Softball Previews: Crooksville headlines competitive small school race
CROOKSVILLE — It was another stellar season in Crooksville, as it set a school record for wins, going 20-6, sharing the Muskingum Valley League Small School Division title and claiming a district championship.
However, four key pieces have graduated, pitcher McKenna Headley, first baseman Grace Frame and outfielders Jailynn Theisen and Emma Wilson, as long-time coach Casey Vallee put it simply, "We lost a great group of seniors."
Senior Jaelynn Nelson (3B) highlights the returning letter winners after hitting .447 with nine homers and 43 RBIs and sharing the Small School Division Player of the Year honor. She was also second team all-district.
Junior Gracie Peck will take over the pitching duties after going 5-0 with 39 strikeouts in 33 innings and her battery mate, junior catcher Sonni Nelson, is also back. Peck also batted .272 with four HRs and Nelson hit .323 and caught all but two innings. Sophomores Rylee Chamberlin (2B) and Brynn Lundell (SS) provide strong defense up the middle, and Lundell also has speed on the bases, stealing 16 last year.
The outfield spots will be up for grabs between senior Khirra Wilson, junior Mya Morgan, sophomore Maelee Collins and freshmen Emilee Gray, Mylin Driggs, Lexi Saffel, Paige Frame and Cady Lindamood, while sophomore Madison Goodin and freshman Madison Rambo will battle for time at first base and designated hitter.
Vallee noted a strong core is back, but there will also be some varsity inexperience to open the season.
"We are also very young as a whole and must fill all the outfield spots with Gracie moving to the circle," Vallee said. "Our goal is still the same, keep the Small School Division title in our hands and make another tournament run.
"It's going to be a fun year with so many teams returning star players. That makes the league competitive night in, night out."
New Lexington
Koy Dennis steps in for Alyssa Wolfe, as the Panthers enter the season with optimism after a 10-14 campaign with a young roster.
The key losses are graduates Lydia Stephens and Rylee Newlon, while senior utility Jayden Allen, the MVL Small School Player of the Year and Southeast District second teamer, highlights a strong group of returning letter winners.
Seniors Addee Straits (OF), Soraya Taylor (1B) and Phoenix Williamson (Utility) and juniors Bella Chevalier (OF), Kylie Fink (C), Abby Wilson (P) and Addison Wycinski (OF) also return to provide experience for the Panthers, while a trio of freshmen, Jorja Burkhart (OF), Caroline Dupler (3B) and Makenzy McCoy (INF), should contribute.
West Muskingum
Expectations are on the rise for the Tornadoes and second-year coach Josh Bobo.
A trio of four-year letter winners, Chloe Armstrong, Lauren Johnson and Mariska McCune, are the key losses, while seniors Gracie Settles and Zoie Settles and junior Katlynn Foster, who will share the captain duties, highlight the returning letter winners.
Foster, the school's all-time home run (19) and batting average (.451) leader, is a two-time MVL first-team selection at first base, while both Settles are three-year letter winners, as Gracie plays catcher and Zoie is a utility player with most of her time at second base.
Sophomore Kadie Bare (P/SS) also returns to the varsity, while newcomers include a pair of Zanesville transfers, junior Cadence Puckett (P/3B) and sophomore Addy Antonetz (CF) and sophomore third baseman Lydiah Huey, who missed last season with an ACL injury.
Freshmen Gabbi Hammer (LF) and Peyton Brown (RF) will also see time in the outfield, while other players expected to contribute are sophomores Kensleigh Foster (OF) and Haylee Oliver (2B/C) and freshmen Braelynn Murrey (OF/P/C) and Stella Clark (OF/pinch runner).
"We have a very young but talented team with nine freshmen and sophomores on the roster," Bobo said. "We have strong leadership and experience at the top led by our captains, and all 13 girls will see time on the field.
"We have high expectations for this group. The culture was set by the kids returning and last year's seniors and everyone is really buying in to the program in year 2. We’re really excited to get started; our girls have been working hard."
Miranda Fraunfelter and David Bowers are Bobo's assistants.
Rosecrans
The program has been revived after more than a decade with Shaun Spencer taking on the head coaching duties and Levi Thompson will be his assistant.
Juniors Hailey Lepi (OF/1B/P), Samantha Delik (C/P) and Ashlyn Moody (1B/3B), sophomores Emily Jenkins (P/C) and Kate Ward (SS/3B) and freshman Larkin Spencer (CF/1B) will be the foundations of the program.
Juniors Rebecca Kunkler, Madisyn Sealey and Mariana Lopez, sophomores Brenna Milner and Caitlyn Snode and freshmen Sophie Vaughn and Reese Kornokovich will also see time. Sophomore Kerry Thompson will miss the season due to ACL surgery.
Spencer noted the focus is "installing the base fundamentals and softball IQ with the girls."
"We have started to see some confidence rising and individual skill improvement. We have an internal three year plan in effect, so if our student athletes put in the work and time necessary we should make great strides over the next couple years," he said. "Offensively, we have six girls that can swing the bat well and our others have improved greatly. Defensively, we’re improving. We have a couple girls that have stepped up and are learning how to pitch, so I’m proud of them for leaving their comfort zone.
"This first year we’re focusing on getting a little better everyday. We are relying on Sam, Larkin and Emily’s leadership abilities as they’ve played consistently over the years," he added. "By next Spring we’ll have our Middle School program up and running which will help out tremendously."
Coshocton
Dawn Peterson steps in to take over the Lady 'Skins, who were just 1-20 last season and graduated four-year starter Keeley Murray.
Five players gained valuable experience led by seniors, utility Destiny Frye and pitcher-second baseman Olivia Lee. Peterson noted Frye provides versatility, especially in the outfield, and a bat to build around, while Lee brings a "determined" attitude to the diamond.
Peterson noted sophomore Jaeli Tiedt (SS/C) is a strong athlete with quickness and a good bat, while junior Addison Rice (C/OF) brings speed to the squad, and sophomore Courtney Snyder (OF/C) has shown an eagerness to learn and is a great vocal leader, added Peterson.
A group of newcomers will get their chances to help Coshocton take a step forward, as seniors Jaiden Arnold (1B/3B/P) and Carrie Andrews (OF), sophomores Lilli Jacobs (3B) and Savanna Warren (OF), and freshmen Brooklyn Bouris (2B/3B/OF), Brooklyn Wilson (Utility/P) and Drew Duren (OF).
"We are young and inexperienced, but we are hungry to learn and are working diligently to maximize our strengths and minimize our mistakes," Peterson said. "This group is a wonderful group of student-athletes who are striving to be 'better than yesterday,' which is our team motto. We can’t do anything about the past, but we can work to be better than we were, and that’s all we ask. It’s not about what happened the play before, good or bad; it’s about what we can do in this moment right now to help the team as a whole.
"We know that we aren’t going to dominate on the mound, but we can combat that with a strong offense and a strong defense," she added. "We have a lot of potential, and with this group’s positive energy and willingness to learn, I have a lot of confidence that we will have success. We are excited for the season to begin to put all of our hard work into motion."
Meadowbrook
The Colts struggled in a 5-21 season, but a promising finish in the postseason has given third-year coach Sam Frizzell optimism.
Meadowbrook returns six lettermen, led by a trio of three-year letter winners in seniors Maddie May (CF), Hailey Fordyce (3B) and Taylor Sichina (OF). There are also three two-year letterwinners in junior MacKenzie Krenisky (OF) and sophomores Alexx Combs (C) and Addy Wiggins (2B).
Four freshmen, Summer Ginn (SS), Addy Sichina (P), Jordyn Vargeson (OF) and Laney Harper (P), will also have a chance to contribute for the Colts.
"We are looking to rebound from a disappointing, but productive season last year. We should be able to make a run in the tournament and get the program headed in the right direction," Frizzell said. "Last year we struggled at the plate and could not overcome giving up so many unearned runs. With such a young team, hopefully, we can improve in those areas with a year of experience behind us now."
Morgan did not submit a preview.
bhannahs@gannett.com; @brandonhannahs
This article originally appeared on Zanesville Times Recorder: Softball Previews: Crooksville headlines competitive small school race
