The Blackburn Beavers Softball Team is partaking in the 2021 season with a young team led by Coach Crum in his 6th season as coach. He entered this season after only getting to coach 6 games last year, as the season was ultimately canceled due to Covid-19. The Beavers consist of a young core, as 14 of the 17 players are either freshman or sophomores. In addition, the players that are considered sophomores only participated in a few games last year, so they could be considered freshman when referring to college experience. The roster rounds out with three very experienced players that have had a lot of success, two of which are seniors and one is a junior transfer.
Kennedy Henson is one of the two seniors on the team just ready to get back out on the field. When asked about only being able to play six games last year, and what is motivating her for the upcoming season, she responded, "I did not like how our season started last year. It was not what we wanted and I do not want to end my career like that." She added the biggest thing she missed about not being able to play was bonding with her teammates. She explains that last season they were unable to do that and she cannot wait to get back on the field. Henson believes that her and Brooke Daniels, the other senior on the team, have a lot on their shoulders to instill the culture at Blackburn to both the incoming freshman and the sophomores that were only able to play in 6 games last season.
Freshman Natalie Keith has not played a softball game in over 700 days. Due to tearing her ACL during her junior season and missing her senior season because of COVID-19, she has not played a game since May 2018. When I asked about what she misses the most, she expressed she "missed just being able to play the game of softball and being on the field with teammates." Keith also included, "she is excited to play with her new teammates and looking forward to getting back on the field."
Roster Breakdown
SENIORS: (returners)
Daniels (Lapel, Indiana) is a combination pitcher, infielder. Including the shortened Covid season, she is coming into the year with 43 hits, a career 279 batting average, 5 HR, and 33 RBI's, plus has logged 114 innings pitched, with 95 strikeouts. Her ERA is 3.98 and she has picked up 3 wins and 3 saves. Daniels had her best during her sophomore season in a 3-2 loss to Iowa Wesleyan. She pitched six innings, allowing no earned runs, no walks and six strikeouts. She is a Psychology major.
Henson (Centralia, Il) was an all-conference high school player, and has been a major contributor as a utility player. She has played every position, except pitcher, during her 3 years. Henson has 14 hits and 10 RBI's, plus a sparkling defensive average. As a catcher, she threw out 6 runners stealing. During her sophomore season Henson had her best collegiate game. She went 2-3 with a walk and drove in three runs to beat Stephens College. She's an education major, and student teaching this spring.
Returners:
Rose (Brussels,IL) participated in six games last year as a freshman. She graduated from Brussels high school where she played in 76 varsity games. Rose had a total of 30 hits which led to 22 RBIs. She also stole seven bags out of eight attempts and had a feilding percentage of .820. Rose will look to be a key contributor this season playing the middle infield this season. Rose is a multi-sport athlete as she is also playing soccer for Blackburn. Rose is majoring in marketing.
Wichmann (Chatam, IL) played in six games last season as a freshman. She had a feilding perticage of .944 and 12 assists. Whichmann had a tremendous high school career playing in 103 varsity games. She tallied 84 hits which led to .298 batting average. She also had 73 RBI's and scored 82 runs. She was recognized for good play and was CS8 Honorable Mention her junior and senior year. Wichmann has a lot of pontenal looks to have a great season for the Beavers. Wichmann is majoring in accounting.
Novak (West Frankfort, IL) played in five games last season behind the plate. Novak had a feilding percentage of 1.000. Novak attended Frankfort High School for three years and transferred to Agape Christain High School where she was awarded to the All-Conference Team her senior season. Novak is majoring in Bio-Premed.
Manar (Bunker Hill, IL) was 6 for 16 with an RBI in six games last season. Manar was one of the best players for coach Crum last year. Manar looks to build off of her success leading into her sophomore season. During her high school career she played in 71 varsity games. She had an impressive four years as she smacked ten home runs, drove in 63 runs, and posted a .299 batting average. During her sophomore season she batted .344 and batted .385 during her senior season. She led Bunker Hill with 20 hits and her batting average. She was part of the All-Conference Team, awarded the MinuteMaid award and the Offensive Player of the year during her senior year. Manar is majoring in education.
Lexie Shaw
Shaw (Carlyle, IL) played in six games last season. She had a batter average of .308 during those games. While attending Carlyle High School played in 63 varsity games and had a .252 batting average. She scored 41 runs and ripped 10 doubles throughout her career. She was part of the All-Conference Team her senior season. Shaw is majoring in Pre med.
Recruits/Transfer
**All Freshman were unable to play their senior season due to the global pandemic during the spring of 2020.
Ashlock (Centralia, IL) graduated from Centralia High School before committing to Blackburn. She was teammates with senior Kennedy Henson during her freshman season at Centralia. While she was in high school she was a part of a successful program During the three seasons the Orphans went 77-25 and won back-to-back sectional championships. Ashlock is majoring in early education.
Girth (Bunker Hill, IL) is a former teammate of Manar. They played together for three seasons. During her high school career she played in 43 games. Girth had an overall .261, 29 hits, and drove in 28 runs. Girth batted .314 during her junior season. Girth pitched in 17 games and completed eight of them. Girth is majoring in business.
McKenize Smith
Smith (Polar Bluffs, MO) had an incredible junior season batting .560 which led her team. Smith's great numbers lkled her to be part of the First Team All-Conference team. During the summer of 2019 she played for Esprit where she batted .425 and threw out over 50 percent of baserunners while behind the plate. Smith is majoring in psychology.
Heuerman (Teutopolis, IL) is a multi-sport athlete at Blackburn playing volleyball and softball. She was coached by Crystal Tipton, a Blackburn alum during her "senior season". Tipton played softball in a Beaver uniform from 2000-2003 and graduated in 2003. Heuerman had a total of 68 plate appearances, which led to eight RBI's and 17 runs scored. She also swiped six bags only getting caught once. Heuerman is majoring in Pre-Med.
Keith (Brighton, IL) entering her collegiate career after missing her final two high school season.Keith graduated from Southwestern high school. Keith had to miss her whole junior season because of an ACL injury. And then had to miss her senior season because of COVID-19. If she was able to play the last season she would have played for the varsity team all four seasons. She is majoring in early education.
Thacker (Wenona, IL) transferred from Judson University after two seasons. During her sophomore season at Judson University she batted .333 and had an on base percentage of .429. She is the lone junior on the team and looks to bring some experience to this young team. During her senior season she batted .344, drove in 20 runs and scored 11 runs. She was awarded to Bloomington Pantagraph All-Area 2nd team, Lasalle News Tribune All-Area 2nd team, and Heart of Illinois All-Conference honorable mention. Thacker is majoring in Sports Management.
Emily B. Brown
Brown (Griggsville, IL) played for a very successful travel team during high school. She pitched for the Midwest Adrenaline where she won two state championships. Brown had a successful high school career as well leading the team in RBI's her sophomore and junior seasons. She was selected to the All Conference First Team her junior season. Brown has had a lot of success throughout her career and hopes to bring a winning attitude to the team. She is majoring in psychology.
Terranova (Austin, TX) transferred after one season at Blinn College. She decided to take a year off while attending Blinn College and chose to come to Blackburn to play softball again. Terranova is majoring in art.
Tomson (O'Fallon, MO) is a transfer from MacMurray College after one season. Tomson appeared in three of the six games as a pitcher last season. Shed pitched 5 ⅓ innings striking out four batters and allowing one walk. She played for Fort Zumwalt North where she was the primary pitcher during her junior and senior seasons. Tomson played varsity for three seasons. She is majoring in elementary education.
Henriksen (Davenport, IA) was a part of the varsity softball team all four seasons at Davenport Central. During her high school career she played every position but pitcher. Throughout her career she was a team leader in multiple defense of stats and made Second Team All Conference for senior year. She batted over .333 during her junior season. Henriksen looks to be a very valuable utility player this season for the beavers. She is majoring in elementary education.