Photo courtesy of L.A. Photography. The 2025 Murray County Central softball team consists of Emmi Peltola, Reese Wajer, Danyel Neilson, Ava Deacon, Addy Dierks, Elyse Paulzine, Katherine Miller, Thea Schneider, Taylor Larson, Calleigh Doeden, Kaitlyn Blankenship, Lila Scandrett, Lilly Kleven, Hayden Miller and Peyton Degreeff.

SLAYTON — The Murray County Central softball team is looking to continue its strong start to the season with a group of 12 returners and senior pitcher Thea Schneider this year, coming off a 2024 winning record. 

Led by four seniors in Schneider, Emmi Peltola, Elyse Paulzine and Taylor Larson, the Rebels are starting this season 3-1 after a 2024 10-8 campaign. Their season came to an end last year with a 5-4 loss to BOLD in the Section 3A tournament south subsection first round. 

At the helm of leading this year’s squad is Schneider, returning as the main pitcher after a dominant 2024 campaign.  

Schneider finished last season with 104 innings pitched. In her 487 batters faced, she allowed 83 hits, 19 earned runs, 37 walks and threw 118 strikeouts. She had an impressive 1.28 ERA with a 1.15 WHIP. 

In the team’s first four games on the mound this year, Schneider has pitched every inning, helping the Rebels get some early momentum going, including a 10-run win over Heron Lake Okabena Fulda. Their lone loss in its start came by one run, 6-5 to Lac qui Parle Valley on April 14. 

Junior Ava Deacon also serves as the main catcher this year. Sophomore Addy Dierks, Larson and sophomore Hayden Miller may also see some time on the mound this year as relief pitchers. 

MCC will look to Kaitlyn Blankenship and Calleigh Doeden to remain strong at the plate this year. 

Last year, Blankenship finished the season with a team third-best .386 batting average and .481 on-base percentage. She had 17 hits, eighth RBIs and accounted for 16 runs. 

Doeden followed with a .347 batting average and .418 on-base percentage, including 17 hits with four doubles, a team-high 15 RBIs, one home run and 12 runs. Morgan Winter led MCC last year with three home runs on the season, but has since graduated. 

The Rebels also have strong hitting potential in Peltola, Deacon and Schneider. 

The Rebels will look to continue building on its strong start of the season behind consistent pitching and aggressive batting with their group of upperclassmen. Along with the four seniors, MCC holds seven juniors to its four sophomores. 

MCC is led by head coach Elissa Wieneke.