Auto Butler Female Athletes Of The Month: Alton Redbirds Softball Builds Momentum With 2026 Season

ALTON — Under head coach Alyssa Maher and assistant coaches Amy Strobel, Doug Dey, and Brooke Webber, the Alton Redbirds girls softball team showed improvement in 2026, finishing with nine wins and returning a roster heavy with underclassmen.

With only three seniors listed on the roster and many freshmen and sophomores, Alton appears positioned to bring back much of its team. The provided team information also described the future of Redbirds softball as bright.

The Redbirds’ seniors were Sophia Hanneken, an outfielder and infielder; Mackenzie Rayfield, a pitcher and outfielder; and Laci Fischer, a catcher and infielder.

Alton’s sophomores included Gabby Terrell, an outfielder, infielder, and catcher; Lilly Henkhaus, an infielder and outfielder; Sydney Moore, an outfielder and pitcher; Anna Caughran, an outfielder and infielder; Gabby Gonzalez, an infielder and catcher; Genna Roark, an infielder and outfielder; Izzy Hernandez, an infielder and pitcher; and Carielle Riddlespriger, an outfielder.

The freshmen were Kynlie Muscarella, a pitcher, infielder, and outfielder; Evelyn Kjar-Mangan, an outfielder; Ella Buehlman, an outfielder; and Maddy Gauntt, an infielder and outfielder.

With many freshmen and sophomores on the 2026 Alton roster, the future for Alton Redbirds girls softball looks bright.