Wellsville Varsity Softball starts competitive season this week, see the schedule

Eight starting players will return this year

Back row: Alexis Ireland, Averee Palmatier, Marissa Ordway, Makenzie Cowburn, Makenna Dunbar, Lindsay Stuck, Sawyer Burke

Front row: Brazen Beckwith, Natalie Adams, Ayla Faulkner, Alexis Irish, Teagan Burke

By Andrew Harris

Lady Lions head coach Matt Burke has eight good reasons to be excited about softball season that kicks off at home this Thursday against Attica.

The defending Section V champions only lost one senior, Big 30 All-Star Emma Dunaway. With eight girls returning to the team the Lady Lions will be on a mission to reclaim the title. Coach Burke had this to say about the 2024 game schedule, “Our schedule is incredibly competitive this season.”

Here are the schedule highlights:

Eleanor Roosevelt High School, Maryland with an enrollment of 2000 ranked #1 in Maryland AAAA South Region

Broadneck High School ranked #1 in Maryland AAAA East Region and Maryland AAAA State Final Four in 2023

Dubois Catholic Central Pennsylvania (ranked #3 in Class A last season)

Fredonia High School (Section 6 Class B; All-State Pitcher Jordan Lucas attending St. Bona)

Iroquois High School (ranked #12 in B last season; defending Section 6 Class B champion)

Bloomfield High School (ranked #28 in NY State C in 2023; All-State pitcher Ashlyn Wright)

Oakfield-Alabama High School (All-State pitcher Kaitlin Ryan)

Webster-Schroeder High School (ranked #28 in AA; All-State pitcher Liana DeValder)

We are attending the Mudville Tournament to play: Nardin(ranked #1 in Class A; NY State Class A Player of the Year Pitcher Erin Nuwer attending Tennessee)

Monroe-Woodbury (ranked #8 in AA last season; All-State pitcher Valerie Pederson attending Siena)

Addison (ranked #12 in C last season)

Meet the eight returning players

Makenzie Cowburn Sr. (P) committed to Bellarmine University KY

Class B2 Player of the Year

1st Team All-State

BIG 30 Pitcher of the Year

All Greater Rochester 1st Team

Brazen Beckwith Sr. (CA) committed to Finger Lakes Community College

2nd Team All-State

BIG 30 All-Star