SLAYTON — After a solid season last year, the Murray County Central softball team is looking to take a leap forward in 2024. With many of their key players returning, the Rebels have the ingredients ready to make a deep run.

MCC put together a 10-11 record last season. Earning the No. 4 seed in the Section 3A South bracket, the Rebels defeated No. 5 Tracy-Milroy-Balaton in their postseason opener before falling 5-0 to top-seeded Edgerton/Southwest Minnesota Christian and lost 17-0 to eventual section runner-up Wabasso in the elimination bracket.

Mary Lou McNab was a key piece for last year’s Rebels squad, putting together a 1.258 OPS and pitching 22 2/3 innings. While her contributions will be missed, the Rebels largely return much of the same group.

On the offensive side of things, Abby Loosbrock was among the Rebels’ most consistent hitters last season and will likely elevate to even higher levels this time around. Her .300 batting average was third on the team behind McNab and Thea Schneider and her 1.061 OPS was second to McNab. She also finished the season with three home runs and a triple, both at least tied for a team-high.

Schneider was a two-way standout for the Rebels last season and is looking to do the same this year. Her hitting certainly was valuable — she finished the year with a .323 average and an .805 OPS — but perhaps the most important part of her game was her pitching.

Schneider was dominant in the circle for MCC. She threw 95 of the team’s 128 1/3 innings, compiling a 2.06 ERA and 1.52 WHIP in the process. A lack of run support limited her to a 6-7 record but, with much of the roster having another year of experience under their belt, the Rebels should be able to help with that this time around.

Through the first six games of the year, sophomore Calleigh Doeden has looked to be among the area’s most talented hitters.

While Doeden didn’t see varsity pitching last season, she’s wasted no time adjusting; Through the Rebels’ first six games, Doeden’s .562 batting average, 1.507 OPS and eight RBIs are all team-highs. She’s one of two Rebels to hit a home run this year, alongside Loosbrock, and her two doubles trail only Schneider’s four.

This year’s Rebels team features five seniors: Loosbrock, Atalie Rosenbrook, Grace Buesing, Sofia Cristina and Morgan Winter. Still holding plenty of underclassmen talent, the Rebels’ window of opportunity could extend well beyond this season.

The Rebels have won five of their first six games to start this season and aren’t looking like they’re going to slow down any time soon. They’ll look to pick up their fourth in a row when they head to Walnut Grove on Saturday for a matchup against Red Rock Central/Westbrook-Walnut Grove at 11 a.m.