Rule change creates a puzzle

By Mike Kilroy Eagle Staff Writer

March 25, 2011 Last Updated: March 25, 2011 12:10 PM High School

Rachel Pastorek of Mars and other softball pitchers must adjust to a new PIAA rule that pushed the pitching rubber from 40 feet back to 43 feet from the plate.

The biggest change for the 2011 high school softball season won't be who is on the field, but the field itself.

A PIAA rule adjustment moved the pitching rubber from 40 feet to 43 feet from the plate.

Teams have known about this change for several years, and while some coaches say it will have little impact when the season begins today, others aren't so sure.

“It's going to be an issue,” said Butler coach Dan Hindman, who spent the last eight years as the softball coach at Moniteau. “You're going to have to play more defense for sure. There aren't going to be as many strikeouts. It will definitely be a factor.”

The PIAA decided to move the pitching circle back in part because of safety concerns and to balance to a sport in which elite pitchers clearly were dominating batters.

Some coaches said that after a brief adjustment period, the elite pitchers will still be elite. They just might have to become elite in a different way.

“I think pitchers will be OK,” said Mars coach Michele Goodworth. “I think the pitchers who have more movement and more command of their pitches will do better than the ones who can simply blow it by people.”

Still, other coaches have no idea what to expect. That's what makes this season more intriguing than most.

“Hitting will pick up, but I could be wrong,” said Karns City coach Mike Simpson. “I don't really know how much difference it will make until we get out there and play a few games.”

• Coach: Dan Hindman, first year• Last year: 9-8• Pitching staff: Angie Reddick (senior), Amanda Skidmore (senior), Mackenzie O'Donnell (sophomore)• Lineup: C-Amber Steinheiser (senior), 2B/SS-Caitlin Baxter (sophomore), 1B/3B-Sadie Marak (senior), IF-Sarah Cobern (senior), OF-Becca Schnur (junior), Teslla Koebler (junior), Tori Hesidence (sophomore), Hannah Henry (junior), Fallen Bachman (senior)• Outlook: Hindman enjoyed a successful run at Moniteau, winning two District 9 championships and never having a losing season in eight years.Now, he takes over a Butler program teeming with talent, especially at pitcher.“I'd go up against anyone with this group of girls,” Hindman said.

• Coach: George Trew, 11th year• Last year: 11-8• Pitching: Emily Watson (junior), Brittany Illingsworth (junior)• Lineup: C-Sarah Blagg (freshman), 1B-Megan Buletko, IF-Lauren Hunt (senior), Lauren Davies (senior), Alyssa Miller (senior), Julia Vandrak (junior), OF-Alyssa DiMaria (senior), Ciara Mislan (junior), Kelsey Mislan (junior)• Outlook: The Raiders have come one win shy of making the playoffs the past two seasons. Everyone is back from last year's near miss and determined to break through.

• Coach: Michele Goodworth, 13th year• Last year: 3-14• Pitching: Rachel Pastorek (senior), Taylor Rotz (sophomore), Haley Jones (junior)• Lineup: C-Vanessa Dufford (junior), SS-Alyse Ciafre (junior), 3B-Rotz (sophomore), IF-Kasey Jones (freshman), Jani Mickus (senior), Casey Boggs (senior), Clare Galabinski (junior), OF-Dana Wonderly (senior), Charrie Wilson (senior), Erin Hershman (freshman)• Outlook: The Planets' rebuilding might pay off this season.A healthy Rachel Pastorek in the circle will be a key.“I think we will be much more successful than we were last year,” Goodworth said. “This group is totally motivated.”

• Coach: Tim Knappenberger, third year• Last year: 2-15• Pitching: Britni Brandstetter (freshman), Codi Reed (freshman)• Lineup: Carsan Simpson (sophomore), 1B-Jhoey DeWalt (sophomore), 3B-Mikayla Moretti (junior), IF-Rachel Neff (junior), Bethany Hay (freshman), Sarah Steedle (sophomore), OF-Reed, Abbi Smithmyer (freshman), Calla Hinderliter (junior)• Outlook: The Knoch program has struggled in recent years, but an influx of talented freshmen might change that.“We have eight traveling players on the roster, four of them freshmen,” Knappenberger said. “They are going to make an immediate impact.”

• Coach: Sam Ross, first year• Last year: 11-8• Pitching: Alyssa Meta (sophomore), Micaela Kurn (junior)• Lineup: C-Rachel Grubbs (senior), 1B-Kurn/Meta, 2B-Meggan McGuire (senior), SS-Anna Christy (senior), 3B-Taylor Massart (sophomore), OF-Ashley Sample (sophomore), Emily Lindsey (sophomore), Jade Hilliard (junior), Alex Roenig (freshman)• Outlook: Ross ramped up the preseason condition program and has already seen the benefits.“They have a good work ethic,” Ross said. “They were working pretty, pretty hard. I think they were kind of surprised the first few days”

• Coach: Dan Beebe, first year• Last year: 11-7• Pitching: Holly Colosimo (junior)• Lineup: C-Britney Fallen (senior), 1B-Mackenzie Maples (senior), Kaylie Van Lieu (senior), 2B-Heather McMillen (sophomore), SS-Chloe Eschenbaugh (sophomore), 3B-Sydney Boben (sophomore, Kaielyn Patton (junior), OF-Autumn Neff (senior), Emily Hilwiller (sophomore), Alyssa Claypoole (senior), Kayla Campbell (freshman)• Outlook: Beebe spent three years as an assistant coach under Hindman and is more than familiar with the program and the success it has enjoyed.“It will be a pretty easy transition,” Beebe said. “Every year Dan was the coach we made the playoffs. I don't expect anything less.”

• Coach: Mike Simpson, ninth year• Last year: 9-10• Pitching: Lauren Downs (junior), Breezzie Rich (junior)• Lineup: C-Kate Williams (senior), 1B-Sebrina Johns (junior), 2B-Ashlyn Landgraf (senior), SS-Kara Kerschbaumer (junior), 3B-Ceanca Everetts (senior), OF-Alex Boyle (junior), Maggie McKain (junior), Sarah Simpson (senior), Amanda Shay (senior), Haleigh Kopinski (senior)• Outlook: The Gremlins have experience returning and the development of the two pitchers, Downs and Rich, will be a key to the season.“We lost only three seniors from last year,” Simpson said. “I'll say we'll be pretty competitive this year.”

• Coach: Corrina Sternthal, first season• Last year: 7-10• Pitching: Nicole Wetzel (senior)• Lineup: C-Abby Hindman (senior), 1B-Ashley Manculich (senior), 2B-Autumn Best, SS-Meghan Cratty (senior), OF-Madison Cooper (sophomore)• Outlook: Sternthal was hired on Tuesday after Lane Larimore unexpectedly resigned. The coach, who played at Reynolds High and at Clarion University, took a crash course in Falcons softball 101 and believes there is talent to compete.“I am way behind, but I'm so excited about it,” Sternthal said. “On the first day, I could tell you who most of my infield and pitcher would be.”

• Coach: Zoe McDowell, fifth year• Last year: 8-11• Pitching: Stephanie Kotomski (junior), Katie Myers (junior)• Lineup: C-Kalene Ireland (junior), Jordan McCauley (sophomore), 1B-Cassie Vogan (sophomore), 2B-Nicole Zimmel (junior), SS-Courtney Bell (sophomore), 3B-Katie Schmidt (junior), OF-Erica Umstead (junior), Melea Mauthe (senior), Marissa Kerr (junior), Hailie Badach (senior)• Outlook: The Rockets lost career strikeout leader Morgan Robinson to John Carroll University. Even without Robinson, Slippery Rock could compete for a playoff spot.“Our team is taking on a different atmosphere,” McDowell said. “We have two junior pitchers who are pushing each other and I really feel like we will be highly competitive.”

• Coach: Shawnee Denbow, fourth year• Last year: 11-10• Pitching: Alicia Feather (junior), Theresa King (junior), Patrica Berkman (junior)• Lineup: C-Nicole King (junior), 1B-Kara Franklin (junior), 2B-Cassidy Udy (junior), SS-Aubri McCoy (freshman), 3B-Cassondra Folk (senior), OF- Tori Sheffel (senior), Lauren Bovard (junior), Micaela King (sophomore), Payton McClearn (sophomore), Alyssa Johnston (junior)• Outlook: The Eagles have lots of depth, which will give Denbow loads of options.“I'm deeper than I've been in a long time. It just matters who is hitting,” Denbow said.