Defending MOAC champ Ontario Warriors top Richland County Preseason Softball Power Poll
Softball season is officially here.
Saturday is the first day of high school softball and baseball season and expectations couldn't be higher for Richland County teams. It is going to be a fast and furious ride to May.
So, let's kick off the wildness with the Richland County Preseason Softball Power Poll just to see who we should expect to see competing for championships this spring.
1. Ontario
The Warriors quite literally bring everyone back from last year's Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference championship team. And, they get a huge boost with Taylor Mullins returning after an ACL injury kept her off the field all of last season. So they got better and another year older and that makes them an easy choice for the preseason No. 1. With returning All-Ohioan Autumn Taylor and studs like Joslynne Frazier, Kylie Snow, Trista Jewell, Eden Howard and Olivia Kreger just to name a few, the Warriors have the big names to put together an absolutely massive season.
2. Madison
Speaking of big names, the Madison Rams are full of them. The Rams bring back possibly the most talented lineup in Richland County but their schedule is always a meat grinder. It never does them any favors when it comes to overall record, but you will not see a team more prepared for the postseason. Bri Bowles is back and looking to cap off a historic career where she statistically could put herself in the conversation of one of the best players to ever come out of Madison. Olivia Schulz returns for her fourth year behind the plate. Emily Nolan, Kyleigh Reiter, Hope Barrett, Emma Stankovich and an incoming freshman named Campbell Kiser have the Rams ready for a run at a district championship.
3. Lexington
Lady Lews finished as last year's Richland County Power Poll champions and made a run all the way to the regional championship game. They do lose quite a few seniors including Jillian Bammann, Camryn Campbell and Sydni Clever who were both major contributors, but Lady Lex returns the talent necessary to repeat as district champs. Jillian Morr is a returning All-Ohioan and Kaylie Eichorn had an all-state caliber year last season. Kylie Galownia will move into a more permanent pitching role so Lady Lex should be just fine in the circle. It will be all about how they hit to start the 2023 season. If Lex can produce runs, Lady Lex will be just fine.
4. Clear Fork
The Colts made it to the district championship game a year ago falling to Lexington in a 13-inning thriller. So, expect the Colts to continue living up to program expectations in 2023. They will have to do it without stud pitcher Ashtynn Roberts and Trinity Cook, but they have plenty of offensive firepower returning including Pacey Chrastina and Renee Anders. Pitching will be the question that the Colts need to answer early on this season. If they can find a dominant arm in the circle, watch out.
5. Plymouth
The Big Red made a run to the Division IV district championship game a year ago on the back of Makenzie Back. As she returns, so do the prospects of championships for the Big Red. Back is as dominant as they come in the pitching circle and she can hit absolute bombs at the plate. Getting her enough run support will be the key in 2023 for the Big Red.
6. Shelby
There is a lot to love about this Shelby team. The Booker sisters in the circle, role players who seem to always come up big on a daily basis like Demi Hipp. But the team took a major hit when Mallary Gundrum went down in preseason basketball with a knee injury. She provided a lot of offensive explosiveness and played great at shortstop. The Whippets will miss her dearly, but maybe it will be something that can light a fire in the team and it can piece together something special.
7. Crestview
The Cougars were insanely young last year with a roster full of freshmen and sophomores. But the graduation of Mary Leeper is going to be an impossible replacement. Sophie Durbin is back at shortstop and is one of the best individual players in Richland County. PJ Endicott will have a huge role this year along with Chesnie Patton. The Cougars have what it takes to be a Firelands Conference champion, but the early-season growth will tell the tale.
8. Lucas
The Cubs had a bit of a down year in 2022 and saw Tori Sauder graduate so it is tough to gauge what to expect from them in 2023. Marissa Caugherty might be the best power hitter in Richland County and Alyssa Shay is hoping to take a step forward in the circle. The Cubs are one of those teams that could really surprise some people in the second half of the season.
9. Mansfield Christian
The Flames lost five seniors from last year on a team that had single-digit wins so they are a bit of an unknown right now. They have a lot of young players moving their way up through the program who hope to make an immediate impact. If they can get some production out of a young player or two, Mansfield Christian could be a surprise team in 2023.
10. Mansfield Senior
The Tygers are a bit of an unknown in 2023. They had a tough year last year, but had some young players with potential. Hopefully, this year is the year they can reach it.
jfurr@gannett.com
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Twitter: @JakeFurr11
This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Defending MOAC champ Ontario Warriors top Richland County Preseason Softball Power Poll
