The Collinsville Kahoks softball team has only two seniors, but is returning eight starters from last season’s 17-19 squad. Head Coach Cindy Kolda is hoping her team’s youthful experience and improved defense, will translate into at least 20 wins this season.

Jessica Ledford / Photo by Roger Starkey

“You can never be upset when you have your whole line-up back,” Kolda, the winningest coach in Kahoks softball history, said.

The Kahoks, who start their season with a 4:15 p.m. contest today at Mascoutah, brought in Assistant Coach Jessica Schmittling to shore up a leaky defense that Kolda estimated cost the Kahoks eight games in 2013. For a team returning eight .300 hitters, including two .400 hitters, a little bit of improved defense could go a long way.

“I feel like we can hit the ball as well as most teams in the area, if not better,” Kolda said.

Quincy University bound senior Jessica Ledford will set the table for the Kahoks. The three-time all-conference and two-time all-area outfielder, led the team last season in hits (52), doubles (7), triples (6), total bases (74) and runs scored (44). Her .437 average and .492 on-base percentage trailed only Kassidy Smith for tops on the Kahoks (.451 average, .511 on-base percentage).

Smith should spend a good deal of her time this year driving in Ledford. Last year, as a freshman, Smith tied then sophomore Alex Holten for the team lead in RBI (28). Smith’s three home runs tied Samantha Buettner for tops on the Kahoks..

“She (Smith) hits the ball a long way, and she’s strong. I don’t know any kid that works harder than her,” Kolda said. “It’s been years since I’ve had a kid that is as close to working as hard as she does. She knows the pitchers in the area. She prepares very well as a batter.”

Holten was one hit away from hitting .400 in 2013, finishing with a .391 average. The junior was second on the team in hits (43) last year and tied with three others with a team-leading seven doubles. The other returning .300 hitters from last season are Becky Gibbs (.371), Buettner (.358), Kadie Ringering (.339), Caitlyn Brombolich (.329) and Sarah Scrum (.301). Ringerering, the only other senior on the roster, will continue her playing career at Southwestern Illinois College next year.

Kolda’s crew will count on three sophomore pitchers to hold the opposition at bay this season. Ledford started a team-high 14 games last year, but will focus on her outfield play and hitting this season. Ledford will play the outfield for Quincy.

Addison Wickiser, who started every junior varsity game last year, will join Brombolich and Sidney Bost in a battle for the number one pithing slot. Bost lead the Kahoks in innings (80) and ERA (2.36) last year. Brombolich went 4-6 in 15 games last year. She started nine times and finished with a 4.20 ERA.

The three pitchers have similar velocity, Kolda said, but each has a different style. Brombolich will throw a lot of junk at the hitters and her pitches have good movement. Bost excels at working in and out in the strike zone, and will throw her share of off-speed pitches. Wickheiser has the best rise ball and is being looked at as a power pitcher, Kolda said.

The Kahoks will not be the only team returning a major part of their lineup, Kolda said, making the Southwestern Conference as tough this season as it was last. Collinsville finished 5-9 in Southwestern Conference play in 2013.

Belleville East’s Allison Mitts may be the most dominant pitcher in the conference, but O’Fallon and Edwardsville return the majority of their lineups, Kolda said.

“I think it (the conference championship) will be up for grabs for a lot of teams,” Kolda said.

CHS 2014 schedule (http://metroindependent.com/2014/03/20/2014-collinsville-high-school-softball-schedule/5010/)

CHS 2014 roster (http://metroindependent.com/2014/03/20/chs-softball-2014-roster/5018/)