Area softball clubs looking to take next step this spring
Sports Reporter
Adams Central, Bellmont and South Adams compiled nearly 50 wins on the softball diamond a season ago. The trio of teams will bring back talented groups this spring, making their optimism all the more justifiable.
Playing your best at the right time is always crucial. That mindset pretty well summarizes the story of the 2023 season for South Adams. The Starfires closed the regular season last year by winning six of their last eight games.
They carried that momentum into the playoffs, winning a sectional championship at Manchester. They produced 14 runs in the championship game against Fort Wayne Bishop Luers.
Expectations are understandably high for South Adams. While the graduation of Peyton Pries could impact their pitching rotation, the Starfires should still be effective at the plate.
A trip to Blackford on Wednesday will start the year for South Adams. The team will play at home for the first time this season on April 6th when they host Coldwater (OH) for a doubleheader.
They will start Allen County Athletic Conference play at Bluffton on April 18th. Heritage will be in Berne on the 23rd.
South Adams will host Bellmont on April 26th. Adams Central will play at South Adams May 9th.
The latter date may be a revenge game.
Adams Central lost 2-1 to South Adams in sectional play last season. The Jets also came close to winning the ACAC, finishing one game behind Woodlan in the standings.
Led by Athena Scwartz, who has committed to play softball at the University of Northwestern Ohio next year, the Jets should be competitive again in the ACAC, this time under new head coach Matt Zimmerman.
Adams Central will start with a road game at Shenandoah on Monday night. The home opener is set for Wednesday against an Eastside team that advanced all the way to the semi-state championship game in Class 2A last season.
The Jets will play at Bellmont on April 9th. Conference play will start nine days later versus Southern Wells in Monroe.
Bellmont endured a tough stretch of games to close out the month of April last year. The squad surged through May, however, racking up victories against Northeast 8 rivals in the process.
That run began on May 4th at Fort Wayne Northrop. MaryKate Scheumann delivered a masterful performance that day in the pitching circle, throwing a no-hitter against the Bruins.
From there, the Braves only lost once in the regular season. They outscored their opponents 61-11 over that span.
Bringing back Scheumann this year will provide the Braves a tremendous boost both offensively and defensively. On top of being an effective pitcher, she posted 32 hits and a .416 batting average in 2023.
Emily Bleke, the team leader in hits last year, will also return. On top of leading the squad with 37 hits, she cranked out three home runs. Taylor Bauer, who hit three home runs as well, will also be back.
Bellmont will get the season underway with a trio of road games, the first of which will be Tuesday at Jay County. Away games against Bluffton and Garrett will follow.
The home opener for Bellmont will be the game with Adams Central.
Their Northeast 8 schedule begins with a game at Columbia City on April 22nd.
The Braves will end the season by hosting Fort Wayne Homestead on May 17th.