SEASON PREVIEW:
The 2026 Lady Buccs’ softball program returns the majority combination of talented players from an amazing season that was accomplished a year ago when the team reached the state final four for the fifth time in the history of the program.

Covington finished 21-10 last year and lost three players from the roster. The most critical player the Lady Buccs need to replace is a senior graduate from a year ago, Elizabeth Coblentz, a dominating catcher and a powerful hitter who had 12 home runs and earned Second Team All-State.

Leading the Lady Buccs this upcoming season are very experienced and talented seniors; Jayda McClure, Emma Ouellette, Taylor Foutz, Whitney Burns and Nell Rogers. All five seniors have a huge impact on the possible success the Lady Buccs will have in 2026. Jayda McClure and Whitney Burns were selected second team in the TRC, while Taylor Foutz and Cassidy Iddings were honorable mention.

Junior standouts Emalyn Johnson, Kylie Palsgrove, Ava Hartwig and Cassidy Iddings are also key players for this season as all four helped the team reach the state final four last year. Emalyn Johnson and Ava Hartwig earned first team honors in the TRC and Emalyn also was selected a second team All-Southwest District.

Plus, returning are sophomores Aubrey Hoying and Mackenzie Grear, two additional talented athletes who helped the team in critical games.

Three freshmen are added to the roster; Karlee Schwartz, Kayleigh Deeter and Bella Kerber. Their contribution to the team could determine how much success the Lady Buccs have in 2026.

What also has a huge impact on the Lady Buccs’ softball program is the coaching staff led by head coach Brooke Gostomsky-Menker. She has three great assistant coaches who help give the players opportunities to maximize their potential; Michayla Oates, Erin Morgan and Dan Cain.

The Lady Buccs put themselves into a schedule with stiff competition throughout the regular season. This will hopefully set them up to be playing at their highest level once the post-season tournament begins.

SEASON RECAP:
There have been so many great seasons in the sport of softball for Covington and this year ranks up with so many of the best as this group of outstanding players compiled a 24-7 record and captured the program’s 13th district championship.

Plus, the Lady Buccs put together so many school and state records throughout the year. The tied state records were accomplished by Jayda McClure and Emalyn Johnson with two home runs in one inning, Emalyn Johnson with four home runs in a game and also four consecutive home runs compiled by Karlee Schwartz, Ava Hartwig, Jayda McClure and Emalyn Johnson.

Emalyn Johnson set the program record with 19 home runs in the season and 34 home runs in a career. She is a junior, which gives her one more season to increase her totals. Also, the entire team set the school record with 58 home runs in the season.

Throughout the regular season the Lady bucks recored a 20-5 record and finished second to Miami East in the TRC with a 10-2 league record. The two league losses came to Miami East, a team that advanced to state.

The competition throughout the season was against so many outstanding teams as the Lady Buccs competed against teams that advanced to state; Greenville and Miami East, and teams who won district championships; Arcanum, Tri-Village, Minster and Troy.

Covington won the district championship in a 6-5 victory over Russia and suffered a narrow 3-1 loss to New Riegel in the regional semi-final.

The five seniors; Jayda McClure, Whitney Burns, Taylor Foutz, Emma Ouellette and Nell Rogers had a huge impact on the team’s success.