Softball preview: Greater Spokane League team capsules and league notebooks
Mt. Spokane
Coach: Carl Adams, 18th season (212-187-1)
2017 record/finish: 21-6, 15-3; second in GSL
Starters graduated/returning: 4/5
Key departures: 1B Hannah Bell (1st-team all-GSL), CF Kyla Stern (1st-team all-GSL), SS Makenzie Funk (1st-team all-GSL), 3B Riley Barns (hon. mention).
Key returners: P/OF Jesse Dupuis, sr. (1st team all-GSL), OF/SS Brittney Coladonato, jr. (2nd team all-GSL), Hannah Madsen, sr. (hon. mention).
Key newcomers: None.
Outlook: Strong in the circle. Dupuis leads the three-player pitching rotation. The Wildcats will rely on their newcomers to step up on offense to keep the team competitive.
Gonzaga Prep
Coach: Jill Benson, third season
2017 record/finish: 6-15; eighth in GSL
Starters graduated/returning: 3/7
Key departures: OF Arianna Daniels, CF Julieanne Young.
Key returners: C/IF Maddy DeMarco, sr. (2nd-team all-GSL), IF Sarah Tweedy, sr., P/IF/OF Jadyn Raley Jones, So., IF Josie Kobluk, jr., OF/IF Genevieve Hose jr., OF Dallas Young, so., OF Gracie Cunneely, sr.
Key newcomers: C/OF Maddie Murphy, fr., C/IF Grace Ducharme, fr.
Outlook: Strength is in a key group of returning starters that brings varsity-level experience. Will need to make some improvements to fielding and strengthen hitting to stay competitive all season.
Mead
Coach: Tiffany Casedy, first season
2017 record/finish: 12-12; sixth in GSL
Starters graduated/returning: 4/5
Key departures: None.
Key returners: SS Ciara Hardin, sr., OF Carolyn Wendel, sr., C/3B Sadie Bocook, jr., 3B/SS Destiny Scott, jr., P/2B Peyton Cushner, so.
Key newcomers: P/3B/1B Amanda Grimes, jr., C/OF Tori Veter, fr.
Outlook: Defense will keep the Panthers in games. Will need to perform well at the plate to finish high in the standings.
Central Valley
Coach: Joe Stanton, seventh season
2017 record/finish: 16-7; fourth in GSL
Starters graduated/returning: 6/4
Key departures: CF Elise Peck, SS Jordan Schneidmiller, C Macie Reynolds (2nd-team all-GSL).
Key returners: P Kelsey Gumm, sr. (1st-team all-GSL), 1B Hannah Wampler, sr. (1st-team all-GSL).
Key newcomers: C Jordan Williams, sr.
Outlook: Pitchers and defense will lead the team. Will need to make some improvements at the plate this season.
Shadle Park
Coach: Guy Perham
2017 record/finish: 15-3, 18-5; second in GSL
Starters graduated/returning: 4/5
Key departures: P Jaya Allen (1st-team all-GSL).
Key Returners: C/P Meghan Keenan, jr. (1st-team all-GSL), SS/OF Skyla Mangis, sr. (1st-team all-GSL).
Ferris
Coach: Jimmy Day, second season (1-19)
2017 record/finish: 1-19; 10th in GSL
Starters graduated/returning: 2/5
Key departures: None.
Key returners: IF Jailyn Strauss, jr. (hon. mention).
Key newcomers: P/OF Katie Strauss, fr., P/1B Brooke Lambert, jr.
Outlook: Position players bring some varsity experience. Will need time to work with pitching newcomers Strauss and Lambert, who could add some strength to the circle.
University
Coach: John Schuh, 19th season (389-120-1)
2017 record/finish: 19-4; eighth in GSL
Starters graduated/returning: 2/7
Key departures: P Kirsten Anstrom (1st-team all-GSL), CF Alex Surby (1st-team all-GSL).
Key returners: 3B Gracee Dwyer, sr. (1st-team all-GSL), SS Makayla Marshall, jr. (1st-team all-GSL), C Hannah Click, sr. (1st-team all-GSL), 2B Sierra Apodaca, sr. (1st-team all-GSL), OF/DP/1B Courtney Awbery, sr. (2nd-team all-GSL), 1B Brianna Hecker, sr. (2nd-team all-GSL).
Key newcomers: C/3B/UTL Alyssa Benthagen, jr.
Outlook: Team will do well on defense and at the plate. Concerns will be at the circle where the Titans have little varsity experience after losing starting pitcher Anstrom to graduation. Senior leadership and experience is expected to ease the load on pitchers.
North Central
Coach: Chris Lester
2017 record/finish: 2-16, 2-18; ninth in GSL
Key returners: C Paula Pintler, sr. (1st-team all-GSL), INF Harmony Bay, sr. (2nd-team all-GSL), INF/P Maddy Patterson, sr.
Key newcomers: INF Lexi Atchley, so., INF Gabby Mason, so.
Lewis and Clark
Coach: Paul Neff, 11th season
2017 record/finish: 9-9, 12-10; fifth in GSL
Starters graduated/returning: 5/4
Key departures: OF Allison Harvey, C Savannah McConnell
Key returners: P/OF Taylor John, sr., C Peris Oschner, sr., SS Jasmine Ereaux, so., P/OF Kylie Pester, so.
Key newcomers: None.
Outlook: Two strong pitchers will lead the team, including John, who committed to Community Colleges of Spokane next season. Tigers are young this year but should do well behind strong pitching and senior leadership.
Rogers
Coach: Cris Coffield (142-198)
2017 record/finish: 5-12; seventh in GSL
Starters graduated/returning: 2/7
Key departures: P Cassandra Shaw (hon. mention).
Key returners: SS Gracie Olsen, sr. (1st-team all-GSL), P/1B Macey Finch, sr. (hon. mention).
Key Newcomers: 1B Jaelynn Proctor, fr., 2B Gabrielle Rickman, jr.
Outlook: Pirates will struggle with depth in the circle. Finch will take on most of the pitching load after Shaw transferred to Deer Park for her final season. Pirates must tighten up defense to limit team errors and get the ball in play more frequently than last year.
Great Northern League
East Valley (8-11, 5-7) lost three starters to graduation – OF Lacea Gorman, 3B Kylie Plopper and C/1B Georgia Robinson, who was first-team all-league in 2016 and to second-team all-league last year. The Knights return six starters to help Mark Johnson in his second year as head coach, including three all-league players – SS/P Abby Brake (jr.), C/1B Katie Harvey (so.) and OF/IF Madrona Beitz (sr.). … Seniors P Kylie Yoshikawa and SS Kelsey Nestegard will help lead Pullman (8-14, 3-9) to better confidence on the field. Eighth-year head coach Tara Biggs lost first-team all-league players P Desi Tennant, UTL Halley Ghigleri and OF Kenzie Druffel to graduation but will have four returning starters. … Coach Paul Cooley’s defending regular-season champion West Valley (11-1) lost just one starter and returned six starters and 12 lettermen to this season’s roster. The Eagles welcome back eight all-league players, including former league MVP junior 1B Maddie Thompson. West Valley will have to make adjustments inside the circle after losing first-team all-league P Jocelyn Taylor to graduation. The team will turn to junior India Wells to lead a three-pitcher rotation, which includes newcomer Zoe Simpson. … Cheney (17-6) lost two starters – first-team all-league SS Rachel Barsness and 2B Kara Johnstone, who transferred. Last season’s district championship team will return seven starters, including senior Maddie Kallsen, who will lead the Blackhawks inside the circle. After working through a young roster for the last three seasons, head coach Gary Blake will have a team of predominately upperclassmen. Cheney will thrive behind its strong bats, but the Blackhawks will need to improve pitching and overall defense to remain competitive. … Clarkston will have one all-league player returning to the roster this season – INF Mikayla Hill (jr.).
Northeast A
Chewelah (19-9) finished fifth in state last year for 15th-year coach Tom Skok. The Cougars have little rebuilding to do this season as they lost no starters to graduation. They return all 10 of their starters, including first-team all-league players OF Madison Kaler (jr.) and P Jaelynn Skok (sr.), who was named to first-team all-state last season. … Sisters and first-team all-leaguers SS Payton Erickson and OF Oliveah Erickson are two of eight returning to defending district champion Deer Park (15-7, 9-4). The Stags lost only starting 1B Tina Carlson to graduation and welcome senior P/1B Cassandra Shaw. Shaw, the daughter of first-year head coach Dana Shaw, transferred from Rogers and is a three-time all-GSL honorable mention. Deer Park is expected to thrive at the plate after the team hit better than .400 last season and will be strong in the circle behind Shaw and returning sophomore Jaylee Lane. Challenges will arise in the field and the team will have to limit defensive errors to finish high in the standings and return to the state tournament for a second consecutive season. … Freeman (6-13) brought back six starters, including first-team all-leaguer CF Hannah Brock (jr.). The Scotties will rely on their senior in the circle, Hanna Hanson, and a handful of juniors to lead a team that returns just seven players from last year. … Three first-team all-leaguers returns to defending regular-season champion Lakeside (22-6, 13-1) – 1B/DP/C Olivia Charbonneau (so.), P Shelby Claassen (sr.) and 3B Katelynn Clark (sr.). The Eagles finished fourth at state last year under the leadership of Chuck Moffatt, who is in his 16th season as head coach. Lakeside, which lost only two starters to graduation – C Kaitlyn Kinzel and OF Sam Padayao – will thrive behind a solid defense and three-player rotation in the circle. … Medical Lake (9-9) will have some rebuilding to do this season after losing six starters to graduation, including first-team all-league selections 1B Sarah Mayer and CF Taylor Pavao. Head coach Tim Blakely, who is in his seventh season, returns four starters and five players from last season’s team. Senior Taylor Carpenter, who committed to Division II Chatham University in Pittsburgh, will lead the Cardinals in the circle after missing last season with a knee injury. … Newport lost one starter from last season’s team – P/IF Stormy Anderson. Tenth-year coach Randy Wyrobek will have six returning upperclassmen on the roster and variety of newcomers, including starters IF Ashley Cox (so.), C Teja Bradbury (fr.) and OF Hailey Eggliston (sr.), who transferred from Riverside. … Coach Howard Reisenauer returns six starters from last year’s team at Riverside (2-16). Senior Marrisa Manning will lead the Rams in the circle. Riverside also has two key newcomers up from JV – 3B Rhianna Wood (sr.) and SS/3B/P Taylor Dickerson (so.). … Colville (18-6, 9-4) is looking for a return to the State 1A tournament after making it to the semifinals last season. Seniors P/INF Rylee Merritt and INF Kaitlyn Petrey return for coach Jim Ebel.
Northeast 2B
Coach Elesha Johnson led Davenport to a 12-10 record in her first season as head coach last year. Johnson lost four starters to graduation and returned 10 players from last year’s team, including starters P/SS Sydney Zeiler (jr.), C Macie Hopkins (so.) and LF Brynna Hopkins (jr.). CF Sydney Abbot (sr.), who took last season off, and 3B/IF Rylee Crosby (sr.), who moved back to Davenport, will bring some needed experience and seniority to a young roster. … Coach Renee Stewart’s returning district champion Northwest Christian (27-2) will return six starters from last year’s team that finished fourth at state. Senior pitcher and league MVP Mattea Nelson returns to the circle this season. The Crusaders have four upperclassmen back on the roster, including first-team all-leaguers C Amree Tibbetts (jr.) and 1B Jordan Rabe (jr.). … First-team all-league players SS Tessa O’Brien (sr.) and C Lacey Miller (jr.) return to the NE 2B South Division defending regular-season champion Lind/Ritzville/Sprague (13-8, 9-1). Fourth-year head coach Todd O’Brien will have an experienced roster of seven returning upperclassmen, including six seniors. LRS will have two more seniors who are new to the program – 3B/OF Kristen Miller and P Hailey Akers. Both moved from Kahlotus. … First-year head coach John Stephens will have a young team to lead at Liberty (9-13) this season. The Lancers return five players from last year, but all are starters. Junior Cheyanne Gleave will have much of the load on her shoulders as the team’s starting pitcher. … First team all-league CF Ali Trenkle (jr.) returns to the Kettle Falls roster this season. … Colfax will have a strong battery with returning seniors P Abbie Miller and C Chelsea Baker, who were both named to the all-league first team last season. … All-leaguers C Macy Mullins (jr.) and 2B Kinsie Miller (jr.) will are back in the roster at Asotin. The Panthers are looking for a second consecutive appearance at the State 2B tournament after falling in the first round last year.
Small schools
Cusick returns nine starters and 10 players total. Head coach Monica Allen, who is in her sixth year as head coach, will have eight newcomers this season, including senior P/SS Sierra Chantry, who transferred from Selkirk. … Inchelium (17-6) lost two to graduation but will return six starters to the roster. The team is fairly young this year. OF/1B Joelle Boyd is the only returning senior who will start this season. The Hornets will rely on last season’s league MVP P Meika Heath (jr.) to carry the load in the circle. … Pomeroy has some young talent back on the team this season. Returning sophomore Heidi Heytvelt and freshman Emma Severs were named all-league first team last season. … Colton lost three key starters to graduation – Kendyl Druffel, Emma Schultheis, and Daylinn Smith – and returns all-leaguer Emily Schultheis (jr.).
Idaho
Inland Empire 5A: Lake City (24-4) is looking for another run at state after the Timberwolves finished second at the 5A State tournament last season. Fourth-year coach Jesse Lenz has eight starters returning this year and lost only first-team all-leaguer 1B Bailey Cavanagh. Lake City boast three college signees – league co-MVP SS Haley Loffer (sr.) and first-team all-league pitcher Ashley Kaufman (jr.) are headed to the College of Idaho and first-team all-league infielder Reilley Chapman (jr.), is committed to Montana. Last season’s league newcomer of the year C Olivia Zufelt (jr.) also returns. … First-year coach Holly Gleaves will have plenty of experience at Post Falls. Three first-team all-leaguers return – C Ally Morris (sr.), P Amanda Rouse (sr.) and SS Bailey “Bubba” Gleaves (jr.), who has committed to Division I Columbia. Four seniors and four juniors are returning to the roster this year. The Trojans will also have a new senior on the team this year – CF Kyndra Hans, a transfer from Reno, Nevada. Post Falls will have to rely on its pitchers, Rouse and junior Dinah Seymour, to keep the team competitive down the stretch. … Coeur d’Alene returns eight starters this year, including three seniors. Head coach Lindsie Scholwinski will have to young roster to sift through this season. The Vikings return three sophomores and five new freshman on the team. … Kristin Delp is diving into her first year as head coach at Lewiston, bringing with her a State 1B title from her previous coaching job at Pomeroy. The Bengals lost four to graduation, but return five starters and nine total from last year’s squad. Delp expects her new team will quick and strong at the plate, particularly with bunting. Delp has a young team, with five newcomers who are all sophomores.
Others: Moscow (7-13) will have a season of rebuilding after losing six starters to graduation, including pitchers Emma Carscallen and Leah Dreesmann. Senior Riley Miller, one of three starters who have returned, will likely lead the team in the circle. First-year head coach Samantha Nalley, who previously coached Moscow’s junior varsity team, brought up junior Liza Dreesmann from JV to provide another arm behind Miller. … Head coach Todd Bitterman has five starters and nine lettermen returning to St. Maries (6-11) this season. Leading the way are all-leaguers 1B/P Devyn Wilson (sr.) and P/OF/SS Paige Sines (sr.). Bitterman expects his team to thrive at the plate, with seven of his top returners combining for a .386 hitting average last season. … Coach Tomi Bateman’s returning state champion Bonners Ferry (19-5) has high hopes for another successful season with the return of eight starters. Senior Kadi Bateman, a two-time league player of the year, will help lead a team of experienced players who have played together in the last three state tournaments. Assisting Bateman in the field are all-leaguers SS Kassy Skeen (sr.), C Jorryn Bennett (sr.) and 3B Jadyn Bennett (sr.).