SYRACUSE -ÊSome teams win all kinds of games during the regular season but collapse when the postseason starts.

This is not Wawasee's softball team.

Other teams may not put together the best regular season record, but they win games when they count most - when the postseason starts.

This is Wawasee's softball team.

Wawasee's Bo O'Dell is entering his fourth year as coach. The Warriors have won the last three sectionals.

Take last year. Wawasee lost 11 games during the regular season and finished fourth in the Northern Lakes Conference with a 6-6 record.

But then the Warriors went out and won the Warsaw Sectional.

"We try to make sure we peak in May," O'Dell said. "We want to be playing our best ball in May."

The Warriors graduated four key players off last year's team. They lost their battery - No. 1 pitcher Jaime Conn and catcher Amy Gingerich. Gingerich caught almost every inning of every game. When Conn graduated, she took her .427 batting average with her. Gone is all-conference shortstop Kari Wortinger, who hit .333. Gone is third baseman Sonya Beer, who hit .360.

The Warriors, who have 15 on their roster, return several varsity players. Four-year starter Sara Frantz, who hit .417, returns to center field. Megan King, Wawasee's No. 2 pitcher last year, went 8-3 with a 3.57 ERA in 94 innings. She is a three-year starter. Danielle Powell, who plays first base and catcher, is a three-year starter.

Wawasee will also look to Andrea Gingerich, Tara Hymer, Jen Mason and Amber Ramseyer, all juniors. Gingerich will serve as a starting pitcher, along with King.

"We do have a lot of key people coming back," O'Dell said. "Our weaknesses will be the left side of our infield because we graduated our third baseman and shortstop, and at catcher."

Of the people he is trying at third and shortstop, O'Dell said: "They're pretty good athletes. I'm more worried about the mental aspect. The way they've looked in practice, I'm not so sure they can't make the plays. It's just a matter of making sure they know what to do with the ball before it comes to them."

Wawasee's season begins today with a home doubleheader with South Bend Riley that begins at noon.

Asked about the NLC race, O'Dell conceded it's Plymouth's to lose. The Pilgrims, who won the conference last year, have senior picher Lisa Mattke, who will play Division I softball.

"After Plymouth, it's an open race," he said. "After Plymouth, it will be interesting to see who finishes where."

One thing is for sure: O'Dell's main concern will be getting his team ready for May. Just in time for the sectional.

MANCHESTER SQUIRES

Head coach/years: Jim Troyer, third

1998 record/postseason results: 8-12, 3-3 TRC (fourth); lost in first round of sectional

Key losses: SS Jamie Gillum, P Megan Sell

1999 roster: 18

Key players: Sophomore OF Dorey Bungitak, sophmore P/3B Jessica Hicks, sophomore P/OF Jennifer Jester, junior 1B Nikki McKenzie

Overheard: "Our pitching is down a little, so we have to have the hits and the defense. We have a nice infield. First place in the conference is probably between North Miami and Rochester. Whitko, Valley and us will battle for a spot in the top three." -ÊTroyer

First game: 11 a.m. Saturday doubleheader at Fremont

TIPPECANOE VALLEY VIKINGS

Co-coaches: Lori Busenberg, Chrissy Niedbalski

1998 record/postseason results: 10-16, 4-2 TRC; lost in first round of sectional

Key losses: SS Brandi Fisher, 3B Brandy Manns, 2B/LF Aubrey Engstrand

1999 roster: 15

Key players: Senior P Sabrina Newsome, junior P Emily Jackson, senior C Brooke Fisher, junior 1B Mary Martin, senior 3B Amy Nellans, junior 2B Vickie Steen

Overheard: "Our strength will be hitting. Mary Martin is a strong hitter. She had three or four hits the other night. Vickie Steen had three hits. We need to keep our pitching healthy. That will determine a lot. Our defense will be pretty good. We were real close to first in the conference last year, then we lost Amy Nellans and Sabrina Newsome. That was a starter and a pitcher. I see us finishing high this year." - Niedbalski

First game: Lost at Maconaquah 19-15; 0-1

TRITON TROJANS

Head coach/years: Eileen Mariani, third

1998 record/postseason results: 5-20, 2-10 NSC (tied for sixth); lost in first round of sectional

Key losses: Center fielder Amilia Devros (.479), 1B Wendy Banic (.190), P Jill Klonowski (.370), 3B Liz Miller (.425)

1999 roster: 14

Key players: C/SS Mary Clason (.327), 2B Kendra Blackford (.338, 11 runs, 4 stolen bases), P Melissa Claxon, P Janell Salisbury

Overheard: "We have a really young team with six freshman and four sophomores. This will be a learning season. We have a pretty athletic group. As far as conference, my prediction is we will gain a few more than two wins. I would like to see us in the top half." - Mariani

First game: Lost to Mishawaka Marian 9-0 on Monday; 0-1

WARSAW TIGERS

Head coach/years: Craig Helfrich, second

1998 record/postseason results: 15-14, 7-5 NLC (second); lost in Warsaw Sectional semifinals

Key losses: 1B Shannon Barger (.495, 30 RBIs, 11 2B), P Shanna Smith (11-6, 2.51)

1999 roster: 16

Key players: Senior center fielder Marie Brown, junior 1B/RF Melissa Himes (.250), junior OF/2B/SS Laura Overton (.213, 16 stolen bases), sophomore 3B/P Jacquie Burns, sophomore Of/SS Amie Poling, sophomore P Michelle Liebsch (2-3, 2.51, 22 innings, 20 hits, 2 BB, 28 Ks), freshman P Ashley Wyatt

Overheard: "We have good pitching, and in fast-pitch softball, that will take you along way. Still, we can't count on (Liebsch, Wyatt) to carry us. We're not a team that will score six, seven or eight runs. We will be in a lot of 3-2 and 4-3 games. We will have to do the little things to be successful, like bunting, moving runners over and playing good defense." - Helfrich

First game: At home today vs. Logansport, 5 p.m.

WHITKO WILDCATS

Head coach/years: Marla Burkhart/third

1998 record/postseason results: 7-15, 3-3 TRC; lost first game of sectional

Key loss: Brittany Waybright

1999 roster: 15

Key players: Junior P Mindy Lopshire, senior center fielder Kelly Osborn, senior shortstop Brieann Starkweather, senior third baseman Holly Hoffman

Overheard: "I expect us to have a better record than last year, and I expect us to be in the running for the TRC title. Our strength is the defensive end of the game. If we minimize our errors, we should be OK. We need our hitting to come along." -ÊBurkhart

First game: 4:15 p.m. Tuesday at Fort Wayne South Side [[In-content Ad]]