After Taylor Sewell was hired as the new head coach of the Wellsville-Middletown softball team in May, she didn’t waste any time getting her players prepared for the 2022 season.

Sewell and her team had a busy summer, playing eight games, including doubleheaders against Community R-6 and Hermann.

“We’re on a crazy train right now,” said Sewell, who replaced Jessica Eichholz as coach. “We’re full steam ahead. I’m excited for them. We have a lot of potential.”

Now, the Tigers are setting their sights on turning in a successful season in Sewell’s first year as coach. W-M begins its season at 5 p.m. on Aug. 26 with a road game against Paris.

“This summer, we had a lot of people come out. We made really good progress, and it has transmitted over into the regular season,” said Sewell, who graduated from W-M in 2017. “After the first week (of practice), we made really great strides. They’re really coming together. I’m excited for the season.”

The Tigers have 10 players, seven of them return from last year’s team that had no victories. Seniors Brooke Davis (outfield) and Kaylee Marshall (outfield), junior Meagan Cripe (infield) and sophomores Alyssa Beach (outfield), Maddi Poage (infield), Alivia Stewart (pitcher/outfield) and Hallie Guzy (pitcher/infield) are the returning players.

Rounding out the team are sophomores Keigan Hall (catcher) and Indica Scott (infield) and freshman Brooke Stroup (outfield).

“We have a strong 10 who are dedicated, have a strong heart and want to be here,” Sewell said. “I think we changed the old passion from being OK with it to where they want to compete and they want to win. I’m glad that’s what the girls want. They have a really good chemistry so far.”

Sewell said she’s looking forward to the season opener against Paris, which won three games last year.

“I don’t know what to expect going up there,” Sewell said. “It will be a trial and error type of game. I do believe it will get us set for actual conference games. But we’re still excited, no matter what. The girls are going to come into the game headstrong and want to win it. They’re going to go out there 110 percent and give me their all. That’s all I can ask of them.”

The Tigers will have their home opener against Madison at 5 p.m. on Aug. 29.

“We had a big crowd just this summer,” Sewell said. “People were coming out and supporting us, which is really surprising. I was not expecting that. We had a lot of support there, so I’m really excited for our first actual home game and seeing the support carrying on for these girls.”

Sewell has plenty of softball experience. She played the sport at W-M and Westminster College. She also played for a traveling team in Vandalia.

“I traveled playing softball all over the United States,” said Sewell, who is also an assistant girls basketball coach at W-M during the winter. “I grew to love it. All of my vacations were spent on softball.”

Casey Johnson is the Tigers’ new assistant coach.