High expectations for MC Baseball and Softball, both teams coming off successful seasons

The MC baseball and softball teams are preparing to build on their historic successes from last year. Both teams have high expectations and are eager to continue their greatness on the field. 

“Last year, both teams won conference championships,” said John Painter, assistant athletics director for communications at Maryville College. “The baseball team won 30 games in a season for the first time in program history, and won both the regular season and tournament championships. Softball also set a program record with 35 wins and advanced all the way to the NCAA regional championship game.”

Baseball Head Coach Clint Helton said that his team is focused on daily improvement rather than just results.

“We have high expectations for [the] student-athletes in our program,” Helton said. “Our goal is to compete at the highest level possible. We want to focus on trusting the process [and] getting better each day rather than chasing results.”

Catcher Ashton Whiteaker (‘25) said he fulfills his role as a leader on the field and in the classroom, setting an example for how players should represent Maryville College baseball. He acknowledged that he isn’t perfect, but he has made leadership a goal for his senior year. As he plays his final season, Whiteaker just wants to appreciate and enjoy the time he has and the moments with his team. 

“Obviously the expectations are really high this season, but regardless of the outcomes, I just want to have fun competing with my teammates,” he said, adding, “I want to be remembered as the guy who always worked hard and gave it everything I had. The guy that always did the little things right and the one that my teammates could rely on. I want to be remembered for elevating the standard and making those around me better.”

The team welcomes impactful players – both returners and newcomers. This includes Det Dettwiller (‘26), Pete Pappas (‘28), Frank Derner (‘26), Kaden Wimsatt (‘28), and Logan Denton (‘28), who have made impressions from the beginning of the season. However, the team is not guaranteed success, as they prepare to face challenges from upcoming opponents.

“The Greensboro Invitational will be a great challenge for our team,” Helton said. “In the CCS Conference, we will see quality opponents every weekend. With seven teams in a conference, you could say that they are all key matchups. We play in Region 6, the South Region. Last year alone, three of the eight teams in the World Series were from Region 6,” he added.

Wimsatt, who plays pitcher, looks forward to playing against Piedmont, saying, “I’ve heard Piedmont games are always fun.”

Whiteaker, on the other hand, has “always tried not to put too much emphasis on one particular game or series.” 

Despite the team consisting of new and returning players, they have built strong chemistry. 

“Our program has as many new guys as returners,” Helton said. “It takes time to develop your team chemistry. However, through our veteran players, we have been able to create a strong team chemistry for this season.”

Wimsatt agrees with Helton, saying that the team chemistry has been great and that the players get along with each other. 

Preparation leading up to the new season is an important focus, and players commit to both mental and physical readiness. 

“Our team’s work ethic is second to none,” Helton said. “These guys prepare themselves physically and mentally with the mindset to play well into the postseason.”

“Motivation comes by itself when you’re having fun,” Wimsatt added. 

For the softball team, versatility both offensively and defensively are essential to team success this season. 

“We have a lot of players that can do a lot of different things well and it allows us to pivot and adjust in games as needed,” said Softball Head Coach Jill Moore. 

Despite there being several newcomers, the team and coaches see this as an exciting opportunity. “We have a lot of new faces this year, and I see our new lineup as exciting and a great opportunity for some young contributors,” Moore said. “We are going to have a lot of moving parts up and down the lineup, and at some point, we have four or five freshmen out on the field. It’s awesome to see their growth and learning curve.” 

Just like the baseball team, the chemistry is strong and players motivate each other. Catcher and utility player Olivia Harris (‘26) says that playing on the same team as her sister, infielder Jessica Harris (‘26), has made an impact on her game in the best way. 

The team will rely on returning players like infielder and catcher Brecca Williams (‘25) and pitcher and utility player Paige Dickinson (‘26) to lead the way to success.

“Brecca has moved over to take over at shortstop and will be most likely hitting [second in the batting lineup], where I have asked her to drive in more runs as opposed to just getting on base,” Moore said. “She has made the transition seamless.” 

“And Paige will lead our pitching staff and be a key piece of our lineup and when she’s not pitching, anchor first base. I have asked a lot of her this year, and she has also done so without missing a beat,” Moore added, proud of her players for their adaptability.

The road to another conference title won’t be easy, since familiar competition remains among well known opponents. 

“Everyone knows Belhaven and Huntingdon are the teams to beat in our conference, and for good reason,” Moore said. “They are both in the top 25 and have been regular season champions and co-champions the last two years. I am confident we will take care of business when conference season comes, and I’m excited to see the energy we come out with.”

Preparation has been rigorous, with players balancing academics and athletics. Moore acknowledges how tough it is to be a student-athlete saying, “[They] spend three mornings a week in the weight room, go to class all day, and then to practice in the evening. Our Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays are long, hard days for these athletes. I can’t say enough about how hard [the] softball season grind is.”

She continued by explaining the rigorous schedules the players have. 

“A 40-game schedule, practice six days a week – plus weights, study hall, extra hitting and pitching sessions – it’s a tough workload,” Moore said. “This team is willing to put the work in. I am so proud of the young women we have representing our team.”

Harris said that her goals this year are to let herself relax, play to the best of her ability, and have fun overall. The team has had a positive impact on her with teammates and a sister who encourage and uplift her. 

MC fans can expect competitive matchups throughout the season as the baseball and softball teams work to defend their conference titles. The athletic department continues to play a major role in supporting both teams as they cover the season life and actively.

“We support both teams by staffing all home games and providing play-by-play coverage for most home games on the video livestream,” Painter said. “We also support them via social media and on our website with game recaps and players of the week.”