Softball teams hold hopes to be champs By MIKE KEMMETER of The Gazette A core of seniors and juniors will try to put the Stevens Point Area Senior High softball team in the front of what could be a six-team race for the Wisconsin Valley Conference title. The Panthers, who are led by Rachel Ploetz, a senior first-team all-conference first baseman, and Lacey Groshek, a second-team all-WVC senior catcher, will look to top fellow Valley contenders Wausau East, Marshfield, Merrill, Wisconsin Rapids and Wausau West. "I'm very optimistic with this group because we have a lot of kids that work hard in practice. I'd be very disappointed if we weren't competing in the Valley," SPASH coach Tom Drohner said. "Every year I expect us to be competitive." Joining Ploetz and Groshek in the infield are a trio of seniors - second baseman Kristin Feltz, shortstop Paula Swanson and third baseman Erica Hojnacki. Juniors Darcia Wesenberg (first base) Shari Pavelski (second base) and Dana Jacquin (shortstop) hold backup spots in the infield. SPASH's outfield will feature the quartet of juniors Michele Rosicky and Kristin Zortman in left field, freshman Samantha Polito in center field and senior Kristin Rosicky in right field. "I think our hitting will be strong. This year I think we'll hit the ball real well," Drohner said. "The defense might be a weakness and that scares me. If we iron out those things, we're going to be fine." The Panthers will use a pair of pitchers, senior Jodi Kostuchowski and sophomore Alexis Mains. Wesenberg may also see some time on the mound. "I think pitching is going to be a strength this year," Drohner said. "They're not going to dominate but they will get the job done. I'm not afraid to put any one of them on the mound." Drohner said chemistry is a key to the team's success. "I'm looking forward to a positive season. If we can develop good team chemistry, we'll be competitive," Drohner said. "There's nothing we can't accomplish if we put forth hard work and dedication to the game of softball. I'm very confident if we do that we'll accomplish our goals." Pacelli Only two seniors return as the Cardinals try to get back to the WISAA state tournament for the 11th straight season. All-conference first baseman Lindsey Radomski will lead the way for Pacelli. She's joined by fellow senior infielder Lynsey Johnson. "It's hard to judge our expectations until we get a few games in," Pacelli coach Ron Kurszewski said. "It's hard to say because we're young. "I think the season's going to be okay because of the attitude. The upperclassmen are helping the underclassmen and are making them improve. I think the girls realized after last year's loss in the state tournament that they can't go in and expect to win. It may take a few games but I think we'll be competitive." A trio of juniors are back for the Cardinals - pitcher Lyndsey Gagas, catcher/infielder Staci LaBlanc and catcher Abby Mallek. Sophomores Toni Johnson and Aerin Spitz will be in the mix in the infield while fellow sophomores Erin McCann, Vicky Mallek and Amanda Tepp will work in the outfield. Besides Gagas, Pacelli will turn to two sophomores for pitching. Spitz and Tepp will both get action on the mound. In order to get back to state, the Cardinals will have to minimize the departures of a quartet of seniors, including pitchers Beth Klosinski and Nicole Lepak. Kelly Lepak (infield/outfield) and Myra Ligman (center field) graduated as well. In the Central Wisconsin Catholic Conference, Kurszewski figures Pacelli will battle with Wisconsin Rapids Assumption and Chippewa Falls McDonell for the title. The Cardinals have won or shared the conference crown since its inception. "Each year it keeps getting tougher," Kurszewski said. Amherst The defending state champion Falcons may have a big target on their backs this season, but the return of pitcher Jenny Jastromski and five more starters gives Amherst the ammunition to try and win another title. The Falcons are also searching for their third straight Central Wisconsin Conference large division crown. Jastromski, who dominated opponents last season, picked up each of Amherst's 23 wins last year and finished with a 1.07 earned run average and 208 strikeouts in 157 innings. "In the conference, we've won it two years in a row," Amherst coach Tim Pederson said. "Some people are scared to play us. "It's not like other sports. Jenny can dominate and shut down the opponents. I think the biggest concern I would have is if we got hurt." The senior was named to the third team all-state squad and has made the All-Central Wisconsin Conference first team. Crystal Morgan, who played outfield last year but may be the team's first baseman, is the other senior back from last season's title team. A trio of junior infielders are back, giving Amherst an experienced first defense. Shortstop Anne Stanislawski (honorable mention All-CWC), third baseman Jenni Orsund and Julie Peskie all return with state tournament experience. In the outfield, junior Betsy Hoffman is the only returnee. She could also be joined by seniors Renee Ostrowski and Erin Jensen. Another in the mix in the outfield is sophomore Jamie Krutza, but she may be the team's catcher. Freshman Joann Konkol is also in the running to be the team's backstop. Krutza, Konkol and junior Anne Helke will try to replace Melissa Schweitzer, who was a member of the second team all-state squad as a senior, behind the plate. "Stanislawski, I think she can improve her hitting and be real good. She hit .460 last year and I hope she can get in the .500s. I need her to drive in runs and hit the gaps," Pederson said. "I just have to hope some of my younger girls can come up and hit. I'm hoping that Ostrowski or Jensen can take one of the outfield spots." Other newcomers are junior infielders/outfielders Becca Konkol, Ali Zajakowski and Karen Ehr. Helke could also see time in the infield. Besides Schweitzer, the Falcons also lost outfielder Kim Anderson (honorable mention CWC), first baseman Ali Bartig, designated hitter Dani Bohm and third baseman Sada Konkol to graduation. Although Jastromski spent most of Amherst's innings on the mound last year, Peskie will likely see some time on the mound too. "I'm hoping Jenny Peskie improves," Pederson said. "She's worked hard and I think she wants to improve. If Peskie stays healthy, she'll pitch more." In the conference race, Pederson said Shiocton and Bonduel gave the Falcons the most trouble last season. Pederson suffered a knee injury in a charity basketball game last week, which has kept the head coach away from practice for several days. He said he's not worried about missing the time away from his team. During the season, he will coach from the dugout instead of third base when the Falcons are batting. "I coached the girls through the summer program and I know what they can do. They know what's going on," Pederson said. Almond-Bancroft The Eagles, who finished third in the CWC small division a year ago, will look to move to the top of the conference standings. A-B, which returns seven from last year's team, will have to overtake defending champion Iola-Scandinavia and fight off Tigerton, Bowler, Port Edwards and Plainfield Tri-County for the CWC crown. "I think we'll be very competitive with a chance to win conference," A-B coach Curt Lamb said. "I think our pitching and catching will be solid. I think the offense is good enough to score enough runs but it depends on how some of the younger kids step up and play defense." First-team all-conference catcher Andrea Cummings, a junior, returns with pitcher Emily Getzloff, a junior, to comprise A-B's battery mates. Getzloff pitched as a freshman and was the team's top hurler last season. In the infield, senior first baseman Amber Glodowski, sophomore Courtney Newby and shortstop Sarah Berry are back. Senior left fielder Krista Cummings and sophomore center fielder Mandi Trzinski return in the outfield. Newcomers include seniors Tabitha Sawyer (third baseman/pitcher) and Amy Sawyer (outfield); juniors Natasha Russell (third baseman) and Kim Koch (outfield); sophomores Jamie Warzynski (infield) and Amanda Lemke (first base); and freshman Christyn Johnson (outfield). Along the way, the Eagles will have to try and replace all-conference catcher Tarrah Pagel, all-conference third baseman Olaya Benavides and Patricia Kraft. Rosholt A new coach hopes to bring a winning attitude to the Hornets, who finished 0-15 last season and have won just six games in the last five years. "We're looking at this year as a fresh start, new coach Steve Schoofs said. "We have no where to go but up. "We're not looking ahead, we're not looking to set the world on fire. We're looking for the first win. Once you break the ice, it's easier to do the second time around." Rosholt has six returning starters back from last season, including sophomore pitcher Emily Steines. In the infield, senior Amber Kostuch will handle first base, junior Megan Skornia will play second base and senior Jen Kosmalski will be the shortstop. Returnees in the outfield are senior Brenda Krisel and junior Jen Nauman. Newcomers to the starting lineup are junior left fielder Susan Lacke, sophomore catcher Sandy Kaminski and freshman third baseman Michelle Kosmalski. Other candidates for playing time include seniors Becky Mlodik (outfield), Jesse Wilhelm (outfield); juniors Angela Kurszewski (outfield), Kimberly Mlodik (catcher); sophomores Erin O'Neil (infield), Erin Kostuch (outfield) and Kristie Kaminski (outfield). "We have a good, solid battery and good pitching," Schoofs said. "Our defense will hold us in games. "I'm worried about our hitting. We scored zero or one run in six of 15 games last year. I think we need to manufacture runs. They lost some games because they just couldn't score. We're going to have to make the plays that are there for us." Schoofs said he's happy with the way players have received the ideas of the coaching staff, which includes his assistant Dan Schoenacker. "I've been very pleased with the attitude and the effort. We'll play well together," Schoofs said. "We'll try to be tough to beat. I don't know how many we can win but we're going to be tough to beat."