2018 SOFTBALL PREVIEW
The Rockdale Lady Tigers may be a young squad with just one senior on the roster, but said youngsters have plenty of experience under their belts.
Erin Palmer returns for her third season trying to steer the Lady Tigers into the playoffs for the first time since 2014.
Rockdale is coming off a 10-14 overall record and sixth place fi nish in District 20-3A.
The Lady Tigers have plenty of experience back in the fold, especially on the mound with two front- line pitchers.
Senior Cailey Knighton (4-9, 3.04 ERA in 20 appearances) and junior Karley Leopold (3-3, 2.21 ERA) should split time on the hill.
Knighton and Leopold are also the leaders at the plate. Knighton is the Lady Tigers’ top returning hitter at .306.
Leopold has shown some real pop in her bat, hitting .283 last year with a team-high 10 runs batted in and four doubles.
Battery mate to Knighton and Leopold, sophomore Peyton Miller batted .296 a year ago and also swiped four bases.
Miller had just two errors last season behind the plate.
Also returning is junior utility player Macy Knesek (.229, team-high 7 stolen bases), sophomore infi elder Emily Depine (.250), junior infi elder Kyle Eubanks and junior infielder Autumn Montelongo.
Defending state champion Academy (35-8 in 2017) is the league favorite.
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