Softball program continues to grow thanks to experienced seniors, hungry underclassmen
Bearden softball has started the season 6-4, and the Lady Bulldogs are looking to continue to upward trajectory the program has seen over the past few years.
As softball season begins around Knox County, Bearden expects big things for the 2022 team.
Under first year head coach Kenneth Boles, the Lady Bulldogs have started this season off with a 6-4 record, their best start since the 2015 season when they went to the state tournament.
They are 1-2 in district play, with losses to Farragut and Maryville and a win against William Blount, their first win against the district foe since that 2015 season.
This win was a huge boost for the team, particularly for the senior class of Nicole Couvertiere, Abigail Mutta, and Bradynn Belcher, who have all watched the program go through significant development during their four years.
“I think that being able to win this game marks the start of a great year,” Couvertiere said. “It is going to be an overall positive for us to carry throughout the year.”
All three of the seniors have signed to continue their careers in college – Couvertiere at the University of West Georgia, Mutta at Davis & Elkins, and Belcher at Berry.
Couvertiere said that this year’s team is different from previous teams due to the relationships that they have with each other.
“We have known each other a lot longer, and that connection between us is strong which will help us to win more games,” Couvertiere said.
This year’s team has benefited from having a strong group of underclassmen, such as pitchers Lauren Spainhower and Rylee Sieber, infielders Abby Kelton and Allie Seritt and outfielder Abby Thompson.
“Our underclassmen are very driven and have such a hunger to learn and be better than the grades above them,” Mutta said.
Mutta said that it has been amazing to see the team grow over her four years with the program.
“My freshman year we weren’t very good at all, and now we go into games thinking that we are going to win instead of just accepting that we lost,” Mutta said.
The Lady Bulldogs host district opponent Heritage on Thursday night at 5:30.