Softball season underway for Stars

By Michael Leek
Sports Editor

The 2024 softball season has begun for the Stars as they look to improve upon a season that included a World Series trip in 2023.

The impressive 25-5 conference record LCC finished with last season will be tough to top, but Head Coach Mike Kibby said his team is up for the challenge.

“We want to improve,” Kibby said. “League titles and winning regionals … that's like our standard. On top of all that, just be the best we can be.”

After six games this season, through March 4, the Stars are off to a rough start with a 1-5 record on a trip to Mississippi.

Despite the slow start, Kibby said he is excited for this team and has high hopes for what they can accomplish.

“I do believe this could be one of the best teams on the field and off as far as the … understanding of the team concept,” Kibby said. “This could definitely be one of our best seasons because of the dispositions of the team.”

The recruitment process was long but strong in the offseason for the Stars, Kibby said.

“We’ll have four freshman starters on the team this year,” Kibby said. “Overall the freshmen class is going to be a big help to this team.”

The Stars have a complete roster of 19 athletes: 10 freshmen and nine sophomores.

One of the freshmen to pay attention to this year is pitcher Kyra Shadduck, who has recorded nine strikeouts through three appearances for the Stars. Kibby also mentioned that freshman shortstop Abby Fichtner will play a huge role in the team’s defense.

The returning sophomores whom Kibby is looking to be leaders on and off the field are Jenna Morse, who has already hit two home runs and has a .353 batting average, and Paige Antcliff.

The freshmen have been transitioning well from high school to college, Kibby said.

“We play a lot of the Division 2 (schools) early, so I try to baptize them early so they are not awestruck when we actually start our (conference) season,” Kibby said.

LCC’s first home games are scheduled for Wednesday, March 13, when they host the Alma JV team in a doubleheader at Ranney Park in Lansing.