However, look at the Tigers’ out of conference résumé. Over the last three seasons, they’ve compiled a 31-12 mark against non-RRC teams. Those are numbers of a pro- gram that is on the rise. There’s no doubt about that. And Sniezek is optimistic that trend will continue in 2024. Gilbert returns 16 players off its 19-player roster from 2023, led by sophomore infielder Katie Sniezek, the daughter of the Tigers’ head coach. A ver- satile talent offensively and de- fensively, Katie Sniezek hit at a .389 clip with 17 RBIs and seven doubles a season ago en route to all-conference, all-dis- trict, and all-state accolades. Clara Newton. Tovaria Smith. Zoey Jones. Emma Latterell. Maddy Shannon. Taylor Puck. Adalyn Gauck. Those are all fa- miliar names in the lineup that will have an impact again. Newton raked at a .377 clip and cranked a pair of home runs to go along with 11 RBIs and seven doubles in 2023. Smith hit .325 and went yard once a season ago. Jones and Latterell both finished with bat- ting averages north of .300 last summer, and Shannon hovered around that line all season to go along with a pair of dingers. Puck, who bashed a team- best five home runs a season ago, could be the wild card.
Medically cleared only recently after she suffered an ACL tear during volleyball season, the senior will quickly work to get back into the swing of things, and her production at the plate will be a signficant key through- out the season. Throw in another senior ca- pable of putting up big offensive numbers in Delaney Eickert (one home run, 11 RBIs in 2023), along with the leadership provided by Gauck, and you un- derstand why Sniezek is excited about this season’s possibilities. “On paper, it looks like we can pick up right where we left off in
that regional final,” Sniezek said. “The fantastic thing is we have an experienced senior class and they’ve been really good leaders for two years.” Newton will take over as the team’s No. 1 pitcher in the cir- cle, and the sophomore is ready to tackle that challenge and the ferocious opposing offenses on the Tigers’ schedule. Newton compiled a 4-3 record with a 3.47 ERA in 36 1 ⁄ 3 innings of work a season ago. Smith is also more than capable of gobbling up innings; she went 3-3 last summer. “(Newton) is ready to take that
SUMMER 2024 | GAME ON 21 nents will likely tread lightly around her daughter, but she thinks Gilbert has more than enough depth to compensate. “They’re going to pitch (Katie) tough, so she’s going to need to be headstrong and lean on her teammates,” Sniezek said. “The summer, and lead-off hitter Car- lee Schwartze was a tough out with a .438 batting average, two home runs, and 18 RBIs. Schwartze left Gilbert to attend Culver Academies in Culver, In- diana, where she plays hockey. “With this group, it’s going to be a matter of finding that lead- off hitter because Carlee was so good in that role,” Sniezek said. “But I feel really good about what we have one through nine, and even one through 12. We have girls that can all make good contact, they’re versatile, they can hit for power, and they can hit for average.” The head coach knows oppo- next step and she’s embraced it,” Sniezek said. “Clara is going to bring the heat. She’s going to throw hard and she’s worked to add a couple of pitches this summer, so we’re expecting really good things from her.” There are some holes Gilbert must plug this season from the group that averaged nearly six runs per game and outscored its opponents by 27 runs in 2023. Addison Hodgen, a 2023 graduate, won a team-high 11 games in the circle last
Left to right: Tovaria Smith, Clara Newton, CeCe Hart, and Alex Powers.
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