The sky is the limit for the Columbia High School softball team, which is full of talent and ambition this spring.

The Eagles are eager to improve on a 19-12 record last season. So far, so good on that as the team won its first five games of the 2024 campaign.

Key returning players include senior Jay Brister and juniors Elle van Breusegen and Paige Froess. 

Brister, a Northern Illinois University commit, hit .495 with seven home runs and 39 RBIs last season. So far this spring, she’s hitting .500 with 11 RBIs.

As for van Breusegen, she’s sizzling at the plate at about .600 after hitting .416 with 42 runs last season. 

Froess, a lefty pitcher, went 10-3 last year with a 2.50 ERA and hit nearly .400. She’s already doing well this spring. 

Other key returners for the Eagles include juniors Harlie Rainbolt and Reese Jarrard. Rainbolt hit .363 last season and also pitched 26 innings. 

Back following an injury-plagued sophomore season is Sam Augustine. She hit .314 as a freshman and was 7-4 with a 1.91 ERA in the pitching circle. 

“Our coaching staff looks forward to those upperclassmen stepping up again this year to help our team,” Columbia head coach Brianna Weilbacher said.  

In addition to these key players, Weilbacher said her team has three sophomores and eight freshmen she expects to fill spots missing from last year’s graduating class and to play key roles this spring.

“As a team this year we are going to be on the younger side, but we look to that as an opportunity to grow and develop,” she said. “We have a group of girls this year that are very supportive of one another and who also have great communication. Every day, our goal is to build upon the things we are doing well and to work to get better each day.  Most importantly, to work together with purpose.”

Among the standout games on the schedule this spring for the Eagles include April 11 at home against Cahokia Conference foe Freeburg and April 24 at home against Edwardsville.