Softball preview: Teams filled with talent
Several of the area’s top high school softball players from last season are returning this year. In addition, a large group of talented freshmen from last season now have more experience at the varsity level.
Teams that were down, mostly due to inexperience, figure to be much improved.
Add it up and clearly the stage is set for a thrilling season on the diamond.
“It should be a good year for competition,” North Fort Myers coach Jeff Miner said. “There should be a lot of close games.”
The high school softball regular season begins this week. Cape Coral opens the season at Bishop Verot Tuesday and North Fort Myers visits South Fort Myers.
On Wednesday, two District 5A-15 rivals collide when Ida Baker travels to Mariner.
At the start, it appears that the District 5A-15 race should be competitive all season.
Ida Baker made the biggest leap last season in its third year since the program began. The Bulldogs went 23-7 overall and knocked off Fort Myers 3-0 in the district semifinals.
The Bulldogs dropped close games to Barron Collier (2-0) and Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas (1-0) in the district finals and regional quarterfinals, respectively.
Though the Bulldogs only lost one senior and have a strong returning nucleus, they know a difficult path awaits this season.
“It’s a new year and anything is possible,” Baker coach Morgan Klare said. “Just because you beat certain teams last year doesn’t mean you will beat them this year.”
Baker, Fort Myers, Barron Collier and North Fort Myers finished in the top four spots in the district last year.
Defending champion Barron Collier, again, figures to compete near the top. Fort Myers is led by senior ace Lindsey Richardson, who posted a 16-6 record with 289 strikeouts last season.
North posted an 18-7 mark last year. The Red Knights feature a blend of experienced players and emerging talent. The list includes seniors Mariah Fernandez (first base), Kayla Ramey (shortstop), Alyssa Dougherty (second base), junior Jackie Owen (pitcher) and freshman Katrissa Rowell (catcher).
“Our goal is to improve weekly,” said Miner, who begins his seventh year guiding the Red Knights.
Baker hopes to build off last season’s success. They’ll be without one of their top pitchers from last season, junior Jessica Gregoire, but are counting on the return of senior Kayla Vetter and sophomore Katie Rieser.
Vetter missed half the season with an ankle injury and Rieser was sidelined for most of the season with a broken wrist.
“They both have the ability to be an ace,” Klare said. “They have a solid defense behind them so the key is throwing strikes.”
The Bulldogs return most of their top hitters, including senior Caitlin Holloway, who drove in 43 runs. Senior Jamie Ross (third base) and junior Allie Hare (catcher) also bring a lot of production to the lineup.
Klare noted that the Bulldogs are focused on more than wins and losses.
“We want to play for one another,” she said.
Mariner went through a rebuilding year, with eight freshmen and only one senior, but still managed a respectable 14-11 mark.
The Tritons hope to take another step this season, possibly challenging for district.
Among the returning players is junior pitcher Nikki Roderiques, who went 11-7 with a 1.56 ERA last year.
The Tritons, though, would like to generate more consistent offense in support of Roderiques. They return basically their entire lineup. It includes senior Brooke Albert, junior Lauren Jaenicke and sophomores Carrie Grigiski, Abby Willis, Cody Sawyer, Samantha Greenwell, MacKenzie Hunt and Samantha Rapp.
Cape Coral has won just 11 games combined over the past two years, but the pieces seem to be in place for a turnaround.
The Seahawks came on late last season and return the majority of their roster. The Seahawks are guided by first-year coach Amy Petruska.
“We have a good nucleus this year,” she said. “As long as the girls stay focused and play hard we should be able to win our fair share of game.”
Junior Tara Higgins (third base) anchors the lineup. Other key returning players include juniors Shannon McBride (second base, pitcher) and Marissa Maikowski (shortsop) and sophomore Brenna Harkins (pitcher).
Island Coast, Cape’s newest high school, is set to begin its first season playing a JV schedule. The Gators are coached by Kristine Jahn.
n 3A-12: Bishop Verot figures to be set for another run at the district title and a regional berth.
The Vikings defeated Sarasota Cardinal Mooney 4-3 in the district championship last year and reached the regional semifinals before falling to St. Petersburg Catholic.
Junior Allie Mitchell belted three home runs last season and posted a .446 batting average. Junior catcher Katie Clinger is another key returning player.
The Vikings should get a lift from the addition of senior Hailey Barraco.