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The Pike County Lady Bulldogs begin a new era for its softball program with a new coach in former college star Toni Culver. 

Culver enters her first year as a head coach after serving as an assistant coach at her alma mater Dothan the prior four years. Culver was an All-State infielder at the old Dothan High School, helping the school win a state championship in 2011. She went on to earn All-Conference honors at Florida A&M.

During her college career, Culver held a career .260 batting average with 22 doubles, 21 home runs, 85 RBIs, one triple and 52 runs. On defense, she held a career .985 fielding percentage with 682 putouts, 42 assists and 21 double plays. 

Culver has been excited working out her new team as a first-year head coach.

“It’s been going good,” Culver said with a smile. “We had the ‘snowcation’ that took away some of our time but we did a ‘Bulldog Week’ before that and pushed our limits and worked the girls really hard. We had workouts as hard as we could and did a lot of throwing that week, too.” 

Pike County returns veterans like senior pitcher Abigail Griffin and freshman first baseman Hailey Griffin. Abigail Griffin struck out 26 batters in 81 and 1/3 innings last season, while earning 45 putouts, three assists and one double play with an .889 fielding percentage. She also held a .424 batting average with three doubles, one triple, 26 RBIs and 11 runs. Hailey Griffin earned 55 putouts, five assists and three double plays with a .741 fielding percentage on defense, while holding a .367 batting average with six doubles, one homer, 14 stolen bases, 19 RBIs and 25 runs. 

Pike County also returns senior pitcher Ky Wilkerson, who missed much of the 2024 season. In 27 and 1/3 innings last year, Wilkerson struck out 47 batters. In 2023, though, Wilkerson earned All-Messenger honors after boasting a 2.579 ERA with 68 strikeouts in 57 innings pitched. She also boasted a .352 batting average with 21 RBIs and four homers. 

“We’re still picking out our leaders right now but Ky Wilkerson will definitely be one of them that I’ll have to lean on this season,” Culver said. “Hailey Griffin is pretty sound, as well. Abigail Griffin is strong and a younger player, Leah Dixon, is sound and confident in what she does already.”

Culver is most excited about her offensive weapons.

“We have some pretty strong hitters,” she said. “Ky is strong with her hitting and Hailey is strong, as well. Arianna Straw and Paloma Munoz are also solid hitters. I think hitting can be our strength.” 

After losing a defensive leader like Jada Duncan last season, Culver is focusing on improving her team’s defense heading into the season.

“We’re really focusing on the defense right now,” she continued. “We’re trying to make sure we’re strong there. I’m not as worried about hitting as I am with defense and making sure we get as many reps as possible just so that we’ll be sound.” 

A new era of Pike County Softball doesn’t just mean a new coach, however. PCHS will be breaking in its new baseball/softball complex this season, which is expected to be ready for games after Spring Break.

“We’re very excited about it,” Culver emphasized. “It’s pretty big for us. It’ll have our own locker room in the dugout for the girls and our own batting cages, a covered batting cage. It’s really big for the program.” 

The Lady Dawgs are setting their sights on a return to Regionals and beyond this season.

“We’re hoping to push past regionals and make it to state,” Culver said. “I want us to have a strong, winning season and if we don’t make it past regionals then at least we have another goal to look forward to.”