The 2016 Peebles Lady Indians JV softball team: Front row, from left, Nicole Burns, Tasia Smith, Rebecca Kinnett, and Mackenzie Jordan; Middle row, from left, Skylar Renchen, Johna Dunigan, Francis Rogers, Courtney Spires, and Amber Chapman; Back row, from left, Abbey Smart, Star Robinson, Mackenzee Farahay, Cheyann Meyer, Gabby Houchen, and Lady Indians Varsity coach Doug McFarland.  Provided photo.
The 2016 Peebles Lady Indians JV softball team: Front row, from left, Nicole Burns, Tasia Smith, Rebecca Kinnett, and Mackenzie Jordan; Middle row, from left, Skylar Renchen, Johna Dunigan, Francis Rogers, Courtney Spires, and Amber Chapman; Back row, from left, Abbey Smart, Star Robinson, Mackenzee Farahay, Cheyann Meyer, Gabby Houchen, and Lady Indians Varsity coach Doug McFarland. Provided photo.

By Mark Carpenter

Fans of girls softball in Peebles have had a very enjoyable spring, cheering their varsity lady Indians to 15 wins thus far, but the Peebles softball program has another luxury that many high school programs only wish for. The Lady Indians were able to field a JV softball squad this spring and despite the weather that has made varsity scheduling a nightmare at time, the Peebles JV girls have managed to play 11 games, a fact that will do nothing but help a program that is young and prospering at the moment.

The JV Lady Indians are coached by Brian Seaman and 11 of his girls are freshmen at PHS. More than half of the girls had less than one year of softball experience coming into this spring and only four of them had played more than three years.

“We are very proud of our girls,” said Coach Seaman. “We have the only JV softball team in Adams County and we have played against some powerhouse teams like Wheelersburg and Waverly and we have steadily improved as the season has gone along.”

Many of the scores in the JV games of the Lady Indians have resembled football scores, including two wins over Huntington Ross by final scores of 33-19 and 19-11. That latest win over the Lady Huntsmen came on May 3, with Mackenzie Jordan on the mound for Peebles. The Lady Indians took an early lead with four first inning runs and after Huntington tied the game in the top of the second, Jordan and catcher Courtney Spires both crossed the plate in the bottom half to give Peebles the lead for good.

Peebles broke the game open in the bottom of the third, scoring six time to take a 12-4 advantage and then rode that lead home to the 19-11 victory in a marathon contest that lasted two hours and 55 minutes.

On May 6, the JV Lady Indians picked up another win, topping the Northwest Lady Mohawks by a final count of 18-16 in yet another high-scoring affair.

With the win over Northwest, the Peebles JV girls stood at six wins and five losses on the spring.