New coach, new approach for 2026 HHS softball team

During one of the preseason practices leading into the season, new Houston softball coach Conaley Aaron was communicating his philosophy with his players. 

“I told the girls we play chess while everyone else plays checkers,” he said.

Unsure of what he meant, senior Ashley Gilbert went home that night and researched.

“She came back to the next practice and said, ‘I learned how to play chess – the cheap version on YouTube,’” Aaron said.

It’s a new era with what the Lady Tigers’ first-year coach believes will also be a new approach for Houston’s softball program. Gone after six successful seasons is Jim Moore and into his role is Aaron, who has 25 years of travel ball coaching experience but is brand new to a school role.

The Lady Tigers return five starters from last season, including the team’s single-season and all-time home run leader. But the team’s style of play – one that plated a program-best 12.4 runs per game in 2025 – will be much different.

“Take Katy Evans. She had a breakout year last year,” Aaron said of the senior who hit 9 homers a year ago. “So what’s everyone expect Katy Evans to do? Hit home runs. Nobody expects Katy to lay a bunt down. Katy hits one off the fence then the next time comes up and lays a bunt down the third-base line. It catches teams by surprise.”

Aaron, who said he’s a student of the mental side of the game and “book nerd when it comes to stats,” will have plenty of pieces to mix and match in his first season leading the Lady Tigers. 

Veteran experience on roster

Along with Evans, the team’s slugging second baseman and a four-year starter, Houston returns starters Lilly Kincaid (P/IF/OF), Gracyn McNiell (C), Gilbert (1B) and Ava Koch (P/IF). Kincaid, McNiell and Gilbert are three-year starters. 

The four other starting positions – vacated by four seniors who earned All-SCA honors last year – will be filled by senior Natalie Clinton (OF) and sophomore Claire Benoist (3B) with sophomores Bekka McGiboney and Ari Shuman and freshmen Ember Green and Piper Volk figuring into the mix

Aaron said he hasn’t settled on a lineup entering the Blazer Blast Tournament on Friday and Saturday in Jonesboro, Arkansas. He and his three assistant coaches worked through possibilities after a recent practice and came up with seven different combinations.

“Our batting lineup may look different game to game,” Aaron said. “That’s a huge advantage we have because our bats are so good. I don’t see a weak spot right now in my batting order. We’ll be good in all nine spots.”

Evans leads returning HHS offense

Evans was a statistical monster her junior campaign as she led HHS in batting (.528), on-base percentage (.607), doubles (13), homers (9) and runs (38). She ranked second on the team with 40 RBIs. 

Aaron said he expects teams to pitch around Evans, who broke her hand in offseason batting practice but has returned to full form. 

“We’ve got about three different ways we’ll approach that,” he said. “The ball she will hit out is going to be a mistake pitch. They’re not going to give her a middle-middle or middle-in. She’s expecting everything middle-out and even further out.

“We’ll have enough bats behind her that if they pitch around her, they’ve still got to worry.”

Evans will be protected in the lineup beginning with Gilbert, who hit .482 with a .582 on-base percentage with 7 doubles and 22 RBIs. 

Koch ranked among the team leaders with 28 RBIs as a freshman. She and Kincaid, who had 8 doubles, had 22 hits apiece. McNiell was 25-for-25 in stolen base attempts with a .500 on-base percentage thanks to a team-high 15 walks. 

Aaron said he plans to incorporate aggressive baserunning – he said every player will have the green light with a “you see it, you take it” approach – and more small ball.

“I keep telling the girls not to put pressure on themselves because matching last year’s numbers will be hard to do,” Aaron said. “Do we match the 298 runs and 24 home runs? Or do we win more ballgames with a better batting average? I actually think we’ll hit a little better.”

Mix-and-match defensive approach

With just a few certainties defensively – McNiell has caught every inning the last two seasons, Gilbert is locked at first base and Benoist will start at third – Aaron said the HHS defense will have shuffling pieces depending on who pitches.

Koch will play short when she’s not on the mound. When she is, Evans could play second, short, third or the outfield. Kincaid can also play short when not pitching as well as the outfield. 

It will be a committee approach in the outfield, Aaron said, with Clinton figuring into the mix along with the infielders who can play multiple spots as well as Green and Volk. McNiell could also play some outfield innings.

“We’re ‘next man up’ mentality,” Aaron said. “Where do you best help the team? We want everyone to take reps in both the infield and outfield.”

Three arms available on mound

Houston returns its top two pitchers from last season as Kincaid and Koch logged a combined 108 innings.

Kincaid was 7-3 as the team’s ace with 52 strikeouts and an 8.11 ERA in 73 ⅓ innings. Koch struck out 22 in 34 ⅔ innings with a 4-2 record and 8.89 ERA.

Aaron said Green will throw innings in the team’s opening tournament this weekend with his two returners. 

“We need to continue building our pitching,” he said. “Hitting wise, we’re going to hit just the same.”

Road-heavy schedule in 2026 

With just five home games on the current schedule, the Lady Tigers – who went 16-8 last year but failed to win districts for the first time since 2021 – will spend a majority of the 2026 season on the road.

Following the Jonesboro tournament, Houston hosts Mansfield in its home opener March 26. The annual SCA Tournament is March 28 as the Lady Tigers face Moore and his new team, Salem, in the first round. 

Regular season conference play begins the following week as Houston hosts Willow Springs on April 2. Senior night is the conference finale April 28 against Liberty.