The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Softball watch list
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Izzy Coode, Sr., Mentor: She missed last year with a shoulder injury. Putting her aggressive bat — and aggressive play in general — in the lineup along with returners such as Maggie Haydu, Mak Kobetitch, Olivia Saks and others will benefit the Cardinals.
Amanda Dobida, Sr., North: She missed most of basketball season with an injury, but this Mount Union recruit is ready to go to lead the Rangers’ softball run after going 10-8with more than 100strikeouts as a junior to go with her .396batting average.
Clara Granchi, So., Riverside: If you project her freshman year — .453 with 28 RBI, 39 runs and 16steals with a 12-4 pitching record and 121 punchouts on the bump — over a four-year career … whew … that would be rarified air in The News-Herald coverage area. Ava Gundling, So., Gilmour: She can play anywhere — pitcher, infield, outfield — but wherever she is, she’s a tough out. She hit .561 with 23 RBI and 26runs scored as a freshman.
Jenna Hendricks, Sr., Chardon: One of the most dominating pitchers returning this year, she is coming off a junior season in which she went 10-2with a 1.97ERA before a concussion shut down the end of her year.
Angela Kale, Sr., Kenston: One of the area’s top power hitters, she hit .500with six home runs and 35RBI last year. She’s a tough out, with more walks than strikeouts her junior season.
Maddie Kita, Jr., Wickliffe:
She’s as reliable as you can get behind the dish. She hit .516 with 22 runs and 29 RBI as a sophomore. Her .992fielding percentage as the Blue Devils’ catcher means that fielding mistakes just don’t happen.
Grace Legan, Sr., Chardon:
She hit .500 with 23 RBI, 38runs and nine steals as a junior. On top of that, she had a dazzling .950fielding percentage at second base. She’s the complete package.
Milana McCaleb, Sr., Riverside: Is there anyone faster in the area? We doubt it. She hit .500 with 33 runs, 16 RBI and 15steals. When she gets on base, softball turns into a track meet. She’s just as dangerous as a ball-hawking centerfielder.
Kara Mekulsia, Jr., Madison:
A three-year starter, she went 12-8with 139strikeouts last year to go with a .410average at the plate. She’s a huge part of the Blue Streaks’ resurgence in softball.
Alex Mould, So., NDCL:
She burst onto the scene as the Lions’ ace on the bump, finishing with a sparkling 1.99ERA. She misses a lot of bats — i.e. she strikes out a lot of batters — so that takes pressure off the defense.
Arianna Preston, Sr., Beachwood: She’s a four-year starter in the pitching circle. She also hit a team-best .409last year. A lot of her team’s offense graduated, but she’s reliable and steady as they come. Breonna Preston, Sr., North: She hit .396 with a team-high 28hits and team-best 28RBI last year. The experienced Rangers have a serious go-to player in Preston.
Yanni Ramsey, So., Brush: It doesn’t matter if she’s at first, short or pitching, she produces. She hit .465with six home runs, 20 RBI and 23 runs as a freshman last year.
Angeleah Saltenis, Sr., Mayfield: One swing of the bat, and she might hit it 300feet. Saltenis is a scary hitter in the middle of Mayfield’s lineup that opposing pitchers aren’t going to want to face.
Lexie Simon, Jr., NDCL: The Lions’ leadoff hitter last year as a sophomore, where she hit. 519 with 24 runs and 14 RBI. A superb right fielder as well. Brynne Smith, Jr., North: She was the team’s offensive MVP last year with her .425batting average. She’s got talent all around her in a loaded Rangers’ lineup. There will be plenty of RBI opportunities for her (and others on the team) this year.
SQUEEZE BUNTS
• To say Riverside is loaded isn’t an overstatement. The Beavers have two experienced pitchers (Clara Granchi and Annaliese Davis) and a stellar freshman arm in Madison Kevern. Any lineup with Granchi, speedy Milana McCaleb and slugging Emi Jeras in the top four is going to be hard to deal with. This team is built for a conference title run and deep postseason run. Freshman shortstop Madison Proud is going to open eyes this year.
• Chardon had the same lineup for two straight years. Graduation hit the Hilltoppers (21-6, 11-1WRC last year) hard, but having the battery of pitcher Jenna Hendricks and catcher Mackenzie Kilpeck is monumental. Grace Legan atop the lineup and Jadyn Tarantino, who was a big-hit machine in big games last year, will help with some early-season inexperience on the squad.
• North opens the season No. 3 in the Top of the Crop, but very well might be underrated. There’s a large number of starters back from a team that went 16-10, including a hammer (Amanda Dobida) on the bump. Getting catcher Alyssa McPeek (torn labrum) and DP Lily Namestnik (torn ACL) back after they missed all of last year is ginormous for the Rangers. It’s a stacked lineup with a stud on the mound. Look out for the Rangers this year.
• Berkshire doesn’t have a lot of experience, but it has good numbers (19 players) and a very promising young pitcher in freshman Whitney Davis. There
are no seniors on the team and there are eight freshmen. This is a program this on a pretty big upswing, depending on how fast the young players grow up this year. The early reviews on Davis are impressive.
• Mentor is geared up for another strong year after going 13-10(10-0in Greater Cleveland Conference play) last year. Many starter return, including pitcher Maggie Haydu and shortstop Olivia Saks. The return of second baseman Izzy Coode, who missed last year with a shoulder injury, is huge. Three freshmen — Aubree Colon, Ireland Rainey and Addison Belviso — are expected to start.
• Perry might not have a lot of depth, but the Pirates have experience and a potentially dangerous lineup. The return of Maddie Infalvi, who missed last year with a knee injury, sets the table for the bats belonging to Calli Thompson, Sydney Collins, Maddy Rupers, Rosalyn Tharp and Elise Strahan. Perry can put pressure on teams with that offense.
• A clerical miscue pushed Gilmour all the way up to Division I last year, where it only lost to eventual state champion Massillon Perry, 4-1, but the Lancers are back in Division II where they belong and are loaded for bear. Freshman pitcher Camden Dreiling takes over in the circle and has a strong offense around her in the likes of Lily Prebul, Ava Gundling, Maddie Minotas, Lauren Riccobelli and others. Keep an eye on this team, especially come postseason.
• Harvey has some holes to fill from a team that went 16-5 (7-1CVC) last year, but having Alyssa Franklin and Veronica Pacheco atop the lineup is a big key for Coach Betsy Hada.
• West Geauga has eight returners from a team that went 10-6last season. That being said, it’s still a young team with only two seniors, so experience will continue to come as the team improves under second-year coach Mark Percassi.
• Hawken has a senior standout atop its lineup in shortstop Helena Yanchar. She hit .476 last year for Coach Cassie Bucceri’s squad. She’ll again set the table this year for the
Hawks.
• Geneva went 9-16 with a young squad last spring. That means the Eagles return a lot this year. Eight starters are back, including top hitters Alyssa Palmisano and Savannah Burton. There are five capable pitchers on the staff, too. The key will be defense for the upswing Eagles.
• Coming off a 15-4 season, NDCL has a roster that features versatility and depth. The only issue at season’s start is a rash of early-season injuries. With Alex Mould pitching and top hitters Lexie Simon and Celia Anthony back, goals are high. Walsh Jesuit remains the favorite in the final year of the Crown Conference before it splits up, but the Lions want their shot.
• The influx of freshmen that fueled the Cardinal girls basketball program looks as if it’s going to help the softball team, too. Five freshmen look to be starters for Coach Haley Adams. Add in sophomore Maggie Grant, who got experience as a freshman pitcher last year, and the Huskies look like they’ve got a nice future in front of them.
• Kenston made big strides last year, going 9-15. The rugged WRC was tough on the Bombers, where they went 2-9. The nonconference record was 7-6. This year’s team has a freshman battery of pitcher Quinn Robertson and catcher Liv Gowdy. Coach Annie Dubovec Kowitz likes having more depth to work with this season.
• There are a handful of new coaches in the area, including Jeff Morganti at South. Actually, Morganti is new only at South. He previously was the head coach at North and also coaches at Lakeland Community College. … Making his coaching debut at Kirtland this year is Jerry Jeffrey, and in her first year at Brush is Beth Greisl.
STAT ATTACK
Coaches are reminded to submit their game results — win or lose — after the completion of their game either by email (scores@news-herald.com) or via a statistic program such as Gamechanger. … Player of the week nomination deadline is 8p.m. Mondays. Coaches can send nominations to scores@ news-herald.com.