Vinton High’s softball team set a new standard in 2023. Now the 2024 team has to live up to it.

The Lions reached the state semifinals for the first time in program history last year and went 21-11. They return seven starters, including pitcher Jaycie O’Conner, the American Press All-Southwest Louisiana Small Schools MVP.

“We are excited,” Vinton head coach Garrett Coppels said. “Now we have expectations that we have to live up to.

“Last year we went into the year and knew that we would be pretty good, but we knew it would be a struggle at times. This year we are excited because we are pretty much returning all of our production, but now we have to live up to those expectations.

“We are excited to see how we grow from last year to this year, especially with our sophomore and junior classes. We are hoping when we get to the end of March and April that we are playing our best softball.

“Our goal is obviously to get back, but now the goal is to win a game and play for a state championship. I think with the group we have the opportunity is there. We have been working since September in the weight room and cages getting ready for it. We have a shot.”

Coppels, the 2023 Louisiana Sports Writers Association Class 2A Coach of the Year, said O’Conner has added speed and power to her pitches in the offseason. She went 21-11 as a junior with a 3.17 earned run average and 247 strikeouts in 184 innings.

“Since she was a freshman she is always working,” Coppels said. “She goes to lessons a couple of times a week, and she is hitting on her own.

“She is always doing things to improve. You can tell she has added a few miles per hour this offseason. I think she has gotten a little stronger. She has really worked on her control and some offspeed stuff.”

Coppels said O’Conner will bat leadoff again after hitting .567 last season 12 doubles, four triples, 24 RBIs, 48 runs scored and 19 stolen bases.

The Lions return an all-state first-team shortstop in Jolie Gary (.486 avg., 3 HR, 33 RBIs, 40 runs, 13 SB) plus Ryleigh English, who earned All-Southwest honors last year. English, who hit .290 in 2023 with 25 RBIs and 24 runs, will move from the outfield to catcher.

“Last year, Jaycie was our leadoff and does a lot for us. Jolie is the big hitter for us in the three-hole,” Coppels said. “She has done a lot for us in the last couple of years.

“She is a returning all-state shortstop. Then the middle of the lineup, we are looking for Bryclyn Fenetz to have a good year for us.

“We are hoping Bianca Harvey can bat in the two-spot for us and extend our lineup a little bit. Ryleigh English was our cleanup last year, and she has improved, so now we are hoping she makes that jump.”

Other returning starters include Emma Labby, Beonca Harvey, Madyson Jones and Brooklyn Laughlin. Bryclyn Fenetz will start at first base, while Kelsey Jones will start in the outfield.

“This year, the 7-8-9 is going to be able to put some pressure on people,” Coppels said. “I think from top to bottom we are a lot deeper lineup-wise. I think this is the most athletic group that we have had. We pride ourselves on running bases and playing some small ball when we have to. This group can run compared to what we had in the past. I think we are more athletic as a whole.”

At times, defensive problems hurt the Lions last season, including four errors in a 15-0 semifinal loss to French Settlement.

“Last year we got there and looked nervous,” Coppels said. “It looked like we had never been there.

“The last couple of years we have really tried to focus on defense. We have always had some success at the plate, but we have had struggles at times with the pitching and defense. So we are really trying to focus on that. What we have put most of our time into is live situations and live at-bats with people moving. We are hoping that will get us ready. I think putting more effort into it is going to help us.”