A strong senior class is back to lead Lincoln on the softball diamond and continue the strong momentum from the second half of last season.
Lincoln won 10 of the last 14 regular season games before falling in the playoffs.
And now, head coach Lacy Ragland's team welcomes back some key individuals ready to take the next step this fall.
Seniors Maddi Stewart, Kabry Kiger, BK Malone and Jade Summerlin will lead the Bulldogs when the season kicks off in mid-August, hoping to advance to state for the program's first time.
Stewart was the all-district pitcher of the year after a big junior year on the mound.
She finished with a 3.42 ERA across 120 innings in 21 starts for the Bulldogs in 2024. Stewart had 106 strikeouts and a .911 fielding percentage.
"It will be Maddi's fourth year on the varsity field," Ragland said. "She is currently in the super versatile leadoff role. She'll bring strong pitching as well as some key defensive options in both the infield and outfield."
She was also great with the bat, as Stewart finished with a .301 batting average and a .375 on-base percentage. She had five doubles, one homer, 11 RBIs, scored 26 runs and had 23 steals.
Kiger was named second-team all-district, as well as the Slugger of the Year on last year's team.
She finished her junior year hitting .286 with a .382 on-base percentage and a .364 slugging percentage. She had a double, a triple and a homer, while driving in 10 runs and scoring 19 runs.
Defensively, Kiger had an .887 fielding percentage.
"She has played for us since she was a freshman, as well," Ragland said. "Kabry will be in a leadership position for us and will bring a powerful bat to our lineup. She will have a strong infield presence by leading from the corners."
Malone was 2nd-team all-district after having 20 hits on the season and finishing with nine RBIs and 10 runs.
"She's played since her sophomore year for us," Ragland said. "She will command the field from the middle infield for us."
Summerlin was the 2024 Bulldog Award winner for her contributions to the team, finishing with 12 hits, six RBIs, six steals and scored 13 runs for Lincoln as a junior.
"She is a major spiritual leader on this team and is returning as a veteran outfielder," said Ragland.
The Bulldogs lost two key seniors in Addison Whitmire and Campbell Ryan, but Ragland believes this team has what it takes to make another run in the second half of the season.
"While losing a strong catching presence and shortstop will be difficult to fill, I believe we are seeing an opportunity to build as well as the ability to make a playoff run," she said.
Another key individual that will play a key role for Lincoln is sophomore Bryleigh Milligan, who got her feet wet in her first varsity season last fall.
"She played quite a bit for us last year in center," Ragland said. "She has been recovering from surgery, but getting stronger everyday and will work for us in center, short, and catcher."
Milligan was named all-district honorable mention after producing four doubles, 11 RBIs and eight steals, while scoring 10 runs.
Stewart and junior Haylee Delozier will occupy the mound for Lincoln in 2025, which Ragland is looking forward to due to the differences in styles.
"With a dramatic difference in pitching approaches between Maddi and Haylee, we expect the heat and movement these girls will bring can be a major asset to us defensively," Ragland said.
Delozier was all-district honorable mention after starting 10 games in the circle for Lincoln. She finished with a 4.77 ERA and a 4-3 record across 58 innings. She also hit .321 at the plate with a .762 OPS, driving in eight runs.
Offensively, Ragland will look for her group to keep the line moving and utilize small ball to score runs this fall.
"We will look to string a hitting series together with the support of our short game, which will put runs across the plate offensively," she said.
Lincoln has already been hard at work, opening practice on July 15 ahead of a handful of scrimmages before the season-opener.
But Ragland also wanted to keep it as relaxed as possible, which has allowed her team to show their talents elsewhere and impact people off the field, as well, through mission work with Church on the Move.
"This has probably been one of the most relaxed softball summers we've ever had," Ragland said. "The girls all went through summer pride. However, our summer league season was extremely light with only two games."
"We have had girls playing sports all over the country and even more traveling to other countries on mission trips. I think we have a spiritually strong group of girls, some who have gifts in playing softball and others just being athletes. Some are gifted in worship, others have a gift of encouragement or even laughter."
The head coach is fortunate to be able to see her players blossoming in multiple areas and knows that will continue as they begin the season by hosting Claremore-Sequoyah on Aug. 11 and Booker T. Washington on Aug. 12.
"It's really a beautiful thing to see these gifts from each one individually, but to have a front row seat in seeing how these girls will honor God with their gifts is really going to be an incredible sight," she said.
Consistent with that perspective, Ragland and her team are taking a different approach in 2025, focusing on becoming the best versions of themselves and letting Christ show through their play on the field.
"Our approach this season is probably a little different than in the past," she said. "It's a lot less about softball and a lot more about teenage girls becoming women of God, while we stay competitive and use this game God's given us for His glory."
Part of that journey will include a focus on humility, as Ragland hopes her team's humble approach while remaining competitive will pave the path for success.
"Staying humble is difficult for most athletes, no matter if you are winning or losing," she said. "Often times, athletes walk with a chip on their shoulders which isn't all bad — until it is. The goal is to stay edgy in a state of humility."
"When we win, we recognize our talents and are grateful for the victories, but even more do we point people back to King Jesus in the way we carry ourselves."
That includes a team-approach with the bat and trust in the field, ultimately relying on your teammates with every pitch.
"If we can stay humble and find success at the plate, our tools in the field are capable of getting the job done," Ragland said. "We will find ourselves living out the Romans 12 body on the softball field and see that all of us need each of us."
Strength. Surrender. Stewardship.
That's the motto for Ragland and her team this season, which is built on the principle of togetherness.
"This season, our theme 'Strength. Surrender. Stewardship.' is rooted in Romans 12:1, which calls us to offer our bodies as a living sacrifice — holy and pleasing to God — as our true act of worship," Ragland said.
"We believe strength isn't just physical, but spiritual — choosing what's right, even when it's hard. Surrender is laying down pride, fear, and selfishness so God can lead every part of our lives. Stewardship means using our gifts, time, and influence with purpose — managing what God has entrusted to us with excellence. Together, we worship not just with words, but with our lives."
That approach not only unites this group, but provides optimism for what could be in store this fall.
"It's going to be a fun season," she said. "It might look a little different this year, but it might just be our best year yet."
