Crestwood opened the season on Saturday with a pair of losses to Massillon Washington, but better days are ahead for the young Red Devils.
With just three returning starters, several players are seeing their first varsity action.
“Our 2025 season will be about getting so many new starters adjusted and acclimated to varsity softball,” said Crestwood coach Matthew Helm. “We are very young and have very little depth, so we really need to focus on developing these younger players and keeping them healthy. I’m very optimistic about what we have seen as they are doing all we ask and are open to changes.”
Crestwood finished the 2024 season with a 10-9 record overall and a 5-5 mark in the Chagrin Valley Conference Valley Division.
“We don’t have expectations (for this season) as we are only returning three starters, but what we are looking at is being competitive and improving every game,” Helm said.
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Crestwood’s young lineup and lack of depth will present a season-long challenge for the Red Devils to overcome.
“Overcoming them will just be from constant work and staying healthy,” Helm said. “Working some of the other young players as much as possible in game situations will help as well.”
Helm will lean on senior Kayleigh Helm to provide leadership on the field.
The four-year starter and University of Northwestern Ohio commitment batted over .425 in each of the past two seasons and has a .978 career fielding percentage. She also has been named all-conference and all-district twice.
“Kay is the voice and leader of this team,” Coach Helm said. “(She is) competitive and emotional and driven. She has stepped up in ways that I think even shocked her. (She) could really run the team on her own. She’s smart and competitive and knows how to control and guide a game and the pitchers.”
Sophomore Grace Harper returns to the circle after an impressive freshman season that ended with first-team All-CVC honors. She was 2-2 in the circle and also hit a pair of home runs.
“She has improved her ball placement and off-speed stuff, and will be more poised this year,” Coach Helm said.
Freshman Bella Stier will play shortstop and serve as the team’s No. 2 pitcher.
“Bella Stier is an incoming freshman that will add some pop in the lineup along with being our No. 2 pitcher,” Helm said. “She has a lot of experience coming from travel ball and understands the game well. She is adjusting well to the speed of varsity play and will just get better with more reps.”
Senior Hailey Desatnik will patrol center field.
“As Hailey got her first experience as a varsity starter last season, she improved in every aspect of the game,” Helm said. “She has been working hard this year to be even better and we are looking forward to her being a leader on this team as well.”
Sophomore Rylie Duval-Chambers will start at first base, sophomore Keli Lee is at second, and sophomore Abby Hayes will play third.
Junior Serena Wright is slotted in left field and junior Audrey Julian is in right field.
“The quicker we adjust and adapt the better we will be,” Helm said. “We need to start out fast and not get behind early; being aggressive and energetic is key.”
