Fort Campbell softball coach is all for consistency when it comes to the Lady Falcons on the field except for one area – wins. Fort Campbell has won one game each of the last five seasons and have not won multiple games in a season since 2009. He thinks that will change in 2019.
The constant coming and going of athletes through the Army post makes it hard to build and maintain a program from middle school through high school. However, it’s an addition that has Watson thinking the Lady Falcons will be on the uptick this year.
Sophomore Hannah Carbaugh joins the team from Clarksville Northeast and will be immediately plugged in to the pitching circle to help improve an area that saw its own consistency issues.
Four players return from last year and he says they have taken a leadership role with the younger players.
Junior Cadence Suding returns at third base, and Zoe Loveall is back at shortstop to give the Lady Falcons an experienced left side of the infield. Fort Campbell should also be improved up the middle with junior centerfielder Yasmine Marley back in centerfield and freshman Emma Kaack back behind the plate to catch Carbaugh.
Watson, who is in his second season as Lady Falcon coach, liked what he saw in their preseason scrimmage with West Creek, especially Carbaugh’s pitching and the Lady Falcon defense.
He is hoping the right side of the field and the outfield as a whole will show improvement as the season progresses. One thing Watson will have plenty of is players, with 20 on the roster.
“That helps us compete at the junior varsity level, and that could help us past this season as they get experience,” he said.
Fort Campbell has seven wins total in the last nine seasons, but Watson is looking ahead, not back.
“That’s history. It’s a new team, a new year, and a new season, and we are going to make it the best that we can.”
Fort Campbell opens their 2019 season Monday at home against Eighth District opponent University Heights Academy.