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April 25, 2004PREP SOFTBALL OVERVIEW: Area teams hope to end Alpena's run in Big NorthByRecord-Eagle staff writer Their dominance is unmatched. Their confidence is contagious. And for good reason. Through the first six seasons of the Big North Conference, one team has owned the league softball title - ALPENA. And the Wildcats hope to keep it that way this spring, even though the league race should be another close one. "There's good young pitching throughout the league," said Alpena coach Paul Marwede, whose team is off to a 2-0 start in the league and 4-2 overall. "We expect it to be real close." What's new? Last year, Alpena and Petoskey both won their first 12 conference games before the Wildcats swept the Northmen in a pair of close games to finish off the schedule - and another championship. "The kids on this year's squad feel part of their responsibility is to uphold the tradition of the players who came before them," Marwede said. "Our winning tradition is a compliment to players of years past, and it's something we take great pride in. "No one handed it to us. We earned it. "It's a chicken and egg thing," Marwede said. "We have a lot of confidence because we've won in the past, and we win a lot of close games because we're confident we'll find a way to win." Leading Alpena are senior center fielder Lisa Preuss, who was named first-team all-state in Division 1 after batting .409 last season; senior second baseman Rachel Boyd, who batted .411 and was named honorable mention all-state, and junior third baseman Marcia Beaubien, who hit .350. Other key performers for the Wildcats are shortstop Becky Witter (.392), catcher Jenny Black (.290) and right fielder Ashley Olsen (gritty, strong defense). Junior Kelly Bromund and freshman Katelyn Grochowski are sharing pitching duties. Three northern Michigan teams hope to break Alpena's stranglehold on the Big North title - Petoskey, Traverse City West and Traverse City Central. PETOSKEY is highly motivated, having come so close last year before falling just short. Over the last two seasons, the Northmen have posted a 23-5 record, with four of those losses coming to Alpena. "They're always the favorite," said Petoskey coach Dave Sarafini. "Whoever wins the title will have to go through them." Among the key returnees for the Northmen is junior pitcher Katie Doernenburg, who last season started behind All-Region Dream Team captain Denise Betts (now pitching at Lansing Community College). Doernenburg took advantage of her few opportunities last spring, going 7-3 with a 1.57 earned-run average. A strong defensive player, Doernenburg led the team with a .980 fielding percentage as a first baseman. Also back are junior center fielder Lauren Phelan (.290, team-leading 22 RBI), junior third baseman Katelin Simon (.292 plus 18 sacrifice bunts - third-highest in state history) and sophomore catcher Kelsie August (.410). TC WEST coach Gary Powell feels that by the end of the season, "this may be the best team we've ever had." "We have a tough challenge," Powell said. "We have one of our toughest schedules ever (11 games against state-ranked teams), plus we're starting a sophomore and freshman pitcher. "We're pretty young," he said. "But these kids have a lot of talent." West is off to a 5-6 start, but the Titans proved they could be a team to be reckoned with by splitting a doubleheader with Petoskey on Thursday. Following a 10-5 loss in the opener, they bounced back with a 3-2 win behind the pitching of freshman Molly Valleau. Sophomore Grace O'Malley, who struck out 44 batters in 60 innings last season, will share pitching duties with Valleau. Offensively, West returned five starters from a team that went 15-19 a year ago - senior catcher Becca Roach (.485, All-Region first team), as well as seniors Jessica Dezelski (an All-Region first team selection), Melissa Jarboe and Jill Hemming, and junior Marcie Montgomery. Newcomer Laura Waples brings more speed to a squad that Powell considers "the quickest team, right down the lineup, of any that has worn the green and gold." TC CENTRAL (19-19 and 7-7 last season) is strong up the middle with co-captains Katelyn Butzier, a senior shortstop, and Carly Kuemin, a senior second baseman. Butzier, a Record-Eagle All-Region Dream Team pick, batted .462 with 31 stolen bases, while Kuemin hit .444 with 30 steals. Also back is junior pitcher Kristen Rawls, who batted .294 and posted an ERA of 1.82. Senior catcher Casey Spears transferred from Leland. "Middle infield is our strength," said Titans coach Brandi Reynolds. "And Kristen has done a good job of working on her pitching, She isn't overpowering, but she has several pitches and she mixes it up well." Reynolds' biggest worry? "We're young in some key areas - center field, third base, first base. We'll have to wait and see how well they perform." GAYLORD, coached by Daron Shimel, is led by senior shortstop Sara Brunk, who went 5 for 9 with three doubles and three RBIs in last weekend's non-conference tournament at Essexville Garber. Pitching duties are being shared by sophomore Tiffiny Williams, freshman Tiffany Yarrington and senior Nicole Goddeyne. NORTHWEST       MANTON has returned eight starters from a team that tied Glen Lake for the Northwest Conference title last season. The Rangers (22-9-1 a year ago) are led by senior pitcher Ashley Stewart, who set a team record for strikeouts last season and should surpass career marks for wins and strikeouts. Stewart is one of four four-year starters for Manton - Andrea Waite (first base), Ashley Borin (second baseman) and Alyson Helsel (center field) are the others. All were all-league and all-district in 2003, as was junior catcher Allison Smart. Other returning starters are junior Ashley Larr, who pitches and plays third base; senior Samantha Loney, who has moved to shortstop; and senior Kortnie Birgy, who plays left and right field. "Pitching and defense is where we have to win games," said Manton coach Bob Colvin. "We have a very experienced team, and that will be a key in close games. "There are a lot of good teams in the league - Glen Lake tied us for the title last year, Frankfort is much-improved, Suttons Bay is good. "It should be a good race." The Rangers will get a big test on Tuesday, when they travel to FRANKFORT to face the Panthers in a doubleheader. Frankfort coach Mike Thompson's team has returned five seniors, including All-Region first team shortstop Britta Anderson, who batted .406 last season and ripped a school-record nine triples. Other key returnees include senior second baseman Rachel Vieau (28 RBIs in 2003), senior catcher Katie Gokey (27 steals), senior pitcher Danielle Pritchard and junior center fielder Jordin Gilbert. "We return everyone up the middle - that will be our strength," Thompson said. "We have three freshmen on the team who'll need to step up." So far, so good. Those freshmen - pitcher Jenny Elliott, third baseman Brooke Townsend and designated hitter Brenna Banktson - have all contributed in the early going. Elliott made a big splash by tossing a one-hitter and going 4-for-4 with two doubles in the first game of last Tuesday's Northwest doubleheader split at Glen Lake. Pritchard and Elliott have each tossed two no-hitters already this spring to help Frankfort get off to a 7-1 start. The Panthers, once perennial Division 4 state contenders, were 7-25 in Thompson's first season in 2002, then went 19-15 last year. "Frankfort has a tradition of softball success - 16 conference titles and 19 district titles in 24 years," Thompson said. "We're trying to get back to where we once were. We've set some high goals for ourselves." GLEN LAKE lost several solid players to graduation, but the cupboard isn't bare. The top returnee for the Lakers is senior pitcher Sarah Habeggar, who was all-conference and all-district a year ago. Last year, Habeggar went 16-10 with a 2.29 ERA and struck out 100 as Glen Lake posted a 20-11-1 record. Junior Haley Buchan batted .417 with 31 runs and 34 RBIs and also earned all-conference and all-district honors and was named to the Record-Eagle All-Region team. The Lakers, who knocked off Traverse City St. Francis in the district final last season, are 6-4 so far this spring. SUTTONS BAY has a young team, but new head coach Dave Beer believes the Norse have talent. They just need experience. Among Suttons Bay's up-and-coming players are a pair of sophomores - pitcher Kelly Dobrick and catcher Mary McCall. KINGSLEY is led by senior second baseman Tammy Stocking, junior left fielder Jacquie Kelly, junior pitcher Kori VanHulle and junior first baseman-pitcher Taylor Jones. The Lady Stags opened league play with a sweep of MESICK as VanHulle and Jones allowed only five hits between them. Pitcher Sara Yahner leads the Bulldogs. CHERRYLAND       The top-ranked team in northwest Michigan is LAKE LEELANAU ST. MARY'S, which is off to a 9-1 start and was rated sixth in last week's Division 4 coaches poll. The Eagles went 33-4 and won a district title a year ago. They've won the last three Cherryland Conference titles. "We're excited about our season," said coach Roger Arvo, who cautions that St. Mary's isn't looking too far ahead. "We're going to play hard and take the season one game at a time." The Eagles have reason to be excited about their chances - seven starters are back, including pitchers Amy Robbins and Ashley Korson, who combined to strikeout 255 batters in 176 innings. Robbins, a junior, went 17-1 with a 1.60 ERA and 160 strikeouts last year. She also batted .356 while earning All-Region first team honors. Korson, a senior, was 15-2 with a 1.84 ERA and 95 strikeouts. She hit .305. Key returnees include senior catcher Heidi Konieczka, who batted .338 with a .585 on-base percentage; junior third baseman Ann Bunek, who batted .346, scored 37 runs and had an OBP of .524; and junior lead-off hitter and shortstop Syrena Rexroat, who batted .452 with a .585 OBP, 53 steals and 63 runs. If LELAND hopes to step up and end St. Mary's reign, the Comets will need some big performances from pitchers Megan Glady and Cyndi Erhardt. That certainly appears possible, considering the job Glady did in Friday's Cherryland sweep of Northport when she tossed a perfect game in the opener and allowed only one hit in the second game. Glady earned first-team All-Region honors as an outfielder last season after batting .485 with a .662 slugging percentage. She had seven doubles, a triple and a home run and didn't commit an error. Leland is 5-4 after going 13-13 last season. Key returnees for Leland coach Charlie Gann's team are Candi Nedow (.344 in 2003), Jacki Anderson (.333) and Ellen Craddock (.322). NORTHPORT coach Don Winegrad has a young squad - there are no seniors on the team. Key returnees are Cathy Young, Koleen Kilcherman and Maggie Racich. Two 2003 all-league players are now seniors at BUCKLEY - Jamie Geol and Ashley Shelton. SKI VALLEY       GAYLORD ST. MARY looks to defend its Ski Valley Conference title, its first since 1995. The Snowbirds, under first-year head coach Leonard McHugh, have several senior returnees, including catcher Laura Jo Prusakiewicz, third baseman Kate Spyhalski, first baseman Leah Bauer and center fielder Heather Daugherty. Sophomore pitcher Jackie Burzynski is off to a 3-1 start. INLAND LAKES returns both pitchers from a team that went 29-12-1 and won a Division 3 district title - senior Echo Sackett and junior Mindy Thompson. Also back for coach Rick Anderson's team is senior center fielder Amber Willis. CENTRAL LAKE returns just four seniors from last year's second-place squad, which finished 18-6 overall - Erika Patton, Juliette King, Tricia Troupe and Kristyn McDowell. Patton, who splits time between first base and the mound, is a four-year starter who posted a minuscule 0.82 ERA last season. She also had a .948 fielding percentage and batted .417. King, a second baseman, batted .383, while Troupe hit .298. Sophomore pitcher Tracy McKay - one of 13 freshman and sophomores for the Trojans - batted over .400 last spring and posted an ERA of under 2.00. MANCELONA, which finished 12-18 last year, has jumped up a class to Division 3. The Lady Ironmen are led by Division 3 all-state third baseman Alicia Beyer, a senior who batted .494 and batted in 42 runs. Also back for coach Brian Simpson are senior shortstop Traci Jones, senior second baseman Jamie Rusnell, junior pitcher Cassandra Crothers and junior catcher Mindy Howes. First-year PELLSTON coach Tim McNitt will rely on seniors Brooke Zulski (third base), Amanda Hagerl (center field), Brooke Hahn (shortstop), Kayla Stempky (first base) and Ashley Marsh (catcher), as well as sophomore pitcher Ashlee Lechowicz. NORTHERN LAKES       MACKINAW CITY, ranked ninth in last week's Division 4 coaches poll, has 10 returning letter winners from a team that went 25-10 last season and finished second in the Northern Lakes Conference. Among the returnees is junior pitcher Meredith Neuman, the conference co-MVP last year after going 15-3 with a 1.45 ERA. She also batted .587 and was a Record-Eagle first-team all-region selection. Also back is senior center fielder Brett Sullivan, who led the Comets in runs scored and on-base percentage while earning all-league, all-district and all-region honors. Coach Bob Downing also expects a pair of returning sophomores to make key contributions - catcher Betsie Frye, who led Mackinaw in hits and was second in runs, RBIs and on-base percentage; and pitcher-shortstop Erin Sullivan, who led the Comets in stolen bases and fielding percentage. ELLSWORTH is led by the pitching of sophomore Andrea Hoeksema, as well as the hitting of Liz Peterson, Amber Klooster, Alicia Klooster, Hope Drenth and Michelle Hizelberger. BOYNE FALLS has only three seniors on its roster. The Loggers return five starters, including sophomore pitcher Annie Pernicano. VANDERBILT is off to a 4-2 start, sparked by the hitting of freshman Samantha Dudley, who has slugged home runs in three of the Yellowjackets' last four games. Vanderbilt has also been led by the pitching of junior Lindsey Kean and the hitting of senior third baseman Megan Cottrell. First-year HARBOR LIGHT CHRISTIAN coach Debbie Hamlin has taken over a squad that lost nine players from last year's team. The Lady Swordsmen have freshman Hannah Hewitt as their top pitcher. Junior second baseman Maria Garn is the team's most-experienced player. OTHERS       MANISTEE CATHOLIC CENTRAL returns six seniors from a team that won a Division 4 district title before being eliminated by Lake Leelanau St. Mary's in the regionals. Three of those returning seniors are five-year players who started their varsity careers as eighth graders, thanks to an MHSAA rule that allows smaller schools to play eighth graders - Sam Skocelas, Libbey Johnson and Katie Erickson. Skocelas, a pitcher, was outstanding at the plate last spring, posting a .500 batting average and a .721 slugging percentage while racking up three home runs, three triples, four doubles and 33 RBIs. Johnson, a catcher, batted .452 with a .677 slugging percentage. Among her hits were four triples and seven doubles. Both Skocelas and Johnson were all-region picks a year ago. Erickson, a third baseman, is a solid defensive player with a strong arm. She is also among the leaders on the team. Other key players for the Sabers are senior first baseman Steph Lloyd, who is coming back from an injury, as well as seniors Courtney Duchon and Lori Zoscsak. First-year player Amanda Shack rounds out the team's seniors. Juniors Sarah Johnson (second base) and Heather Albright (shortstop) make up Manistee Catholic's middle infield. Vying for time in the outfield are Paige Ethridge, Krystal Sonsmith, Kendra Hilliard and Amber Miller. BENZIE CENTRAL, coming off a 16-13 season as an independent, has four key returning seniors - shortstop Danielle Moss, pitcher-second baseman Rachel Stoltz, first baseman Shanna Wilson and center fielder-second baseman Jessica Sullivan. McBAIN coach Jim Racignol entered his 28th season at the helm with a career record of 467-169, and the Ramblers expect to give him a winning record for the 27th time. BEAR LAKE hopes to bounce back from a disappointing 5-18 season in 2003. The Lakers return senior second baseman Mallery Wethers, senior catcher Jamie Osborn, senior left fielder Samantha Grasmeyer, junior pitcher Stephanie Schwan, sophomore second baseman Amanda Allen and junior first baseman Carrie Grahl. Among the freshmen to watch are shortstop Tabatha Tribley and outfielder Cynthia Emelander.
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