NEWELL ERA OF TROY SOFTBALL BEGINS

STORY BY JOSH BOUTWELL

First-year Troy softball coach Eric Newell started the 2023 season off with a 14-7 record in a busy first month of the season.

Newell came to Troy in the offseason as one of the most decorated head coaches in all of Division II and NAIA softball. Newell led the Auburn-Montgomery (AUM) program to back-to-back College Softball World Series appearances in 2021 and 2022 and his 2015 William-Baptist team won the NAIA National Championship. In 16 seasons at AUM and William-Baptist, his teams went a combined 556-209, won eight conference championships, made six NCAA or NAIA Tournament appearances, earned four World Series appearances and won a national championship.

Newell inherited a Troy squad boasting a number of All-Conference competitors, including Kelly Horne, Jade Sinness and the Brantley “Machine” Leanna Johnson in the circle. Newell also filled the holes some departing seniors left through the transfer portal.

Former Florida State outfielder D’Aun Riggs and Florida pitcher Haley Pittman joined the Troy roster from Power 5 schools, while Dothan native Natalie Turner joined Troy from Southern Union Community College. The Trojans also added talented freshman like Brantley infielder Kayden Dunn, Dunwoody, Ga., outfielder Jaida McCord and Enterprise catcher Emma Faulk.

Newell also filled his coaching staff with plenty of talent as former Florida State All-ACC catcher Anna Shelnutt joined the staff along with former Kennesaw State pitching coach Camden Decker, who helped the Owls to an appearance in the NCAA Tournament last season.

In the first quarter of the season, Troy hosted 10 straight home games, which saw the Trojans win 6-of-10. Troy also made a pair of tournament appearances in Tallahassee, Fla., and went toe-to-toe with No. 6 Florida State and No. 19 Auburn in the span of five days.

Through the first 21 games, both Anslee Finch and Taylor McKinney hit five home runs each along with Libby Baker’s four dingers. Riggs also earned three triples and Baker hit five doubles during that stretch. McKinney and Finch have been stellar at the plate with McKinney boasting a .356 batting average and Finch holding a .400 average.

The pitching staff has also been stellar for the Trojans. Johnson earned a 1.15 ERA through the first 21 and struck out an eye-popping 80 batters with a 10-2 record and two shutouts. Olivia Cato also struck out 15 batters and Baker struck out 14 during that stretch.

Troy’s conference schedule begins on March 17 but Troy will also host the ACC’s Georgia Tech for a big nonconference showdown on March 22.

Along with conference matchups that include a first-time ever series wtih James Madison and reigning three-time Sun Belt Champion Louisiana, the Trojans will head to Auburn on April 12 for a rematch with the No. 19 Tigers. Troy also faces rival South Alabama in a series May 4-6 to close out the regular season before the Sun Belt Tournament begins on May 10 in Lafayette, La.