Freeport after section title this spring
The competition at the top of WPIAL Section 3-AA figures to be fierce this spring, but Freeport softball coach Sam Ross expects his Yellowjackets to be in the thick of the playoff chase.
Freeport placed second in the section last year behind eventual WPIAL champ Deer Lakes. The Yellowjackets beat Keystone Oaks in a first-round playoff before bowing to Neshannock in the quarterfinals. They finished the 2012 season with an overall record of 15-4.
“I'm looking for us to be pretty strong again this year,” said Ross, in his third year as head coach. “Deer Lakes lost a bit to graduation, but they should be good again, along with Burrell (third in section last season).”
Leading the way for Ross' optimism is senior pitcher Alyssa Meta, a left-hander who has started on and off since her sophomore year.
“She's only five-foot tall, but is a solid athlete,” said Ross. “I have confidence in her. We just scrimmaged Fox Chapel and Alyssa and Jess Kelley both threw three innings and they both looked strong.”
Meta's contributions are not limited to the circle. She also hits either first or second in the team's batting order and is a “good contact hitter,” according to Ross.
Freeport hit 14 home runs in 2012 and four of those belonged to Emily Lindsey, who returns as a senior catcher.
Junior second baseman Alyssa Ravotti, senior third baseman Taylor Massart and senior outfielder Ashley Sample will also add to the potency on offense.
Following are preview capsules for the 10 Butler County area high school softball teams. Returning starters are noted (*).
A-C ValleyCoach: Corrina Sternthal, third season2012 finish: The Falcons were under .500 and missed the District 9 playoffs.Pitchers: Lainie Best* (Sr.), Tiffani Thompson (Jr.) and Katie Stumpner (Fr.)Projected lineup:C-Danielle Kaufman* (So.); 1B-Jessica Dehart* (Jr.) or Halee Wetzel (Fr.); 2B-Gabby Rankin* (Jr.); 3B-Lauren McNany (Fr.) or Maddie Morrison (Fr.); SS-Abby Wetzel* (Sr.); OF-Kayla Cratty* (Jr.), Alyssa Babcock (Fr.) and Erin Alworth* (Jr.)Sternthal says: “We're hoping to make the playoffs. I think the freshmen we have are going to step up and help us out this year.”
ButlerCoach: Dan Hindman, third season2012 finish: Butler was 5-13 overall.Pitchers: Emily McDonald* (So.), Hope Wonderling* (Jr.) and Mackenzie O'Donnell (Sr.)Projected lineup:C-Beyona Eckstein* (Sr.) or Jen Miller (Fr.); 1B-Rachel Rebmann* (So.) or O'Donnell; 2B-Noel Pfabe (Fr.) or Kaitlynn Barnett (So.); 3B-Lindsay Michael (So.) or Anna Heade (Fr.); SS-Cait Baxter (Sr.); OF-Aubrey Schmeider* (Sr.), Rhiannon Kosar (So.), Madi Graham (Jr.), Wonderling or RebmannHindman says: “We didn't have a great year last year, but we have senior leadership and a lot of young talent. I'm excited.”
FreeportCoach: Sam Ross, third season2012 finish: Freeport was 15-4 overall and made it to the WPIAL quarterfinals.Pitchers: Alyssa Meta* (Sr.) and Jess Kelley (So.)Projected lineup:C-Emily Lindsey* (Sr.); 1B-Karly Hill (So.); 2B-Alyssa Ravotti* (Jr.); 3B-Taylor Massart* (Sr.); SS-Alexis Roenigk* (Jr.), Kelley or Lindsey; OF-Ashley Sample* (Sr.), Angela Hewitt (So.), Amanda Gomez (Jr.) or KelleyRoss says: “Deer Lakes lost a bit to graduation, but they should be good again, along with Burrell.”
Grove CityCoach: Shawnee Denbow, first season (14th overall)2012 finish: The Eagles fell to 4-16.Pitchers: Cassie Feather* (So.), Maddie Elberty (So.) and Taylor Shingledecker (Jr.)Projected lineup:C-Micaela King* (Sr.) or Brianna Kaufman (Jr.); 1B-Payton McClearn* (Sr.) or Kristi Sestak* (Sr.); OF-Grace Dadza (So.), McClearn, King or SestakDenbow says: “Offensively, we have speed and three or four hitters who can crank the long ball. I am excited to get this team out on the field.”
Karns CityCoach: Jim Gibson, first season2012 finish: The Gremlins finished with a losing record and did not qualify for the District 9 playoffs.Pitchers: Taylor Downs (Fr.) and LeeAnn Gibson (Fr.)Projected lineup: Not availableGibson says: “This is my first year and the first year for my staff. We are still figuring out where most of the girls will be playing, but we do have a goal of making the playoffs.”
KnochCoach: Tim Knappenberger, fifth season2012 finish: The Knights were 12-7 overall, the last loss coming in a WPIAL first-round playoff.Pitchers: Codi Reed (Jr.), Abbie Thrower (So.) and Shelby Bruggeman (So.)Projected lineup:C-Karsan Simpson* (Sr.) or Abbi Smithmyer (Jr.); 1B-Jhoey DeWalt* (Sr.); 2B-Sarah Steedle* (Sr.); 3B-Reed* or Thrower*; SS-Bethany Hay* (Jr.); OF-Chandler Krelow (So.), Smithmyer*, Hayle Fox (So.) or Brittany Nulph (Sr.)Knappenberger says: “We hope to make the playoffs and contend for a section title. Mars is the favorite.”
MarsCoach: Michele Goodworth, 15th season2012 finish: Mars won the Section 5-AAA title, finished 12-7 overall and made it to the WPIAL quarterfinals.Pitchers: Taylor Rotz* (Sr.) and Niki Schlegel (Fr.)Projected lineup:C-Jeanna Sybert (Jr.) or Schlegel; 1B-Suzanne Papik* (So.); 2B-Kieran Salada* (So.) or Mallory Eperesi (Fr.); 3B-Schlegel, Salada or Eperesi; SS-Erin Hershman* (Jr.); OF-Kasey Jones* (Jr.), Blake Kitt (Fr.), Shelby Huber (Jr.), Salada or SybertGoodworth says: “In my 15 years, this is the most talented team I've had. We have just 12 varsity players and practices have been very competitive.”
MoniteauCoach: Dan Beebe, third season2012 finish: The Warriors were 13-8 and made the District 9 playoffs.Pitchers: Sydney Boben* (Sr.), Taylor Hasychak* (So.) and Kiersten Baney (Jr.)Projected lineup:C-Emily Hiwiller* (Sr.); 1B-Kayla Campbell* (Jr.); 2B-Heather McMillen* (Sr.) or Nicole Auvil (So.); 3B-Alyssa Dailey (Fr.); SS-Chloe Eshenbaugh* (Sr.); OF-Kelsey Anderson* (Sr.), Cassidy Maples (Sr.), Courtney Sowinkski (Fr.) or Nicole Buterbaugh (Sr.); DH-Aleisha Fowler* (Sr.)Beebe says: “(Standout pitcher) Holly Colosimo graduated and because of that, some people may doubt us. But over half of our roster was part of the 2011 team that won District 9. Many of our returning starters played a different position last year, including Boben and Hasychak, who played first base and centerfield, respectively.”
Seneca ValleyCoach: George Trew, 13th season2012 finish: The Raiders went 14-5 overall and lost in the WPIAL quarterfinals.Pitchers: Sammi Crilley (Jr.) and Nikki Matz (So.)Projected lineup:C-Sarah Blagg* (Jr.); 1B-Ashley Kappeler (So.) or Julia Zezinka (So.); 2B-Aubrey Baehr (Jr.) or Shaley Bream (So.); 3B-Paige Foley* (Jr.); SS-Alexa Sisko* (Jr.); OF-Cassie Bachik* (Jr.), Alyssa Panza* (Jr.), Jessica Neill (So.) or Kayley McKay (Jr.)Trew says: “I'm looking for good things. We have three of our top hitters back from last year (Sisko, Blagg and Foley). If we step up and do what we need to do on the mound, I think we'll be fine.”
Slippery RockCoach: Elma Anschutz, second season2012 finish: The Rockets qualified for the District 10 postseason for the first time since 2000.Pitchers: Morgan Longdon (Jr.)Projected lineup:C-Jordan McCauley* (Sr.); 1B-Kaileigh Dorrier (Sr.); 2B-Tayler Moesta; 3B-Dorrier; SS-Cassie Vogan* (Sr.); OF-Marie Bosch* (So.), Nakia Garver and Katie McClymondsAnschutz says: “With our combination of returning players, new talent and preseason conditioning, we are sure to win enough games to get us into the playoffs.”
