A new head coach is in charge of a Gibault Catholic High School softball squad that is trying to put the pieces together for success.

The Hawks won only two of their first six games to their 2024 campaign, but the recent wins over Cahokia and Marissa look to have built a bit of confidence for James Ogilvie’s team.

“We’re just trying to get them into some sort of rhythm,” he said. “We need to figure out our identity.”

Ogilvie joins the Hawks after coaching travel softball for several seasons. He’s also the head coach of the junior high softball squad at St. James Catholic School in Millstadt.

Three seniors are important to the success of the Hawks in 2024: Emma Steibel, Libby Mesch and Myah Ticer. 

Steibel, a Blackburn College commit, hit .400 last season. 

Mesch will miss the next couple of weeks with an ankle injury but is being counted on to be the main pitcher later this spring. She also hit .421 in 2023.

Ticer hit .291 last season and showed her athleticism on the basketball court for Gibault this winter.

While Mesch remains on the mend, junior Ashley Murphy will see plenty of pitching duty. She threw 40 innings last season in addition to hitting .404. Murphy also plays in the infield.

Three sophomores expecting to contribute in 2024 include Chloe Lancaster, Sophie Winkeler and Hope Chambers.

Lancaster hit .318, and Winkler hit .280 last season. 

Ogilvie said the goal for his team this season is to improve each day and put players in the right places to succeed.

“We’re trying to set them up for success at the end of the season,” he said.