After a 21-9 season, a Chagrin Valley Conference Chagrin Division title, and a trip to the regional finals, Perry enters 2026 with a different kind of challenge.
The Pirates are no longer the veteran-heavy group that powered last year’s run. Instead, they will rely on a younger roster, one without a single senior, to carry expectations forward in one of the area’s tougher leagues.
That shift has not changed the belief inside the program. It has only changed how Perry plans to get there.
“Heading into the 2026 season, our outlook is cautiously optimistic,” said Perry coach Michelle Carino. “We return a strong pair of pitchers and a dominant center fielder who provides leadership both defensively and offensively. While we have a number of players in new positions and no seniors on the roster, our newcomers have shown they are hard-working, coachable, and quick to learn. If we continue to gain experience and build chemistry early in the season, we have the potential to be competitive and have another strong year.”
That cautious optimism is rooted in both proven production and the promise of a younger group still learning on the fly.
“Looking at what we return from 2025 and the players we’ve added to the varsity squad, our expectations for the 2026 season are to be competitive in every game,” Carino said. “With our returning players providing leadership and stability, and our newcomers showing hard work and coachability, we expect the team to continue developing throughout the season. While we are inexperienced at several positions, we anticipate steady growth, improved chemistry, and the potential for another strong campaign.”
Replacing Experience And Building Leadership
The biggest difference from last year’s regional finalist is not talent. It is experience.
Perry graduated five senior starters, leaving holes across the field and in the dugout. Without that built-in senior leadership, the responsibility now shifts to a younger core that got a taste of winning early.
“The main challenge for us this season will be replacing five senior starters from last year’s lineup,” Carino said. “As a result, we are relatively inexperienced at most positions. We also have no seniors in our program, so we lack the senior leadership we had last year. We will look to our four returning starters from last year’s regional qualifier team to pick up the leadership role and help lead our inexperienced players.”
Pitching Gives Perry A Chance Every Day
Even with the turnover, Perry’s identity begins in the circle.
Sophomore Sophie Sivon returns after a standout freshman season in which she went 12-5 with a 1.915 ERA and 103 strikeouts in 109.2 innings. She also hit .429 with 36 hits, six doubles, and 21 RBI, earning first-team All-CVC honors while helping pitch Perry to the regional finals for the first time in school history.
Junior Morgan Winters gives the Pirates another experienced arm and a steady bat in the middle of the order. Winters hit .282 with 24 hits, four doubles, three home runs, and 20 RBI last year, while also going 6-2 in the circle with 55 strikeouts. She earned second-team All-CVC honors as a pitcher.
“Two of our four returning starters are pitchers,” Carino said. “Sophie Sivon and Morgan Winters will provide a strong foundation to keep us competitive even as we start six players in new positions.”
Carino expects Sivon to remain one of the team’s most important all-around pieces.
“Sophie returns as one of our four returning starters after an unforgettable freshman season where she pitched us to the regional finals for the first time in school history,” Carino said. “With her potential to dominate on the mound and in the batter’s box, we’re looking forward to another competitive season.”
Winters brings a similar level of reliability, whether she is in the circle or holding down first base.
“Morgan returns for her third varsity season and brings a great deal of softball experience to our team,” Carino said. “She provides stability both on the mound and at first base, and we expect her to be a key presence in the middle of our batting order, where she has the ability to deliver power and timely hits.”
Rogers Anchors The Middle
While the pitching gives Perry its base, Arianna Rogers gives the lineup and outfield a centerpiece.
The junior center fielder is coming off a huge sophomore season in which she hit .452 with a .683 slugging percentage, 47 hits, 12 doubles, three triples, two home runs, and 42 RBI. Those numbers helped Rogers earn first-team All-District and first-team All-CVC honors.
She also gives Perry a proven voice on a team that will need younger players to mature quickly.
“Ari is coming off an outstanding sophomore season, finishing as one of the team’s top offensive contributors with 47 hits and 42 RBI,” Carino said. “She anchors the outfield and is quietly emerging as a strong leader in the dugout, and we expect her success to continue this season.”
Speed Should Help The Defense Travel
Perry expects to lean on athleticism in the outfield as it breaks in new faces elsewhere.
Rogers’ presence in center gives the Pirates range and stability, while Haylee Reed and Dakota Schlauch bring speed to the corners. That trio could be one of the team’s early strengths as the infield continues to settle in.
“With the addition of speedsters, Haylee Reed and Dakota Schlauch, we should maintain a solid outfield defense,” Carino said.
Reed’s versatility gives Perry options beyond just one spot on the field.
“Haylee is a versatile player who can contribute both in the infield and outfield,” Carino said. “Her speed allows her to cover plenty of ground defensively, and she will be a constant threat on the base paths this season.”
Schlauch has also impressed with the way she competes.
“Dakota’s work ethic, grit, and determination are impressive, and with consistent improvement, we expect her to be an impactful player for the team this season,” Carino said.
Newcomers Will Shape The Ceiling
If Perry is going to make another strong run, several players in new roles will have to accelerate their development.
One of the biggest transitions comes behind the plate, where Emma Brainard has stepped into catching duties after putting in work well before the season began. Brainard hit .287 with 23 hits last year and now takes on one of the most demanding jobs on the field.
“Emma is a hard-working player who is willing to do whatever we ask for the betterment of the team,” Carino said. “This season, she has taken on the challenge of a new role behind the plate, and we have been very impressed with the progress she has made at the catching position so far.”
Junior Mercedes Snell is new to the program and gives Perry flexibility across the infield.
“Sadie is joining our team for the first time as a junior,” Carino said. “She is a versatile athlete who can contribute at second base, third base, and first base as needed. She also has the potential to be a solid bat in the order.”
Freshmen Ella Bayless-Fahey and Claire Loveland are also expected to factor into the varsity mix right away. Bayless-Fahey could split time at shortstop, second base, and catcher, while Loveland is expected to see time on the left side of the infield and has already shown promise in scrimmages.
“Ella is a talented freshman who is expected to make an immediate impact this season, splitting time between shortstop, second base, and catcher,” Carino said. “Claire is a freshman who will likely see time at third base or second base this season. She has shown solid at-bats in our scrimmages and has the potential to be a productive hitter for the team this year.”
Aubrey Santore rounds out the group of players stepping into bigger varsity roles, giving Perry depth at first base and another option in the lineup.
“Aubrey makes her varsity debut this year as a valuable role player and will provide solid backup at first base whenever Winters takes the mound,” Carino said. “We’re excited to see her contribute right away.”
What Perry Must Do To Win
For a young team, consistency matters as much as talent.
Perry has enough pitching and enough returning production to stay in games. The question is whether the Pirates can limit mistakes, handle pressure, and develop chemistry quickly enough to keep building as the season moves along.
“For us to be successful, we need to execute fundamentally, limit mistakes, and maintain a strong mentality throughout the season,” Carino said. “Staying aggressive at the plate, playing disciplined defense, and maximizing our pitching depth will be crucial to achieving our goals.”
Outlook
Perry may be younger, but the expectations have not faded.
With Sivon and Winters giving the Pirates a strong one-two punch in the circle, Rogers returning as one of the area’s top all-around players, and several newcomers stepping into important roles, Perry has the pieces to stay in the mix in the Chagrin Division.
How quickly that young core settles in will determine whether the Pirates simply stay competitive or turn another promising season into another deep postseason run.
Perry Pirates Softball
