Chuck Struhar, whose Glenelg High School softball team sneaked up onthe county last year before running away with a league title and a perfect county record, would like the Gladiators to assume the same lightly regarded status this spring.
That won't be possible.
The Gladiators, who return six starters from the 20-2 team that made it to last year's Class 2A Region I title game, are clearly the team to beat -- especially after Centennial lost star junior pitcher Jodi Meitl for the season to injuries sustained in a March 1 automobile accident.
Centennial still figures to give Glenelg a strong run.The Eagles return four starters from last year's 17-4 team, including senior pitcher Lindy Mellendick, who did a fine job as the Eagles' No. 2 hurler last year.
The rest of the county pales in comparison, but Hammond, Howard and Atholton have the pieces to mount a credible challenge to Glenelg and Centennial.
Hammond returns a core of promising starters led by pitcher Jen Thomas, a great hitter who is the key to the Bears. Howard, which started five freshmen last year andproduced a decent 7-10 season, returns eight starters. Atholton alsoreturns eight starters but will depend heavily on junior pitcher AmyLorditch, who was converted from the outfield and rarely pitched last year.
The remaining three programs -- Oakland Mills, Mount Hebron and Wilde Lake -- are in various rebuilding stages.
Here's a closer look at the county teams:
ATHOLTON
The Raiders lost five seniors to graduation, most notably All-County first baseman Samantha Wackerly (.444, 17 RBI). But Atholton coach Dave Vitagliano, who has eight returning starters from last year's 7-13 team, figures the Raiders will score their share of runs.
Three of those returning -- seniorthird baseman Amy Shellenberger (.349 last year), junior shortstop Julie Ruprecht (.556 on-base average) and senior catcher Kerri Hibbard(.298, 16 steals) form the heart of the batting order. Each is also outstanding on defense, especially Hibbard, who threw out 21 base runners last spring.
"We're a better hitting team and a better defensive team than last year," said Vitagliano, whose Raiders are off to an 0-2 start. "We've made one mental mistake in two scrimmages and twogames. We've also got more overall talent than last year. There's not a kid on our roster I'd be afraid to start."
For Atholton to improve, junior pitcher Amy Lorditch must produce a good season, and theRaiders must give her a hand. Lorditch, who played first base and outfield while pitching sparingly behind now-graduated Lori Fineman, doesn't throw hard enough to be a strikeout pitcher. But she has shown decent command of the strike zone so far. She has also shown enough pop in her bat for Vitagliano to install her as the cleanup hitter.
Shepherd, senior Sherri Carl -- a first-time player who will start in center field -- and returning senior right fielder Suzanne Sealing round out the starting outfield. Senior second baseman Stacey Worden and junior first baseman Liz White round out the starting infield.
CENTENNIAL
On most teams, the loss of junior pitching sensation JodiMeitl would be considered devastating. And the Eagles will certainlyfeel the effects of losing a pitcher with a combined 28-4 record and0.50 ERA in two seasons.
But Centennial isn't hopeless by any stretch. For starters, the Eagles have senior Lindy Mellendick, who rescued Centennial last year when Meitl's season was delayed several weeks by mononucleosis. Mellendick doesn't throw as well as Meitl, but she did go 6-2 with a 2.40 ERA.
"We're very lucky to have someone else to pitch for us. A lot of teams don't have that kind of depth," Coach Dale Huting said.
The Eagles have three more returning starters who could carry them. Senior center fielder Julie Parham is a solidall-around player. All-County junior right fielder Becky Joeckel hit.435 last year and has a super arm. Sophomore shortstop Kelli Butlerbrings good range and a strong arm to her position and is coming offa .383 season at the plate.
Centennial will look to younger, moreinexperienced players from there. Sophomore catcher Kari Chichester returns, but is a starter for the first time. Senior third baseman Lisa Taneyhill is an excellent athlete but a first-time varsity player.Junior first baseman Rebecca Vanisko moves up from the junior varsity.
"For the most part, the kids have adjusted to it (the loss of Meitl)," Huting said. "We eased into the season, which is one of the reasons we're still not sure about positions. We need to play some games and put the team together."
In the past, under Huting, the Eagles typically relied on pitching and defense before hitting. They'll need more offense to contend for a league title.
GLENELG
The Gladiators have a promising new pitcher in converted third baseman Lisa Martin, and with so many other dependable parts firmly in place, Glenelgshould win its second straight county championship.
"I think we're as good as anybody else around here. We've got a nice outfield, a strong catcher and we're real experienced at shortstop and second base," Struhar said.
The Gladiators have experience, speed, strong defense and are sound fundamentally. If Martin -- who attended several pitching clinics and is throwing well -- approaches the skill and durability of graduated Co-Player of the Year Heather Williamson, Glenelgcould win the title easily.
Besides Martin, Glenelg returns five excellent starters, beginning with senior second baseman and Player of the Year candidate Angie Beech. Beech, who shared the honors with Williamson last year, led Glenelg in average (.418), hits (28), runs (31), led the county in steals (38), struck out just once in 67 at-bats and made only one error in 22 games.
Then there's sophomore shortstop Lory Wineman, who played like a senior last year while earning All-County honors. Senior Tracy Martin, Lisa's sister, may be ready to assume the position as the league's premier catcher. She threw out 18 would-be base stealers last year.
The Gladiators also will havethe best outfield in the league. Senior center fielder Shannon McCartney and junior right fielder Tanissa Dorsey could probably handle the outfield by themselves. McCartney, an All-County pick last year, made several terrific diving catches last year. She gets an excellent jump on the ball. Dorsey, the team's best athlete, can fly. Look for both also to contribute in a big way offensively.
"If Lisa throws the ball over the plate, we're going to win some games. If she walks alot of people, we're going to lose. Period," Struhar said. "There's no magic to this."
HAMMOND
Coach Dave Guetler says pretty much thesame thing about the potential of the Bears. Senior Jen Thomas, an All-County designated hitter last year -- she hit a school record .545, and had a slugging average of .841 -- returns to the No. 1 pitchingrole to lead a team short on experience but long on young, promisingtalent. She recorded 13 strikeouts in a season-opening 7-1 victory over South River.
"She's throwing harder and has better control than last year. She's got fairly good command of where the ball is goingto go," Guetler said. "She's going to be our impact player. It's a question of how this young team plays around her."
The Bears have two other returning starters in senior first baseman Emily Minah and senior shortstop Mary Sly, who is outstanding defensively. Sly hit .300 last year and has five hits in Hammond's first two games.
Hammond will look to newcomers for the rest of its production, although Guetler said some players, like freshman catcher Amy Nestor, perform beyond their years. "Amy plays like she's played for four years. When she hits, she hits a ton."
The Bears are coming off a deceptively competitive 5-12 season. Six of their losses were by one run. If Thomasholds up under the strain of pitching every game and the defense gives her adequate support, Hammond should win at least 10 games.
HOWARD
Coach Dave Vezzi enters his fifth season with an interesting castof young players and a dependable senior pitcher in Andrea Nolan. The Lions started five freshmen last year and still posted a respectable 7-10 record, 6-7 against the county.
All five players are back -- catcher Terri Townsley (moved from outfield), first baseman Patty Miller, third baseman Kerri Semmont, left fielder Tarah Principato andcenter fielder Sharon Ford. The maturity of this unit probably will dictate how far Howard goes.
The Lions' three other returning starters are more proven. Junior Meredith McKissick should have a fine year at second base. Senior shortstop Holly Stover hit .400 to lead the Lions.
But the season boils down to how well Nolan pitches. An All-County pick last year, Nolan threw every pitch for Howard.
"As the team goes depends on how she (Nolan) goes," Vezzi said. "We've got a very good defensive team behind her. My outfield is as good as any I've ever had.
The Lions are a team to watch.
MOUNT HEBRON
The Vikings aren't looking to contend for any titles. They're just happy to have a program showing signs of stability again.
First-year coach Harry Reese inherits a decent 12-player varsity team and will also have a junior varsity to work with, which Hebron didn't have last year. And Reese, a 20-year coaching veteran of the Maryland Scholastic Association and the Catholic League, sees reasons to be encouraged.
"Things are different this year. The kids have a good attitude, and they work hard and I like the players we've got back this year," he said. "We've got the troops to stay in the games we should be in. If I put the right people in the right places, we'll be OK."
One player Reese won't have to worry about is senior Dawn Thomas, who terrorized pitching last year to the tune of a .629 average and a staggering 40 RBI in 17 games. She'll bat third and be surrounded in the lineup by junior shortstop Angie Kress and senior third baseman Joann Liberto, two returners who should ensure plenty of offense from the Vikings.
Hebron will need even more from Thomas, since she will also assume No. 1 pitching duty. "She played for Wagner's over the summer, went to camp. She's throwing very fast, and her control is good so far," Reese said.
The Vikings should be good defensively, especiallyin the infield, where senior second baseman Jen O'Neill and junior first baseman Chris Boone return. A big question mark is catcher, where senior Melissa Murdza will miss the season due to a knee injury incurred playing basketball.
OAKLAND MILLS
In his nine seasons as Scorpions coach, Joe Adams doesn't remember losing so many players in one year. Seven starters graduated last year. On top of that, one would-be returnee, outfielder Janet Linquist, moved to Florida. Another would-be returnee, senior catcher Stefanie Magro, decided not to play this spring.
And the Scorpions' 0-3 start -- in which they've been outscored 51-13 -- reflects their inexperience.
"I've got a lot ofyoung players who are making young mistakes. They need to concentrate for two full hours, and they're not doing that right now," Adams said.
"They need to play seven full innings, and they're only playing six right now," he added. "They're still learning you can't give a good team four or five outs in an inning. Right now, we're not fundamentally sound."
The Scorpions return just three players and one starter. And the returning starter, Cheri Ashbaugh, is moving from second base to catcher. Senior first baseman and junior pitcher Sara Briscoe, part-time players last year, move into starting roles.
The Scorpions will likely struggle against the county, and will be lucky tofinish with a .500 record. Adams is in for his most challenging year.
WILDE LAKE
The Wildecats, two years removed from a lost season -- Wilde Lake forfeited the 1989 season after being hopelessly overmatched in the first three weeks of the season -- seemed to be moving forward after last year's 3-15 finish. But half of the 10 players second-year coach Christine Myers expected to return didn't come back, forreasons ranging from academic ineligibility to moving out of the state.
"We're still panicking a lot on the bases. It's just another sign of inexperience," said Myers, whose Wildecats have struggled in two lopsided defeats. "We're a very young team."
At least Myers has something left with which to build, namely five returning starters.But she's been forced to shift most of them to new positions.
Junior Nicole Hammond has moved from third base to the pitcher's mound. She has shown good velocity but has had control problems. Hammond ledthe team with a .333 average last year.
Senior shortstop ChristieFlowers (.290) moves in from center field. Senior Tanya Auguston moves from right field to left. Junior Nikki Krupp (.290) moves from left to center. And sophomore Shelly Ryan, a .300 hitter last year, is back at catcher after splitting time in the outfield and behind the plate last spring.
"We're playing pretty good defense, and we've got some hitters," Myers said. "By midseason, we'll be competitive."
1991 VARSITY SOFTBALL SCHEDULE
Friday April 12
Mt. Hebron at Atholton 3:45
Oakland Mills at Hammond 3:45
Glenelg at Howard 3:45
Centennial at Wilde Lake 3:45
Monday, April 15
Howard at Atholton 3:45
Mt. Hebron at Centennial 3:45
Glenelg at Oakland Mills 3:45
Hammond at Wilde Lake 3:45
Wednesday, April 17
WildeLake at Glenelg 3:45
Atholton at Hammond 3:45
Centennial at Howard 3:45
Oakland Mills at Mt. Hebron 3:45
Thursday, April 18
Mt. Hebron at N. Harford 3:15
Friday, April 19
Oakland Mills at Atholton 3:45
Centennial at Glenelg 3:45
Howard at Wilde Lake 3:45
Monday, April 22
Atholton at Centennial 3:45
Glenelg at Hammond 3:45
Mt. Hebron at Howard 3:45
Wilde Lake at OaklandMills 3:45
Wednesday, April 24
Glenelg at Atholton 3:45
Hammond at Centennial 3:45
Wilde Lake at Mt. Hebron 3:45
Howard atOakland Mills 3:45
Friday, April 26
Hammond at Howard 3:45
Centennial at Oakland Mills 3:45
Atholton at Wilde Lake 3:45
Monday, April 29
Wilde Lake at Centennial 3:45
Howard at Glenelg 3:45
Atholton at Mt. Hebron 3:45
Hammond at Oakland Mills 3:45
Wednesday, March 1
Oakland Mills at Glenelg 3:45
Wilde Lake at Hammond 3:45
Atholton at Howard 3:45
Centennial at Mt. Hebron 3:45
Thursday, March 2
Hammond at Atholton 3:45
Howard at Centennial 3:45
Mt. Hebron at Oakland Mills 3:45
Glenelg at Wilde Lake 3:45
Monday, May 6
Glenelg at Centennial 3:45
Mt. Hebron at Hammond 3:45
Wilde Lake at Howard 3:45
Atholton at Oakland Mills 3:45
Wednesday, May 8
Centennial at Atholton 3:45
Hammond at Glenelg 3:45
Howard at Mt. Hebron 3:45
Oakland Millsat Wilde Lake 3:45
Friday, May 10
Atholton at Glenelg 3:45
Centennial at Hammond 3:45
Oakland Mills at Howard 3:45
Mt. Hebron at Wilde Lake 3:45
Monday, May 13
Wilde Lake at Atholton 3:45
Oakland Mills at Centennial 3:45
Howard at Hammond 3:45
Glenelg at Mt. Hebron 3:45
Tuesday, May 14
Hammond at Mt. Hebron3:45
Regional semifinals and finals at highest seed May 16-18
State semifinals and finals May 21-24 at Upton Field:
1A/2A-6:00 p.m. 3A/4A-8:30 p.m.