CFNN Reporter Kalilah Dela Cruz and Allie Dawson

The Cape Fear softball conference champions are back and getting ready for another great season!

In 2023 the Cape Fear varsity softball team had a record of 22-3 overall. They were ranked number one in their conference and they continued to keep up the hard work and made it to the 3rd round in the state playoffs.

The 2023 returners include seniors Alex Serbio (3rd baseman), Olivia Melvin (1st baseman), Gracey Horne (Left Fielder), and the juniors Avery Jones (Right fielder) and Allie Dawson (2nd baseman).

The returners are working hard to have another great season. They have high expectations for this year because they are the defending conference champions. The girls are also helping newcomers feel welcome at workouts.

The team has one more month of workouts before tryouts begin. Workouts are being held at 4 PM on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays on the softball field. Attending workouts would be very beneficial toward your performance for tryout day.

These workouts touch up on both a player’s defensive and offensive skills. Coach Jeff McPhail will have players hit off the tee, take swings off of the pitching machine, hit them ground balls and fly balls, and he will have conditioning.

Softball tryouts will be held on February 14th and 15th after school on the softball field. McPhail wants as many girls to show up as possible because he is pushing to have a JV team this year. Even if you can’t make it to workouts you should still show up to tryouts.

“Players are working hard at workouts. We graduated 3 seniors from last year and we need to fill those key positions. We got a good group of returners that can fill in those gaps,” said Coach McPhail.

Alex Serbio, a returning senior and UNC Pembroke commit, will play a key role in the team’s success this season. The Colts are looking to Serbio for a strong season in order to get back to the state championship.

“We lost some seniors but we still have a strong team and still have a few things to work on. We work very hard and our work ethic is there along with our chemistry. The girls get along with each other very well. Since our chemistry is so strong this year we will be a strong team,” said Serbio. “Last year our team’s performance helped us get very far in the playoffs. It was a great team last year and never had team chemistry like that. I have a feeling that this year will be even better because we know what to work on.”

The Cape Fear Colts softball team is getting prepped for this great season. Come be a part of this group of hard working girls who have high aspirations for a program that has seen tremendous success throughout Cape Fear’s history.