WAYNESBURG, Pa. (Feb. 24) – After advancing to three-straight Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) championship games and winning titles in 2022 and 2023, the Waynesburg University softball team just missed out on the 2025 tournament. The Yellow Jackets will look to return to the postseason in their second year under head coach Chris Brunson after going 23-16 this past spring with a 9-11 mark in PAC play.
 
To accomplish the feat, the Jackets will have to navigate the upcoming schedule without arguably the greatest pitcher in program history, Sydney Wilson. Wilson has transitioned from the circle to the dugout as the team's assistant coach, joining long-time assistant Matt Tedrow on Brunson's staff.
 
Waynesburg brings back senior Autumn Stemple (Morgantown, W.Va. / University), but she could be limited, at least in the early portion of the season, by some lingering injuries. Should that be the case, the Jackets will lean on a pair of experienced sophomores in Madison Baker (Kitanning, Pa. / Armstrong) and Pressly Meadows (Annapolis, Ohio / Edison). Both righties appeared in 14 games with five starts each last season.
 
Freshmen Emma Wear (Wheeling, W.Va. / Wheeling Park), Emily Pratt (Bedford, Pa. / Bedford) and Morgan Walt (Hunker, Pa. / Hempfield) will also be competing for innings in the circle.
 
While there is some uncertainly when it comes to pitching, the Jackets look more stable at the plate with seniors Bella DeMark (Carnegie, Pa. / Bishop Canevin), Kassidy Trimble (Parkersburg, W.Va. / Parkersburg South) and Madie Cicero (Willowick, Ohio / Eastlake). Demark, who was named honorable mention All-PAC, saw action in the outfield and at designated player this past season, while Trimble will serve as the leader of the team's outfielders. Cicero's biggest impact came as a courtesy runner, but she did make a start in the outfield during the team's annual spring break trip.
 
In terms of Waynesburg's biggest returning offensive threat, that honor goes to sophomore Meysa Heitmann (Morgantown, W.Va. / University), who was named honorable mention All-PAC as an outfielder, but also played at shortstop. Heitmann led the Jackets in OPS, games played, starts, runs scored, hits, doubles, triples, homeruns, RBIs and slugging. She also finished second on the team with a .398 batting average and tied for second on the team with 12 stolen bases.
 
Waynesburg's infield brings back plenty of innings played and games started in junior Brynn Charnesky (Scottdale, Pa. / Southmoreland), sophomore Rylee Rohbeck (Oakdale, Pa. / South Fayette) and sophomore Graeson Grubbs (Volant, Pa. / Wilmington).
 
The Jackets' latest group of newcomers includes eight freshmen and a pair of intriguing transfers. Senior Braylee Corbin (Petersburg, W.Va. / Petersburg) is expected to be in the thick of the starting catcher competition with returning junior Emma Cervola (Hunker, Pa. / Hempfield) and sophomore Tori Foust (Blairsville, Pa. / River Valley. Junior transfer Jamie Kelly (Front Royal, Va. / Skyline) will also be looking for reps on the infield.
 
Waynesburg opens its season tomorrow with a home doubleheader against Penn State Altoona that will be played at Mylan Park in Morgantown, W.Va. First pitch is scheduled for noon.