PREP SOFTBALL PREVIEW

BOARDMAN

Coach: Mike Trell and Marco Marnucci, second season, 49-10.

2009 record: 25-8, Division I regional runner-up.

Returning letterwinners: C Marra Cercone, senior; 2B Angela Martin, senior; C-1B Jamie Massaro, senior; 1B Erin Schaefer, senior; LF Missy DeMarinis, junior; P Alex DiDomenico, junior, 16-8, 0.92 earned-run average, First Team All-Federal League; C Bethany Haddle, junior; SS Brooke Meenachan, junior; 3B Julie Olbrych, junior; CF Danielle Petrus, junior; RF Sarah Maxwll, senior; P Julie Sokol, junior.

Promising newcomers: P Nicola Gabriele, soph.; OF Kayleigh Huck, soph.; SS Alex DeFabio, soph.

Team’s outlook: Trell says the Spartans are a young team that needs to mature quickly.

BRISTOL

Coach: Debbie Rowles, seventh season.

2009 record: 6-9.

Returning letterwinners: P Katie Patchin, soph.; P Crystal Mackey, junior; 1B Dakota Fusselman, junior; 2B Angie Mackey, soph.; OF Stephanie Holland, soph.; OF Sydney Dearment, senior; OF Tiffany Evans, SS-OF Lindsey Keller.

Promising newcomers: 1B Allyson Jones, freshman; IF-OF Megan Adams, freshman; INF-C Steffanlee Markowitz.

Players not returning: C Kassandra Holmes, 3B Heather Goetz.

Team’s outlook: The Panthers’ strength is two experienced pitchers.

Fitch

Coach: Melody Ward, 6th year.

2009 record: 0-14.

Returning lettermen: 1B Stephanie Berdis, Sr. (three-year letterwinner and two-time All-Federal selection); 2B Haley Martinelli, Sr. (three-year letterwinner); OF Alyssa Jones, Sr. (two-year letterwinner and honorable mention all-NEO); SS Kacie Donahue, Sr. (two-year letterwinner); P Amanda Callahan, Jr. (two-year letterwinner); OF Emily Purnell, Jr. (two-year letterwinner); C Carly Ortz, Jr. (two-year letterwinner); OF Megan Carney, soph. (one-year letterwinner, second-team all-NEO, second-team All-Federal); PR Brianna Banko, soph. (one-year letterwinner).

Promising newcomers: Sarah Garcia, Sr.; P Tori Wise, soph.; 3B Alana Callahan, Fr.

Team’s outlook: Amanda Callahan will take the helm at pitcher, while Emily Purnell and Tori Wise will share closing duties. Infield is experienced, except at third base, where freshman impact player Alana Callahan is expected to start. She is going to be a difference-maker. After missing one-third of the games in 2009, Carly Ortz will be behind the plate with a Div. I arm. Stephanie Berdis, Haley Martinelli and Alyssa Jones bring the most experience to the team and they will look to improve on their .300-plus averages. Kacie Donahue will lock down the middle infield. Brianna Banko and Sarah Garcia may assume pinch-hitting or DP roles. Megan Carney will not play due to an injury suffered during the basketball season.

GIRARD

Coach: Renny Paolonie, 7th year, 47-82.

2009 record: 15-8.

Returning letterwinners: Chelsea Guerrieri, Melissa Witzman, Megan McCale, Lisa Holmes, Caroline Standohar, Nikki Hollabaugh, Sammy Chase.

Promising newcomers: Bryanna Jay, Nicki Mazzella, Kiley Kulow.

Team’s outlook: Paolonie says team chemistry and defense will be strengths while team speed needs work.

LAKEVIEW

Coach: Carl Eaton, seventh year, 82-37.

2009 record: 11-8.

Returning letterwinners: C Raelynn Burns, senior, First Team All-American Conference White Tier; P Alexis Neumeister, soph. First Team AAC-White; OF Kim Lane, soph.; RF Lexi George, soph.

Promising newcomers: SS-C Alyssa Nicholas, freshman.

Players not returning: P Abbey Bensing, Ohio Northern; P McKenzie Palette, First Team AAC White (moved to Georgia) .

Team’s outlook: With one senior returning, Eaton says his squad will be young but hopefully competitive. Four starters return.

LIBERTY

Coach: Dave Flickinger, second season, 6-8 (171-59 overall)

2009 record: 6-8.

Returning letterwinners: C Breana Comer, junior; P-INF Renee Dutton, junior; P-INF Alison House, senior; INF Julie Mikulich, junior; C Shelbie Stefanski, senior.

Promising newcomers: INF Victoria Serrano, INF Marissa Simon, OF Kailey Olson.

Players not returning: Melissa Dykes, Kasey Kurtz, Elysom Raib.

Team’s outlook: Flickinger says the Leopards are a young team with good chemistry.

Mathews

Coach: Gene Cheredar, 6th year, 306-139.

2009 record: 7-15.

Returning letterwinners: 3B Stephanie Durig (first-team all-league, first-team all-district, honorable mention, all-state); CF Julie Wise (first-team all-league); SS Jen Tillery, 1B Jenna Whitfield, P Brittany Schnarrs, P Autumn Timko, OF Jessica Perkins, OF Kelsey Francis, LF Catie Cordy.

Promising newcomers: OF/1B Devan Price, Sr.; C/OF Tabitha Granelly, Fr.; OF/1B Olivia Rhodonz, Fr.; SS/P Jessica Marsico, Fr.; OF/C Hollie Shreves, Fr.; OF/1B Hannah Baugh, Fr.

Team outlook: Good players coming up, many of them have played travel ball.

SOUTHINGTON

Coach: Lorrie Dietz, fourth year, 45-15.

2009 record: 20-4.

Returning lettermen: C Kaylynn Barco, senior; SS-OF Haylewe Hancousky, senior; P-SS Brianna Smith, senior; 2B-OF Morgan Sample, senior; 3B Kaileigh Kistler, sophomore; OF Becca Wolke, sophomore.

Key newcomers: C-2B Chelsea Davis, sophomore; 1B Hallie Baugher, freshman; P Amber Dietz, freshman.

Team’s outlook: The Wildcats lost five players to graduation including two pitchers. Barco, the team’s top hiter, is recovering from a knee injury. The Wildcats are much younger and will go with a freshman pitcher.

URSULINE

Coach: Michael Kernan, ninth season, 159-70.

2009 record: 27-7 (Division III state runner-up).

Returning letterwinners: P Casey Lower, senior (2009 Vindicator Softball Player of the Year, three-time Second Team All-Ohio, 64 career wins); 1B Kasey Foley, senior (three-year starter, two-time First Team All-NEO); SS Anna Donko, senior (three-year starter); C Sarah Ingliss, senior (Youngstown State recruit); OF-C Krista Byers, senior; OF-2B Malikka Caige, senior; OF-P Chelsea Kernan, senior; OF Kelli Kolenich, junior; OF Teresa Carkido, junior; 3B Brianna Curd, sophomore; OF-P Erin Vukovich, sophomore.

Promising newcomers: P Sara Marr, junior; OF Laura Roch, sophomore; 1B Marina Bermann, freshman; 3B-C Kate Shells, freshman; 3B-OF Maddie Christoff, freshman; 2B-OF Leah Carroll, freshman; OF Rachel Seifert, freshman; P-INF Amber Hodge, freshman.

Players not returning: Miranda Carkido and Rebecca Hartz graduated last June.

Team’s outlook: The Irish are loaded with experience, having lost just two starters to graduation. If there is a weakness, it’s depth.

WEST BRANCH

Coach: Sis Woods, 24th year.

Returning letterwinners: C Danielle Agnew, senior; CF Brandi Snyder, junior, .311 batting average, First Team All-Northeastern Buckeye Conference; 2B Tia King, junior; LF Megan Fluharty, junior; 1B-3B Lizzie Mohr, soph.; P Emily Weber, soph.; 1B-3B Abby Wallbrown, junior..

Promising newcomers: OF Sarah Benedict, senior; P Katie Ramsey, junior; 3B-OF Ashley Ketter, junior; OF Kristen Ketler, junior; OF-C Brittany Lippencott, junior; OF Lindsey Fluharty, soph.; SS Reagan Rito, freshman.

Team’s outlook: Woods says the Warriors have good team speed and depth. A weakness is lack of varsity experience.

WARREN HARDING

Coach: Bruce Whetzel, first year.

2009 record: 7-16.

Returning letterwinners: C-INF Amie Jurzynkowski, senior; C-OF Samantha Bumgardner, junior; INF Creelynn Provitt, senior; P-INF Tania Dukes, junior; P-OF Lorna Rowe, junior; INF Cyree Tenney, senior; INF Ashley Bogus, junior.

Promising newcomers: OF Kayla Kereluik, soph.; P-1B Angelina Custer, junior; C-INF Taylor York, soph.; 1B Ariel Williams, senior; P-INF Anastashia Garrison, freshman; OF Korita Boss. senior.

Team’s outlook: The Raiders have experienced pitchers and are hoping to advance to the district tournament.

WARREN JFK

Coach: Joe Sylvester, seventh year, 89-54.

2009 record: 19-7.

Returning letterwinners: 3B Alex Raeburn, senior, (.392 batting average, First Team ALL-NEO); C Kim Sylvester, senior, (.397, First Team All-NEO); RF Gina Gelsomino, senior; LF Rachelle Keller, senior;OF Gabby Lee, junior; OF Adrian Ashdown, junior; SS Kei Kei Harris, junior; CF Chanel Thornton, sophomore.

Promising newcomers: OF Megan Ashdown, soph.; P Kayla Powell, freshman; INF Meghan Lieber, soph.

Players not returning: P Rachel Pico (First Team All-Ohio, John Carroll), P Morgan Piacquadio (All-Steel Valley Conference four years), 2B C.C. DeWees (All-SVC four years, Kent State).

Team’s outlook: Improved speed and strong hitting are expected. The pitchers are young and the team has just 11 players.