By Mike London
Salisbury Post
SALISBURY — Salisbury’s softball team is hoping for a few victories and a load of good memories from this season.
The Hornets have made the move up to the 4A/5A South Piedmont Conference — that means taking on strong programs such as East Rowan, West Rowan and South Rowan — instead of competing with Lexington and Thomasville, programs the Hornets usually clobbered.
SPC softball competition may be a worse mismatch for the Hornets than in any other sport. Salisbury has one softball travel-ball player. The Hornets will be playing against SPC teams where almost everyone in the starting lineup is a travel-ball player with next-level aspirations.
Most of Salisbury’s players began their softball careers a few weeks ago. They’ll be facing girls who have been grinding at softball for eight years.
New Salisbury coach Anna Lingle understands the challenge. She’s not running away from it. She embraces it.
“We’ve got some really good athletes who are really good girls,” Lingle said. “We’re going to have a positive time together and learn the game. Our big issue is experience. So much of softball is handling game situations, and we have virtually no experience with game situations.”
Lingle played volleyball, basketball and softball at North Rowan. She was a college athlete, competing in lacrosse at Lees-McRae. She works as a counselor at Koontz Elementary. She has coaching experience from North Hills Christian and North Rowan.
Salisbury was a respectable 10-11 in 2025, although all 10 wins came against weak squads. Five came against Lexington and Thomasville. Two were against winless Statesville. Two were against a Trinity team that wasn’t much better. One win was a forfeit.
Salisbury’s success under previous coach Leah Herndon was often fueled by standouts Ashley Yang and Allison Peeler.
Lingle doesn’t have anyone like Yang or Peeler. She has only three returners with any experience at all. That trio is Dazmin Ambers, Allison Jones and Kyndall Edwards.
Ambers is the marquee returner as the sophomore smacked three triples and scored 23 runs in 2025.
“Super-athletic,” Lingle said. “She’s our shortstop. She played basketball, but her first softball practice I already could see what kind of athlete she is.”
Edwards played outfield last season, but will probably be the third baseman this time. She has no fear of hard ground balls and made some plays in Salisbury’s opener.
Jones has a chance to be a power hitter and will either catch or play first base.
“When she gets hold of one, it goes,” Lingle said.
The pitcher is freshman Khloe Burrage-Smith. She’s the team’s lone travel-ball player. In travel ball, she’s a shortstop, but she’s Salisbury’s best pitching option, so she’ll do her best.
‘She never complains, just shows up every day and works as hard as she can to get better,” Lingle said. “She can throw strikes.”
The rest of the roster is made up of girls with very limited softball experience.
“But they’re good athletes,” Lingle said. “They’re hitting well in practice and they can catch the ball.”
Sha’Mia Pipkin will probably be the second baseman. Bailey Hall will play behind the plate or at first base.
Aliyah Horton is an energetic outfielder.
“She’s always really positive and wants to jump up and down when she makes a catch.” Lingle said with a smile.
Saniya Sanders will usually be in right field.
Taniaya King, Amariah Gibson, Karissa McIver, Gianna Ortiz and Cecila Camacho Romero will all have roles. Those roles will be defined after a handful of games.
Salisbury lost 21-1 to Northwest Cabarrus in three innings on opening day, but Lingle is optimistic the Hornets will have games where they have a realistic chance.
“Our girls are still learning the rules, but they’re picking up on some things every day,” Lingle said. “The most encouraging thing is that when we finish with a practice they always want to stay and practice an extra 30 minutes. They want to be out here and they want to get better. That’s all I can ask.”
