but certainly not any teams that the Lady Blues are unfamiliar with. RHS played both SWD newcomers Abingdon and Marion last season- and beat both twice in their regular season meetings. This time around, the contests will have a little more meaning in that they will count in the district standings.
“I think they’re going to add a lot to the district,” said 17th year RHS head softball coach Rhonda Blevins. “Abingdon played us tough last year and Marion always plays tough. They’re two good teams and they have a lot of their kids back.”
Richlands has all of its kids back, except three lost to graduation last year. One of them was injured and did not play, so that is basically like losing just two. Several of the returning players saw plenty of game time last season, giving Blevins a mostly veteran squad to start the 2008 campaign.
Lindsey Lester, a junior, returns to the circle where she appeared in virtually every game last season. Junior Katie Lindsey and Emily Mohon, a senior, will play behind the plate as catchers.
Anchoring the infield is senior Catherine Breeding at first base. Lester is also listed as a first baseman along with Mohon and freshman Megan Robinson.
Cassie Ringstaff, just a sophomore, brings back experience at second base. Senior Jenny Keene is a solid player at shortstop and Morgan Hill, another sophomore, returns at third base. Freshman Kiera Wicks, sister of football standout Shane Wicks, will also see time at third when she’s not in the outfield. Also in the outfield are juniors Lakin Foley and Holly Bandy and sophomores Evan Ferrell and Carolyn Weaver. Robinson is also listed as an outfielder. Helping Lester in the circle will be Ferrell and Lindsey.
Blevins sees Tazewell as the team to beat in the SWD again this season, despite the addition of the two new teams. “They had a young team last year and they have all of their kids back,” Blevins said. “We’re real excited about this season. These young kids played really hard and really well for us last year. We won our first game last year in the region. Hopefully, we’ll make it to (the Region IV finals) this year.
Blevins is assisted by her husband Rick. Matt Dixon returns as the junior varsity coach.
The varsity Lady Blues were scheduled to open their regular season on Tuesday, March 25, hosting Gate City in a non-district game and the RHS junior varsity is set to start on Thursday, March 27 at Marion in a district contest.