Area Softball Teams Trying To Reverse Fortunes
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
The Whitko Wildcats enter the 2005 softball season as the only area team with a winning record from last year. The Wildcats, led by head coach Marla Burkhart, went 21-8 and advanced to the regional final before falling to a tough Bellmont squad, 6-0.
Whitko loses its top two hitters in Dana Sellers and Stacy Socha to graduation. Sellers led the team with 38 hits while driving in 24 RBI. Socha had the team's only home run last year and batted a whopping .434 while driving in a team-high 28 RBI.
Leah Winger and Hannah VanHoozen will be looked upon to take over the brunt of the offensive production. Winger, a senior shortstop, hit .319 and was second on the team in runs with 30. VanHoozen racked up 16 RBI last year and will be looked upon to drive in Winger and her fellow Wildcats.
From Whitley to Wabash County, Manchester is optimistic about this season. The Squires finished last year at .500 with a 14-14 record. Manchester didn't lose any players to graduation and returns a solid nucleus.
Senior Megan Hoch returns as the team's top run producer with 34 RBI. Samantha Budnik returns after finishing the season with 32 RBI and an eye-popping .486 on-base percentage. Budnik also connected on the team's lone home run last year. She provides some speed, too, having stolen 10 bases to lead the Squires last year.
Kala McKenzie returns as the top pitching prospect for Jim Troyer's Squire squad. McKenzie finished '04 with a 6-6 record and a 3.38 ERA. Sophomore Jarra Renz looks like someone who may have a breakout year. Renz pitched one of the team's two shutouts and led the squad with 41 strikeouts. Opponents batted a team-low .195 against Renz.
Northern Lakes Conference rivals Wawasee and Warsaw look to improve on less than stellar seasons with some developing talent. Wawasee, currently 1-5 in the '05 campaign, is led by Tarina Sorensen, Kasey Bollier, Cheryl Thomas, pitcher Beth Voirol and Rachel Canen as a group of seniors who are charged with helping such underclassmen as Megan Walker, Kayln Price and Amber Timmons develop. Walker, a second baseman, has shown early flashes of offensive production.
Canen returns to softball after not playing her junior season. Known for her prowess on the hardwood, she will look to improve on a .388 batting average from her sophomore season. Voirol has moved up to the No. 1 pitching spot with the departure of Haley Bird. Last year, Voirol managed a 2.74 ERA and a 4-5 record.
The Warriors had a 7-7 record in the NLC and if the offense comes around, may be able to contend toward the upper half of the conference.
"We should be a very competitive team this season," said fourth-year Warrior head coach Cory Schultz. "They have made great strides since last year and I expect good things from them."
Warsaw also is confident it can contend in a competitive NLC. The Tigers are currently 1-1 on the young season and are on pace to eclipse the 9-18 mark compiled from last year. Second-year head coach Scott Freds has a talented middle infield with shortstop Brit Clark and second baseman Allison Shepherd. Star Gonzales provides a stabilizing presence behind the plate, while freshman Kelcy Martin was impressive in her high school debut against Carroll (Fort Wayne). Martin struck out 11 in a shutout win.
The Tigers also finished 7-7 in the conference last year, but with the combination of solid hitting and a certifiable top-tier starting pitcher, the sky is the limit.
"The Tigers will come back with experience as well as some youth. Last year's MVP Star Gonzalez will anchor the team as catcher," said Freds.
Two first-year head coaches take the helm of programs that have struggled recently. B.J. Walls takes over as head coach of a Tippecanoe Valley team that went 2-26 last year and 0-7 in the Three Rivers Conference. Walls will look to build with junior Abbi Sroufe, sophomore Brittany Eiser and senior Amy Sauer. Six freshmen make up half of the Viking roster.
At Triton, it's Steve McBride who takes over the Trojans program. Triton was winless last year with a record of 0-28 overall and 0-14 in the Northern State Conference. Twelve of the 21 rostered players for Triton are freshmen, so if McBride is going to turn things around this year, it will be with youth. Junior Sierra Mitchell, senior Danielle Barker and sophomores Emily Sauer and Candace Pranger provide the experience for Triton. Triton is currently 0-2 on the season.
(AREA PREP PREVIEW CAPSULES)
MANCHESTER SQUIRES
Head coach/years - Jim Troyer/ninth year
2004 record/postseason result - 14-14 overall and 3-4 in the TRC/lost in sectional championship
Key losses - n/a
Returning - Kala McKenzie, Brittany Fratus, Megan Hoch, Jarra Renz, Jade Kennedy, Sammantha Budnik
Coach's comment - "It should be a good year with everyone returning and having varsity experience."
TIPPECANOE VALLEY VIKINGS
Head coach/years - B.J. Walls/0-0 in first year
2004 record/postseason result - 2-26 overall and 0-7 in the TRC/lost to FW Elmhurst in sectional first round
Key losses - Heather Ramsey, Jenna Kinsel, Kristin Powell, Kylie Foster
Returning - Abbi Sroufe, Amy Sauer, Brittany Eiser
Coach's comment - "We have three returning players from last year. We have six freshmen starting the program."
TRITON TROJANS
Head coach/years - Steve McBride/0-0 in first year
2004 record/postseason result - 0-28 overall and 0-14 in the NSC/lost to Culver in sectional first round
Key losses - Kristen Dean
Returning - Sierra Mitchell, Danielle Barker, Emily Sauer, Candace Pranger
Coach's comment - "We can only get better. We're very young and inexperienced. Twelve of 21 are freshmen. We will try to get better every week."
WARSAW TIGERS
Head coach/years - Scott Freds/10-18 in second year
2004 record/postseason result - 9-18 overall and 7-7 in the NLC/lost to DeKalb in sectional first round
Key losses - n/a
Returning - Brit Clark, Rachel Braddock, Star Gonzalez, Allison Shepherd, Ashley Rader
Coach's comment - "The team seems more confident and team chemistry has improved from last year's team."
WAWASEE WARRIORS
Head coach/years - Cory Schutz/44-63 in fourth year
2004 record/postseason result - 12-17 overall and 7-7 in the NLC, lost to Lakeland in sectional first round
Key losses - Haley Bird, Nicole Hymer
Returning - Tarina Sorensen, Kasey Bollier, Beth Voirol, Megan Walker, Cheryl Thomas, Rachel Canen
Coach's comment - "They have made great strides since last year and I expect good thing from them."
WHITKO WILDCATS
Head Coach/years - Marla Burkhart/98-97 in seventh year
2004 record/postseason result - 21-8 overall and 5-2 in the TRC, lost in the regional final to Bellmont
Key losses - Stacy Socha, Dana Sellers, Jana Rowland, Tasia Boggs, Alicia Burelison
Returning - Leah Winger, Hannah VanHoozen
Coach's Comment - n/a [[In-content Ad]]
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The Whitko Wildcats enter the 2005 softball season as the only area team with a winning record from last year. The Wildcats, led by head coach Marla Burkhart, went 21-8 and advanced to the regional final before falling to a tough Bellmont squad, 6-0.
Whitko loses its top two hitters in Dana Sellers and Stacy Socha to graduation. Sellers led the team with 38 hits while driving in 24 RBI. Socha had the team's only home run last year and batted a whopping .434 while driving in a team-high 28 RBI.
Leah Winger and Hannah VanHoozen will be looked upon to take over the brunt of the offensive production. Winger, a senior shortstop, hit .319 and was second on the team in runs with 30. VanHoozen racked up 16 RBI last year and will be looked upon to drive in Winger and her fellow Wildcats.
From Whitley to Wabash County, Manchester is optimistic about this season. The Squires finished last year at .500 with a 14-14 record. Manchester didn't lose any players to graduation and returns a solid nucleus.
Senior Megan Hoch returns as the team's top run producer with 34 RBI. Samantha Budnik returns after finishing the season with 32 RBI and an eye-popping .486 on-base percentage. Budnik also connected on the team's lone home run last year. She provides some speed, too, having stolen 10 bases to lead the Squires last year.
Kala McKenzie returns as the top pitching prospect for Jim Troyer's Squire squad. McKenzie finished '04 with a 6-6 record and a 3.38 ERA. Sophomore Jarra Renz looks like someone who may have a breakout year. Renz pitched one of the team's two shutouts and led the squad with 41 strikeouts. Opponents batted a team-low .195 against Renz.
Northern Lakes Conference rivals Wawasee and Warsaw look to improve on less than stellar seasons with some developing talent. Wawasee, currently 1-5 in the '05 campaign, is led by Tarina Sorensen, Kasey Bollier, Cheryl Thomas, pitcher Beth Voirol and Rachel Canen as a group of seniors who are charged with helping such underclassmen as Megan Walker, Kayln Price and Amber Timmons develop. Walker, a second baseman, has shown early flashes of offensive production.
Canen returns to softball after not playing her junior season. Known for her prowess on the hardwood, she will look to improve on a .388 batting average from her sophomore season. Voirol has moved up to the No. 1 pitching spot with the departure of Haley Bird. Last year, Voirol managed a 2.74 ERA and a 4-5 record.
The Warriors had a 7-7 record in the NLC and if the offense comes around, may be able to contend toward the upper half of the conference.
"We should be a very competitive team this season," said fourth-year Warrior head coach Cory Schultz. "They have made great strides since last year and I expect good things from them."
Warsaw also is confident it can contend in a competitive NLC. The Tigers are currently 1-1 on the young season and are on pace to eclipse the 9-18 mark compiled from last year. Second-year head coach Scott Freds has a talented middle infield with shortstop Brit Clark and second baseman Allison Shepherd. Star Gonzales provides a stabilizing presence behind the plate, while freshman Kelcy Martin was impressive in her high school debut against Carroll (Fort Wayne). Martin struck out 11 in a shutout win.
The Tigers also finished 7-7 in the conference last year, but with the combination of solid hitting and a certifiable top-tier starting pitcher, the sky is the limit.
"The Tigers will come back with experience as well as some youth. Last year's MVP Star Gonzalez will anchor the team as catcher," said Freds.
Two first-year head coaches take the helm of programs that have struggled recently. B.J. Walls takes over as head coach of a Tippecanoe Valley team that went 2-26 last year and 0-7 in the Three Rivers Conference. Walls will look to build with junior Abbi Sroufe, sophomore Brittany Eiser and senior Amy Sauer. Six freshmen make up half of the Viking roster.
At Triton, it's Steve McBride who takes over the Trojans program. Triton was winless last year with a record of 0-28 overall and 0-14 in the Northern State Conference. Twelve of the 21 rostered players for Triton are freshmen, so if McBride is going to turn things around this year, it will be with youth. Junior Sierra Mitchell, senior Danielle Barker and sophomores Emily Sauer and Candace Pranger provide the experience for Triton. Triton is currently 0-2 on the season.
(AREA PREP PREVIEW CAPSULES)
MANCHESTER SQUIRES
Head coach/years - Jim Troyer/ninth year
2004 record/postseason result - 14-14 overall and 3-4 in the TRC/lost in sectional championship
Key losses - n/a
Returning - Kala McKenzie, Brittany Fratus, Megan Hoch, Jarra Renz, Jade Kennedy, Sammantha Budnik
Coach's comment - "It should be a good year with everyone returning and having varsity experience."
TIPPECANOE VALLEY VIKINGS
Head coach/years - B.J. Walls/0-0 in first year
2004 record/postseason result - 2-26 overall and 0-7 in the TRC/lost to FW Elmhurst in sectional first round
Key losses - Heather Ramsey, Jenna Kinsel, Kristin Powell, Kylie Foster
Returning - Abbi Sroufe, Amy Sauer, Brittany Eiser
Coach's comment - "We have three returning players from last year. We have six freshmen starting the program."
TRITON TROJANS
Head coach/years - Steve McBride/0-0 in first year
2004 record/postseason result - 0-28 overall and 0-14 in the NSC/lost to Culver in sectional first round
Key losses - Kristen Dean
Returning - Sierra Mitchell, Danielle Barker, Emily Sauer, Candace Pranger
Coach's comment - "We can only get better. We're very young and inexperienced. Twelve of 21 are freshmen. We will try to get better every week."
WARSAW TIGERS
Head coach/years - Scott Freds/10-18 in second year
2004 record/postseason result - 9-18 overall and 7-7 in the NLC/lost to DeKalb in sectional first round
Key losses - n/a
Returning - Brit Clark, Rachel Braddock, Star Gonzalez, Allison Shepherd, Ashley Rader
Coach's comment - "The team seems more confident and team chemistry has improved from last year's team."
WAWASEE WARRIORS
Head coach/years - Cory Schutz/44-63 in fourth year
2004 record/postseason result - 12-17 overall and 7-7 in the NLC, lost to Lakeland in sectional first round
Key losses - Haley Bird, Nicole Hymer
Returning - Tarina Sorensen, Kasey Bollier, Beth Voirol, Megan Walker, Cheryl Thomas, Rachel Canen
Coach's comment - "They have made great strides since last year and I expect good thing from them."
WHITKO WILDCATS
Head Coach/years - Marla Burkhart/98-97 in seventh year
2004 record/postseason result - 21-8 overall and 5-2 in the TRC, lost in the regional final to Bellmont
Key losses - Stacy Socha, Dana Sellers, Jana Rowland, Tasia Boggs, Alicia Burelison
Returning - Leah Winger, Hannah VanHoozen
Coach's Comment - n/a [[In-content Ad]]