Hoping to continue a lengthy hot streak, the Houston High School softball team begins the 2025 season this week.
The Lady Tigers enter the campaign having won three straight district championships. Last year, they ran the table in South Central Association (SCA) conference play, going 7-0 on the way to setting a program high for wins before sustaining a season-ending loss to Willow Springs in the quarterfinals of the Class 2 state tournament and finishing 19-4 overall.
Houston will once again be guided by head coach Jim Moore, who is entering his eighth season in the position. Last May, Moore was named SCA Co-Coach of the year for the fourth straight year. During his tenure, the Lady Tigers have won four SCA championships – two outright and two shared.
“This is a fun group,” Moore said. “They work hard every day, put the time in during the offseason, and they expect to win. They’re not arrogant, but they go onto the field knowing that if we play our best, we have a heck of a chance to win.”
The squad lost only one player to graduation from last season’s roster: First baseman and pitcher Kelsey Pritchett.
“Kelsey is going to be missed for sure,” Moore said, “because of what she could do in the pitcher’s circle, at first base or at the plate. And we’ll miss her leadership, too. “But we have a lot of girls who got valuable experience last year, and we’re excited about it.”
Loaded with returning starters, the Lady Tigers should once again have little trouble scoring runs, as their lineup features strong hitters from top to bottom. The availability of the indoor Piney River Sports Complex has allowed players to get in lots of swings during the colder months.
“That has made a huge difference because you can work year round,” Moore said. “We’ve had girls in there non-stop, so their swings never get rusty. They’re just trying to sharpen the tools they have.”
Leading the way is senior third baseman and 2024 Co-SCA Player of the Year and Class 2 All-State Second Team selection Makinley Aaron, who batted .551 last year while driving in a team-high 44 runs and scoring 32. Aaron’s relentless offensive showing in 2024 included a game against Thayer when she hit for the cycle, drove in 8 runs and got on base in all five of her trips to the plate.
“She’s a really great player,” Moore said, “but what’s really awesome is she’s an even better person. Her teammates love her and she’s always willing to help wherever she can.
“She’s going to be a big part of us for sure.”
Houston’s offensive juggernaut also includes junior second baseman Katy Evans, who hit .463 last year while belting a team-high 4 home runs and recording 26 RBIs and 30 runs scored. Junior first baseman Ashley Gilbert hit .459 in 2024, while junior Lilly Kincaid hit .433.
The Lady Tigers have three other returning players who batted over .300 last year, including junior catcher Gracyn McNiell (.317), senior center fielder Lacey Cavaness (.308, 3 homers) and senior shortstop Sophia Crites (.303, 24 RBIs).
Kincaid will again be the Lady Tigers’ ace in the pitcher’s circle, after starting 10 games last year and allowing only 14 earned runs while allowing 42 hits, recording 28 strikeouts and issuing 15 walks. The team has a few other hurlers who will see action this year, including Aaron (who started 6 games in 2024), junior Natalie Clinton and freshman Ava Koch.
“We have some arms, and that’s important,” Moore said. “Especially when we go to tournaments, if you’re going to compete legitimately, you need two or three just to keep anyone from wearing out. Also, you want to give teams different looks sometimes to keep them off balance.”
Koch is one of a handful of newcomers who will make an impact this season.
“Ava is going to find herself on the field somewhere,” Moore said. “She’s valuable because she can play multiple positions; she can play middle infield, outfield and she can pitch. And she can hit; she’s a good player and is going to make an impact right away.”
Houston’s defense was key on several occasions in 2024, and figures to be again. Last year, McNiell went errorless in all 23 games, while Aaron was a virtual vacuum at third and committed only 1 error.
“We think our defense should be better this year,” Moore said. “That’s what we’re hoping for.”
Moore thinks leadership by the team’s seniors (Aaron, Cavaness, Crites and outfielder Katy Scheets) will provide a boost.
“They’re ready to lead,” he said, “and we want to make it the best senior year for them that we can.”
While the Lady Tigers’ primary goal is to get back to where they’ve been for three straight years, they also hope to take that next big step and get past the first round of the state tournament after being ousted by Central (Park Hills) in 2022, Ava in 2023 and Willow Springs in 2024.
“We do have some lofty goals,” Moore said, “but we can’t get ahead of ourselves – that’s the key. We have to play one game at a time and use every opportunity we get to improve. We know we’re not going to play perfect, but we have to learn from our mistakes and get to where we’re clicking at the right time as we go into districts.
“But it’s got to be one play at a time. If you start looking forward, you’re in trouble, because there are lot of good teams in the area and any one of them can knock you off. “We came up short the last few years, and it’s not going to be easy to get back there, but that’s what we want to do.”
Moore will again be joined by assistant coaches Tory Wade and Jim Kulakowsi.
Houston’s home venue – Carter Field – has been being significantly overhauled this year. When the project is complete, there will be new dugouts, a big new backstop and other improvements.
“We’re excited about that,” Moore said. “We’ve always been proud of our facilities, and I think we have one of the most unique settings for softball, maybe in the state. But it’s going to be really nice, and I feel with as hard as these girls work, they deserve it. They appreciate it, too, and it won’t be taken for granted.”
The Lady Tigers get a taste of competition in a three-team jamboree on Monday of this week at Plato (also including Conway), and they get things going for real at the annual Blazer Blast Tournament this Friday and Saturday at Jonesboro, Arkansas.
Houston will play several more games on the road before hosting Summersville on April 4.
“We’re expecting some big years from some girls,” Moore said, “and we’re excited about what the prospects are.”
2025 HHS Softball Roster
Seniors:
#00 Makinley Aaron, 3B, SS, P
#22 Lacey Cavaness, CF Centerfield
#24 Sophia Crites, SS
#10 Katy Scheets, OF, C, 3B
Juniors:
#9 Katy Evans, 2B, OF, P
#17 Gracyn McNiell, C
#15 Natalie Clinton, P, OF
#33 Lilly Kincaid, P, 3B
#3 Ashley Gilbert, 1B
#4 Annabelle Westbrook, OF
Sophomores:
#11 Jaden Rhoades, OF, C
Freshman:
#6 Ari Shuman, OF, P
#8 Jenna Warner, 1B, C
#12 Isabella Cook, OF
#13 Aristea Melroy, 2B
#20 Anna Wells, OF
#23 Rebekah McGiboney, 2B, P, C
#25 Makayla Hood , OF
#28 Ava Koch, 2B, P, SS, OF
#31 Claire Benoist, 3B
Head Coach: Jim Moore
Assistant Coaches: Tory Wade, Jim Kulakowski
Manager: Carley VanHorn
