Story: District previews

[R.L. Bynum]

Peninsula District

By Dave Johnson |djohnson@dailypress.com | 247-4649

THE FAVORITE

Gloucester: Pitcher Stephanie Coates alone makes the Dukes the team to beat for the fourth straight season. She is 65-7 in her career with 820 strikeouts and an ERA of 0.53. Gloucester lost some significant players but returns several experienced starters, a group headed by LF Brenna Thomas and 2B Amber Stevens.

THE OTHER CONTENDERS

Warwick: The Raiders have a terrific group of seniors headed by Travonna Byrd, Sarah Atkins and Va King.

Kecoughtan: Katie Alexander is an underrated pitcher and an excellent hitter, and she leads an experienced and powerful lineup.
Woodside: SS Kristie Hoeffer and 1B/P Gabby Andino were first-team all-district as freshmen, and they’ll only be better this year.

10 PLAYERS TO WATCH

Katie Alexander, P, Kecoughtan, Sr.; Sarah Atkins, C, Warwick, Sr.; Travonna Byrd, P, Warwick, Sr.; Stephanie Coates, P, Gloucester, Sr.; Kristie Hoeffer, SS, Woodside, So.; Va King, CF, Warwick, Sr.; Jamie Powell, SS, Bethel, Sr.; Ellie Staples, SS, Menchville, Sr.; Brenna Thomas, LF, Gloucester, Sr.; Tabby Whatley, OF/3B, Menchville, Sr.

5 GAMES TO WATCH

March 28: Gloucester at Warwick.
April 16: Warwick at Woodside.
April 18: Woodside at Gloucester.
April 30: Warwick at Gloucester.
May 7: Bethel at Woodside.

District buzz
* Both Gloucester and Warwick won their Eastern Region openers last spring but were shut out in the semifinals by Beach District teams.
* Two PD stars already have signed with a Division I college — Coates with Virginia and Byrd with Hampton.
* Tim Dragone, Menchville’s JV coach the last few years, is taking over for Lisa Molineaux. He inherits a team that went 9-11 season.
* One of the most improved players in the district might be 1B Courtney Manning of Heritage, who struggled early last year but is now batting cleanup for the Hurricanes.
* Phoebus didn’t make the six-team PD tournament last year, but with eight returning starters, five of whom are seniors, this could be the Phantoms’ season.

* Woodside’s Kristie Hoeffer started at least four games at all four infield positions last year. No wonder she made the Daily Press All-Star team at utility.


Bay Rivers District

By Dave Johnson |djohnson@dailypress.com | 247-4649

THE FAVORITE

New Kent: Pitching wins championships, and the Trojans have one of the best in Becca Mills. By winning 25 of 29 decisions, she pitched New Kent all the way to the state championship game. She finished with an 0.46 ERA. Her battery-mate, C Laura Bauer, is also back.

THE OTHER CONTENDERS

Poquoson: The Islanders lost P Birdy Evans and have a new head coach, but there’s still plenty of firepower left in the lineup.

Tabb: The Tigers have only four seniors, but they do return an experienced battery in P Danielle Gleason and Michaela Munday.

Grafton: The Clippers were hit by key losses, including their leadoff hitter, but Vanessa Young’s team still has C Stefanie Poates.

10 PLAYERS TO WATCH

Laura Bauer, C, New Kent, Sr; Jenny Carroll, P, Lafayette, Jr.; Catherine Clavin, OF, Poquoson, So.; Kristen Dudney, CF/P, Smithfield, Sr.; Jennifer Falin, SS/P, Bruton, Sr.; Becca Mills, P, New Kent, Sr.; Stefanie Poates, C, Grafton, Jr.; Ashley Prosper, P, York, Sr.; Taylor Walker, 2B, Poquoson, Sr.; Emily Wright, IF, Tabb, Sr.

5 GAMES TO WATCH

March 21: New Kent at Poquoson.
April 1: Grafton at Tabb.
April 15: Lafayette at Grafton.
April 19: New Kent at Tabb
May 9: Poquoson at Lafayette.

District buzz
* In its first year of competition, Warhill has a roster filled with freshmen and sophomores. Head coach Dave Gabeler’s team will be overmatched, but you never know …
* Smithfield is starting a promising freshman on the mound in Alora Lincoln, who allowed no runs through five innings in her debut against Lakeland.
* One of the top players in the district could be York outfielder Stephanie Olsen — if she stays healthy. Injuries have interrupted her sophomore and junior seasons.
* Taking over for Todd Bowden at Poquoson is Colleen Duman, a former Islanders assistant and all-Bay Rivers District outfielder in 2001.
* After making second-team all-district in the infield as a sophomore, Lafayette’s Jenny Carroll will move to the mound to replace Katie Bruce.
* Bruton’s Jennifer Falin, also a basketball standout, had an on-base percentage of .528 last season.

[Will Gibbs]

Sophomore Catherine Clavine of Poquoson, had a homerun against Warhill Friday, what a force she will be this year.

[softball911]

Looks like some players have moved from their primary postion from the previous years. Staples to shortstop for Menchville and Atkins to catcher for Warwick. Those are big moves especially for Atkins to go behind the plate. I would like to add one thing. Of the top 10 players to watch in the PD 9 are seniors. They are some of the areas top high school softball players from the PD in history and I think they are all headed to play at the college level. It doesn`t matter if it`s D1, D2, D3, Junior college.You earned it and your going to get a great education and play softball at the same time.Congratulations to you all and I hope you have a terrific senior season. I don`t care who you play for. I`m rooting right now for all of you.

PD games to watch. Just wondering why Kecoughtan was not included in any of these games?
If you look at the master PD schedule that Lynn Burke posted I would think that the game between Kecoughtan and Warwick on opening day next week would be in this list.Others included for Kecoughtan vs Woodside, Gloucester, Menchville, Phoebus . At least one of their games.

[Hawkeye06]

please tell me this isn' t it for the preview... hopefully there will be more in the paper tommorrow. I look forward to the team Capsules etc.

[GoingGoingGone]

"5 GAMES TO WATCH

March 21: New Kent at Poquoson.
April 1: Grafton at Tabb.
April 15: Lafayette at Grafton.
April 19: New Kent at Tabb
May 9: Poquoson at Lafayette."


On Poquoson's softball schedule online, it says the New Kent at Poquoson game is on Thursday, March 20th. Can anyone confirm which date is the correct one?

[Hawkeye06]

I guess that is it for the previews...Whats going on Daily press, did you guys forget about the previews until the last minute and then threw it together? is this a product of funding cuts, or maybe high school sports gets pushed back due to the march madness or is it a product of being lazy? . I mean in past years and other in other sports (football basketball) there were top new returners listed, New comers listed the schedule , interviews with coaches about there team. Jeez that article looked like a summary of the posts in the forums. and an article that told use exactly what we all know about Miss Coates. Could we please step it up a bit. the girls and guys(baseball) deserve better, especially seeing what has been published before. Maybe next year you guys could have the individual high school journalism classes come up with team profiles and players to watch, it would save you guys a ton of work and give the kids something to put in there resumes. just a thought.

[Will Gibbs]

On Poquoson's softball schedule online, it says the New Kent at Poquoson game is on Thursday, March 20th. Can anyone confirm which date is the correct one

March 20: New Kent at Poquoson. 4:30 pm

Yes I agree, that was a sad preview. Typical DP, they get worse every year. :confused:

I watched the Poquoson/Warhill game Friday, I see Kelly Halversons name was not mentioned going 4 for 4.

Any Grafton fans know why Kinsley Seward is not pitching?

[All about Ball]

Agreed, I was truely disappointed with the DP's District Previews. They were pretty lame. I'm sure a lot of players were saddened when they read the 2008 softball previews. This is the last year for quiet a few talented seniors in both the PD and BRD and is this all they get?

Well, atleast you made one softball player happy with all of her coverage. " One out of how many?.....hmmm".

[softball911]

On Poquoson's softball schedule online, it says the New Kent at Poquoson game is on Thursday, March 20th. Can anyone confirm which date is the correct one

March 20: New Kent at Poquoson. 4:30 pm

Yes I agree, that was a sad preview. Typical DP, they get worse every year. :confused:

I watched the Poquoson/Warhill game Friday, I see Kelly Halversons name was not mentioned going 4 for 4.

Any Grafton fans know why Kinsley Seward is not pitching?
I`m sorry mr. umpire and I don`t mean anything against Poquoson. But did you not see the review for the BRD. Warwhill will be overmatched and wasn`t the score between Warwhill and Poquoson something like 27-0? Come on now I`m sure there were alot of standouts more than they could mentioned.. There will probably be more lopsided games for Warwhill . Give them a break and stop rubbing it in.They`ll come around. And maybe next time your girl if she should have a good game will get her name in the stats. But the DP only puts in there what the coaches tell them to.4 for 4 definitely should be mentioned maybe it was a overlook.I don`t think Kinsley Seward is playing this year.

[Will Gibbs]

I`m sorry mr. umpire and I don`t mean anything against Poquoson. But did you not see the review for the BRD. Warwhill will be overmatched and wasn`t the score between Warwhill and Poquoson something like 27-0? Come on now I`m sure there were alot of standouts more than they could mentioned.. There will probably be more lopsided games for Warwhill . Give them a break and stop rubbing it in.They`ll come around. And maybe next time your girl if she should have a good game will get her name in the stats. But the DP only puts in there what the coaches tell them to.4 for 4 definitely should be mentioned maybe it was a overlook.I don`t think Kinsley Seward is playing this year.

My kids have long graduated, but I'm sure you would like to see your name mentioned, if you went 4 for 4.

[Bythenumbers]

Ok I am going to try and be as politically correct as I can here:This was a pathetic softball preview for the Bay Rivers district .Alot of players came to mind from several teams that were once again left out as they allways are on the all district voting.Let us start with New Kent :Timberlake,Jones and Fleming ???????????How about Poquoson:Their pitcher Gibb,Halverson,Turner,and Putnam.Grafton:Their pitcher Turcotte,Howell,Bullard .York: senoirs including Ashleigh Steele,Courtney Williamson,and Amanda Lucker. Bruton only has Falin I guess? what about their second team catcher?Lafayette just one player? and what about Smithfield?Just Dudney?Lol this is a disgrace!I can't wait for the all district voting that is allways good for a laugh also.I may be wrong but it seems that the reporter clearly has a few parent coaches and certain travel coaches that he talks to and gets this bogus players to watch list!Well time to get out those scorebooks and start turning those errors into hits to pad those .750 batting averages:lol:

[twiceasnice757]

I can assure you those 08' basketball and football previews won't resemble the softball. Sad but true.

[Hawkeye06]

very sad but true!!! shoot last years preview was an insert all about local football... i know football brings in the money,being a crabber supporter i understand how things go, i'm not asking for an insert or anything just key returners and newcomers maybe a coach interview or two.

[softball93]

Yes this was a sorry review I agree. I do however fail to see where the DP's sorry review has anything to do with :focus:inflated batting averages, honestly some of you need to get over yourselves. There were some Key players left out of both districts and some questionable ones put in. If this is who the DP predicts to be the top 10 players in both districts then they to come see some games. I really do not think the BHS vs WoHS is one of the top 10 games this year. That really showed their ignorance of the game in this area. Next years Football and basketball reviews will be full pages devoted to each district maybe even full pages devoted to single teams. They even left out the "A" teams and the private schools. They still have softball and baseball and soccer and track right? Didn't I see in the paper where Hampton Christian beat a PD team with a Freshman pitcher in baseball.

[softball911]

I`m sorry mr. umpire and I don`t mean anything against Poquoson. But did you not see the review for the BRD. Warwhill will be overmatched and wasn`t the score between Warwhill and Poquoson something like 27-0? Come on now I`m sure there were alot of standouts more than they could mentioned.. There will probably be more lopsided games for Warwhill . Give them a break and stop rubbing it in.They`ll come around. And maybe next time your girl if she should have a good game will get her name in the stats. But the DP only puts in there what the coaches tell them to.4 for 4 definitely should be mentioned maybe it was a overlook.I don`t think Kinsley Seward is playing this year.


My kids have long graduated, but I'm sure you would like to see your name mentioned, if you went 4 for 4.
Yea your right I would but I`ve been on both ends . A really bad team and a realy good team. And when those girls playing for Warhill start to contine to get beat like that and they will get better as the season goes on the teams that run the score up like that. Well just say that it is wrong and those coaches should have better class.

[softball911]

very sad but true!!! shoot last years preview was an insert all about local football... i know football brings in the money,being a crabber supporter i understand how things go, i'm not asking for an insert or anything just key returners and newcomers maybe a coach interview or two.

Ok it was not the greatest spring sports preview. But that is just the way it is. We spring sport parents should be used to that by now.But instead of posting negative comments why don`t we just ask the the DP why was the preview shortened even more so this year. I`ll start a thread and see if anyone responds.

[Will Gibbs]

quote=softball911 Yea your right I would but I`ve been on both ends . A really bad team and a realy good team. And when those girls playing for Warhill start to contine to get beat like that and they will get better as the season goes on the teams that run the score up like that. Well just say that it is wrong and those coaches should have better class.[/quote]

I will agree on that, I'm just glad that they pulled the starting pitcher after 3 innings.

[softball93]

When you get to all district voting all anyone wants to hear about are statisticts. Because things are the way they are those are the games the players need to pad their stats. If the other teams want to compete they will get better or they will get destroyed. I do not see girls basketball or football easing up in any district. That is why we have a slaughter rule and a running clock. Get better or get beat.

[softball93]

I wonder if GHS will up 100 against Hampton?

[softball911]

I wonder if GHS will up 100 against Hampton?
Please explain. I don`t see this happening. Are you saying GHS 100 Hampton 0 Hampton will do better on defense than that and I don`t see GHS scoring a lot of runs this year. They will rely more on their pitching more than they have had to before.

[softball93]

The 100 was merely a joke based on the score in girls basketball this year.:lol:

[softball911]

The 100 was merely a joke based on the score in girls basketball this year.:lol:
O.K. Thank you. Based on your posts I didn`t think you meant anything mean about it. Thanks.