Cullowhee, N.C. – Western Carolina softball is just over a week away from its season-opening doubleheader in Greensboro against North Carolina A&T, opening the season in the Piedmont Triad on Wednesday, Feb. 11.
CatamountSports.com is previewing the 2026 softball team ahead of its season, continues with the backside of the battery and the catchers behind the dish.
Western Carolina's duo of catchers includes senior Taylor Waitley and freshman Autumn Russell, who are expected to platoon behind the dish on the receiving end.
The veteran leader at the position, Waitley, comes off a 2025 that saw her total 20 hits, including five doubles and a triple. She scored seven runs and drove in nine RBIs. She posted a .995 fielding percentage while throwing out five would-be base stealers as she saw action in 41 games with a combined 34 starts coming behind the dish.
Russell compiled a .410 batting average in her prep career, with a mark of 1.066 on-base plus slugging percentage over four years and accumulated 104 hits. The Blue Ridge, Va., native stepped up as a junior with a .565 average and 27 RBIs. As a senior, she hit .473 with five home runs and a 1.415 OPS.
Following both her junior and senior seasons, Russell was named Blue Ridge Player of the Year and was a first-team all-conference and all-region honoree. She also earned second-team All-State honors from Virginia. As a freshman, Russell was part of a program that was district champions, Region III D champions, and the 3A Virginia State runners-up.
"Autumn is a true leader behind the plate with strong defensive skills as a catcher. She also brings a power bat to the lineup and has the potential to drive in big runs for us," said Clift.
The Catamounts begin the 2026 season with a doubleheader on Wednesday, Feb. 11, against North Carolina A&T in Greensboro. After the opening day, WCU heads to the Low Country Classic for a three-day, five-game tournament. The Catamounts will play Penn, host College of Charleston, Akron, and UConn starting on Friday, Feb. 13.
WCU opens its home schedule in doubleheader fashion against Winthrop on Tuesday, Feb. 17, at the on-campus Catamount Softball Complex. Admission to each of WCU's home games throughout the 2026 season is free of charge, courtesy of First Bank.
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