Lynn Burke
03-16-2007, 03:23 PM
PD SOFTBALL FAVORITE: GLOUCESTER
By Dave Johnson (djohnson@dailypress.com) | 247-4649
Listed in predicted order of finish.
If you’re talking Peninsula District softball, you’re talking Gloucester once again at the top of the heap.
The Dukes rolled along last year until a disappointing 7-2 loss at Princess Anne in the Eastern Region quarterfinals.
Warwick, which showcased some young potential stars a couple years ago, has matured into a formidable contender. The Raiders have won 34 games over the past two years, and they don’t show any apparent signs of slowing down. But do they have enough fire power to turn the PD into an interesting race?
1. GLOUCESTER
COACH: Red Lindsay.
LAST YEAR: 22-1, 17-0 district.
OUTLOOK: The return of junior pitcher Stephanie Coates (44-4 over the past two seasons) alone makes Gloucester the team to beat. Five other starters are back, including first baseman Taylor Saulman and center fielder Samantha Johnson. Still, Lindsay alsowill have to rely on three freshmen. Warwick will present a strong challenge, and Bethel should be improved. Still, it would be hard to handicap the PD race and not list Gloucester at the top.
2. WARWICK
COACH: Jimmy Dawson.
LAST YEAR: 15-3, 15-4.
OUTLOOK: The key loss is Liz Yohn at shortstop, but Warwick has plenty of talent returning. Juniors Sarah Atkins and Tra Byrd make up a solid one-two punch on the mound. When one is pitching, the other plays second base. Also returning are senior catcher Erica Ward, junior first baseman Chelsea Dawson, senior third baseman Ashley Trumble and junior center fielder Va King.
3. BETHEL
COACH: Larry Estep.
LAST YEAR: 11-7, 11-7.
OUTLOOK: There might not be a team in the district as experienced as the Bruins, who return five seniors and two juniors in the starting lineup. Taking over from Janie Stokes on the mound will be Jenna Ryan, a part-time starter last year. Senior Brittany Hicks was a first-team all-district pick at center field. Also back are seniors Gabriella Gonzalez (catcher), Lauren Fraser (second base) and Julianne Pai (outfielder). “Our strength,” Estep said, “should be our seniors and defense.”
4. MENCHVILLE
COACH: Lisa Molineaux.
LAST YEAR: 15-7, 12-5.
OUTLOOK: The Monarchs finished as PD tournament runner-up and made it to the Eastern Region tournament, but they exited quickly with a 12-1 loss to Kempsville. Molineaux likes the group of returning players she has, led by pitcher Kelsie Woods, second baseman Andrea Gray and outfielder Jessica Nightingale, all seniors. Gray was a first-team all-district pick last season. Molineaux says her team “should be contenders for the middle of the pack.”
5. WOODSIDE
COACH: Mike Tallon.
LAST YEAR: 8-10, 8-10.
OUTLOOK: Once a perennial power in this district, the Wolverines didn’t make the tournament last season. Tallon is hopeful that with a combination of experienced players and quality newcomers, the program can make a move. The best returning player is senior shortstop Daisy Estevez, a starter since her freshman year. Tallon also likes first baseman/pitcher Gabbie Adino and middle infielder Christie Hoeffer, whom he calls his team’s best freshmen since Micki Rodriguez and Jen Nuzzo.
6. KECOUGHTAN
COACH: Mark Christman.
LAST YEAR: 10-8, 10-10.
OUTLOOK: The Warriors are one of the youngest teams in the Peninsula District, with no seniors on the roster. But Christman hopes his team can make up for that with two essential ingredients: speed and power. Junior pitcher Katie Alexander batted .437 last season to lead Kecoughtan. Other tough outs: Third baseman Revonda Daily (.328), a second-team all-Peninsula pick; junior first baseman Amber Plair (.343); sophomore shortstop Samantha Dail (.300) and sophomore catcher Maureen Loughran ( .300).
7. PHOEBUS
COACH: Deonna Brown.
LAST YEAR: 9-8, 9-8.
OUTLOOK: The Phantoms made impressive strides last season, so much so that Brown was chosen the district’s coach of the year. But there are key losses — battery mates Sarah Ward and Rebecca Barnes heading that list. Brown doesn’t have a senior on the roster, which means she’ll be depending on a bunch of youngsters to develop quickly. She’ll be depending on infielders Tiffany Fargis, Amelia Bane, Steph Mode and Kristin Walters to carry much of the load.
8. HERITAGE
COACH: John Crocker.
LAST YEAR: 4-14, 4-14.
OUTLOOK: The Hurricanes’ best player last season, pitcher Marlene Harding, is now at Norfolk State. So Crocker will have to regroup with a young roster that includes only one senior. “We have a lot of young, raw talent,” he said. “We have talented players at nearly every position, but we lack the savvy and seasoning that comes with game experience.” Among Heritage’s top veterans are junior outfielder Asia Boggs, sophomore pitcher/catcher Sarah Davidson and junior second baseman Lauren Miller.
9. HAMPTON
COACH: Judy Lucas.
LAST YEAR: 2-15, 2-15.
OUTLOOK: The Crabbers weren’t much of a factor last season, but Lucas is hoping several returning players — and a promising newcomer — can make a difference. All four infielders return, led by junior shortstop Courtney Travis (.429) and third baseman Kelsey Owens (.310). But Lucas is excited about freshman Melanie Graham, who played on the JV team as an eighth grader. Hampton also welcomes back two veteran pitchers in Sarah Roby and Shayla Carrales.
10. DENBIGH
COACH: Sam Kirby.
LAST YEAR: 0-18, 0-18.
OUTLOOK: Things can only go up, and Kirby hopes that some experienced returnees can mean improvement. Leading the group will be left fielder Iiesha Ricks and third baseman Shanickqua Ballard, both seniors. He’s also counting on newcomers Lisetta Mojica (sophomore outfielder) and Rachel Gostomski (freshman shortstop). “The defense will be much better because of experience,” Kirby said. He’s also counting on an increased “understanding of softball.”
By Dave Johnson (djohnson@dailypress.com) | 247-4649
Listed in predicted order of finish.
If you’re talking Peninsula District softball, you’re talking Gloucester once again at the top of the heap.
The Dukes rolled along last year until a disappointing 7-2 loss at Princess Anne in the Eastern Region quarterfinals.
Warwick, which showcased some young potential stars a couple years ago, has matured into a formidable contender. The Raiders have won 34 games over the past two years, and they don’t show any apparent signs of slowing down. But do they have enough fire power to turn the PD into an interesting race?
1. GLOUCESTER
COACH: Red Lindsay.
LAST YEAR: 22-1, 17-0 district.
OUTLOOK: The return of junior pitcher Stephanie Coates (44-4 over the past two seasons) alone makes Gloucester the team to beat. Five other starters are back, including first baseman Taylor Saulman and center fielder Samantha Johnson. Still, Lindsay alsowill have to rely on three freshmen. Warwick will present a strong challenge, and Bethel should be improved. Still, it would be hard to handicap the PD race and not list Gloucester at the top.
2. WARWICK
COACH: Jimmy Dawson.
LAST YEAR: 15-3, 15-4.
OUTLOOK: The key loss is Liz Yohn at shortstop, but Warwick has plenty of talent returning. Juniors Sarah Atkins and Tra Byrd make up a solid one-two punch on the mound. When one is pitching, the other plays second base. Also returning are senior catcher Erica Ward, junior first baseman Chelsea Dawson, senior third baseman Ashley Trumble and junior center fielder Va King.
3. BETHEL
COACH: Larry Estep.
LAST YEAR: 11-7, 11-7.
OUTLOOK: There might not be a team in the district as experienced as the Bruins, who return five seniors and two juniors in the starting lineup. Taking over from Janie Stokes on the mound will be Jenna Ryan, a part-time starter last year. Senior Brittany Hicks was a first-team all-district pick at center field. Also back are seniors Gabriella Gonzalez (catcher), Lauren Fraser (second base) and Julianne Pai (outfielder). “Our strength,” Estep said, “should be our seniors and defense.”
4. MENCHVILLE
COACH: Lisa Molineaux.
LAST YEAR: 15-7, 12-5.
OUTLOOK: The Monarchs finished as PD tournament runner-up and made it to the Eastern Region tournament, but they exited quickly with a 12-1 loss to Kempsville. Molineaux likes the group of returning players she has, led by pitcher Kelsie Woods, second baseman Andrea Gray and outfielder Jessica Nightingale, all seniors. Gray was a first-team all-district pick last season. Molineaux says her team “should be contenders for the middle of the pack.”
5. WOODSIDE
COACH: Mike Tallon.
LAST YEAR: 8-10, 8-10.
OUTLOOK: Once a perennial power in this district, the Wolverines didn’t make the tournament last season. Tallon is hopeful that with a combination of experienced players and quality newcomers, the program can make a move. The best returning player is senior shortstop Daisy Estevez, a starter since her freshman year. Tallon also likes first baseman/pitcher Gabbie Adino and middle infielder Christie Hoeffer, whom he calls his team’s best freshmen since Micki Rodriguez and Jen Nuzzo.
6. KECOUGHTAN
COACH: Mark Christman.
LAST YEAR: 10-8, 10-10.
OUTLOOK: The Warriors are one of the youngest teams in the Peninsula District, with no seniors on the roster. But Christman hopes his team can make up for that with two essential ingredients: speed and power. Junior pitcher Katie Alexander batted .437 last season to lead Kecoughtan. Other tough outs: Third baseman Revonda Daily (.328), a second-team all-Peninsula pick; junior first baseman Amber Plair (.343); sophomore shortstop Samantha Dail (.300) and sophomore catcher Maureen Loughran ( .300).
7. PHOEBUS
COACH: Deonna Brown.
LAST YEAR: 9-8, 9-8.
OUTLOOK: The Phantoms made impressive strides last season, so much so that Brown was chosen the district’s coach of the year. But there are key losses — battery mates Sarah Ward and Rebecca Barnes heading that list. Brown doesn’t have a senior on the roster, which means she’ll be depending on a bunch of youngsters to develop quickly. She’ll be depending on infielders Tiffany Fargis, Amelia Bane, Steph Mode and Kristin Walters to carry much of the load.
8. HERITAGE
COACH: John Crocker.
LAST YEAR: 4-14, 4-14.
OUTLOOK: The Hurricanes’ best player last season, pitcher Marlene Harding, is now at Norfolk State. So Crocker will have to regroup with a young roster that includes only one senior. “We have a lot of young, raw talent,” he said. “We have talented players at nearly every position, but we lack the savvy and seasoning that comes with game experience.” Among Heritage’s top veterans are junior outfielder Asia Boggs, sophomore pitcher/catcher Sarah Davidson and junior second baseman Lauren Miller.
9. HAMPTON
COACH: Judy Lucas.
LAST YEAR: 2-15, 2-15.
OUTLOOK: The Crabbers weren’t much of a factor last season, but Lucas is hoping several returning players — and a promising newcomer — can make a difference. All four infielders return, led by junior shortstop Courtney Travis (.429) and third baseman Kelsey Owens (.310). But Lucas is excited about freshman Melanie Graham, who played on the JV team as an eighth grader. Hampton also welcomes back two veteran pitchers in Sarah Roby and Shayla Carrales.
10. DENBIGH
COACH: Sam Kirby.
LAST YEAR: 0-18, 0-18.
OUTLOOK: Things can only go up, and Kirby hopes that some experienced returnees can mean improvement. Leading the group will be left fielder Iiesha Ricks and third baseman Shanickqua Ballard, both seniors. He’s also counting on newcomers Lisetta Mojica (sophomore outfielder) and Rachel Gostomski (freshman shortstop). “The defense will be much better because of experience,” Kirby said. He’s also counting on an increased “understanding of softball.”