Lady Hounds aiming to reclaim regional championship in 2024

Despite a very respectable 23-8 record and a 50th District championship win, the Corbin Lady Hounds softball team were not entirely satisfied with their 2023 campaign. They accomplished a lot, yes, but they fell short of their ultimate goal of successfully defending their 2022 13th Region championship crown.

This season, the team looks to rectify that situation.

“We are feeling pretty good about this season,” said Corbin High School Softball Head Coach Crystal Stidham. “We have a lot of talent on the team, and a lot of girls who are good utility players. They are very versatile.”

The Lady Hounds will be returning the majority of their starters to the lineup this spring, having graduated only one senior player, Alayna Reynolds, from last year’s squad. While it may take the team just a bit to get up to full speed due to a couple of players nursing injuries and a few athletes who are making a postseason run with the CHS girls basketball team, Stidham is confident that the softball Hounds will once again be a contender once all of the pieces are finally in place.

“We have two seniors who have been with me all four years – Kallie Housley and Bailey Stewart,” Stidham said. “I will be looking for them to lead our team this year. They are, and always have been, really solid varsity players. They play with such heart. They want to win, and will push the rest of the team to want to win as well.”

While most of the personnel on the field may look familiar this season, fans will notice a big change in scenery when it comes to the CHS softball facility.

“With a new turf field and an all-new complex, we will not be able to play at home early in the season,” Stidham said. “We will be traveling a lot, which the girls are excited about. The early part of the season will definitely be a roller coaster.”

In fact, the Lady Hounds are currently not scheduled to play their season home opener until after a weeklong Spring Break trip to Florida to compete in the Florida Softball Beach Bash event. Prior to that, they are scheduled to travel to Rockcastle County, Pulaski County, Madison Southern, Henry Clay, Wayne County, and then to McCreary Central for this year’s Kentucky 2A Sectional.

“I am excited about this group,” Stidham said. “We also have a solid group of juniors. These are all girls who know what it’s like to win, and they have a desire to make it back to the state tournament.”