Arlington Baptist Eagles
1993 record 0-12. Coach: Jackie Tackett.
Top players: Kate Bisset, Jr., IF; Tina Olson, Jr., IF; Leah Clelland, 7th grade, IF.
Outlook: The Eagles will be young and thin, but not without potential. Tackett says she'll work with what she's got and try to put some wins in the book after an 0-12 season.
Catonsville Comets
1993 record: 9-5. Coach: Steve Miller.
Top players: Krista Cantafio, Sr., C; Angelique McDonald, Jr., P; Kelly Chavis, Jr., 1B; Krista Bayne, So., CF.
Outlook: The Comets have high hopes of returning to the regional semifinals, but inexperience may stand in the way. They lost several starters, including both middle infielders, and will have to rely on JV call-ups. McDonald, however, could be the key. With a good year, this team can make it back to the playoffs.
Chesapeake Bayhawks 1993 record: 9-5. Coach: Randi Manfredi.
Top players: Kristin Strehlein, Sr., LF; Dawn, Simmons, Sr., CF; Char Pessaro, Sr., P; Kristen Evans, Fr., P.
Outlook: After losing several key players -- including their all-County catcher and shortstop -- the Bayhawks will have to rely on a number of young players. On the plus side, they've looked good in preseason practice, and Manfredi thinks they'll be competitive.
Dulaney Lions 1993 record: 10-4. Coach: Elaine Lindsay.
Top players: Julie Green, Sr., P; Whitney McClelland, Sr., 3B; Kristen Dyke, Sr. OF; Heather Truxel, Jr., IF-C.
Outlook: The Lions, who advanced to last year's state semifinals before falling to Chesapeake-AA, are led by their pitching. Green, a first-team all-county selection, had an ERA under 1.00 last season. The key will be offensive production. If the Lions can score, they could be in for a return trip to the states.
Dundalk Owls 1993 record: 12-3. Coach: Pat Mongan.
Top players: Katie Marsheck, Jr., P; Missy Bafitis, Sr., CF; Mindy Hosgood, Sr., 3B; Laura Klug, Sr., C.
Outlook: If 90 percent of the game is pitching, the the Owls are in for another whale of a season. Marsheck made first-team all-county last year with a 0.33 ERA and 127 strikeouts in 85 innings. Bafitis was all-county as well, hitting .319 in center field. The Owls hope to at least match last year's achievement of reaching the state semifinals.
Eastern Technical Mavericks 1993 record: 10-2. Coach: Marian Klein.
Top players: Kerri Hedrick, Sr., P; Angie Nichols, Sr., C; Erin Fitzpatrick, Sr., 1B; Brandi Anselmi, Jr., OF; Brandy Howell, Jr., OF.
Outlook: After making it to the first round of the regional playoffs, the Patriots were rewarded with a schedule that includes two meetings each with county powers Dulaney, Perry Hall and Dundalk. Batting and defense will be the team's strong suit, but pitching -- specifically their ability to throw strikes -- will be the Patriots' question mark.
Franklin Indians 1993 record: 4-11. Coach: Rick Wiscott.
Top players: Cindy Coleman, Sr., 3B; Stacey Lotterer, Sr., SS; Kara Wingate, Fr., P; Jessica McGraw, Fr., C.
Outlook -- The Indians return the nucleus of last year's team plus a number of talented freshmen. Wiscott leads the way after 19 years as the school's baseball coach. Though he's never played or coached softball, he believes the Indians will be competitive.
Garrison Forest Grizzlies 1993 record: 3-3. Co-coaches: Karen Murphy and Gabrielle Mercier.
Top players: Nannie Corrigan, Sr., P; Tamara Petit, Sr., C; Christy Pylypczuk, Sr., 3B; Nora Piroglu, Jr., 1B; Melissa Monfried, So., SS.
Outlook: The strength of the team will be its infield, where Pylypczuk, Piroglu and Monfried all return. But the Grizzlies also have a lot of new players -- many of whom have never played softball before. The key will be how quickly they learn the game.
Hereford Bulls 1993 record: 10-8. Coach: Sam Bowen.
Top players: Nancy Zentz, So., 1B; Erin Meisel, Jr., IF; Kerrie Talbott, Sr., 3B; Lori Harris, Sr., P; Sheila Ditsche, Sr., OF; Jen Bender, Sr., OF.
Outlook: The Bulls just missed the regional playoffs last season and should be helped by their drop to Class 1A. Zentz, who made first-team all-county batting .408 with 27 RBIs, leads a potent lineup. Harris (eight wins) leads the pitching.
Kenwood Bluebirds 1993 record: 4-9. Coach: Mo White.
Top players: Colleen Bess, Sr., 3B; Krissy Parren, Jr., P; Shellie Lowers, Sr., LF; Valerie Reeves, Jr., 1B.
Outlook: There are a lot of reasons why the Bluebirds will improve, but No. 1 is the pitching. Parren worked on her speed and control with Anne Arundel County pitching guru Jack Crandell, and could be the difference. Overall, the team is young but talented.
Lansdowne Vikings 1993 record: 6-10. Coach: Debbie Henkel.
Top players: Danyel Emge, Sr., C-P-OF; Tammy Byers, Sr., 2B-SS-OF; Kim Galloway, So., 1B; Sara Nunnally, So., SS; Tara Doyle. Jr., P-Inf.
Outlook: Versatility will be the Vikings' strength. They have several players who can play, and play well, at several positions. Also helping will be Byers and Galloway, two superior hitters who missed last season with leg injuries. The Vikings hope to get to at least .500
Loch Raven Raiders 1993 record: 14-3. Coach: Don Shaneor.
Top players: Margie Huesman, Sr., OF; Cho-ye Toung, Sr., 3B; Stacey Bowersock, So., SS; Maura Lyng, Jr., C; Terry Hendricks, Fr., P.
Outlook: The Raiders lost a lot from last year's regional finalists, including ace pitcher Becky Sutton. With up to four freshmen starting, the young team may take its knocks early before coming around. Huesman, an all-
county outfielder, lead the way.
Lutheran Saints 1993 record: 3-1. Coach: Gary Barth.
Top players: Rachel Seaborn, Jr., P-OF; Shelley Hughes, So., OF; Jen Baker, Jr., Inf.; Sara Cole, Fr., 3B-P; Jen McGuire, Fr., P-SS.
Outlook: The Saints should be strong on the mound, where they have three pitchers -- led by Seaborn -- who can throw strikes. But the team is also young and doesn't have an experienced catcher. If the pitching holds up, though, they could have another winning season.
McDonogh Eagles 1993 record: 8-4. Coach: Mickey Deegan.
Top players: Teresa Zile, Jr., P; Laurie Schwoy, So., SS; Lauren Mishner, Jr., 2B; Alaina Lawson, Jr., CF; Jennifer Eggy, Jr., 3B.
Outlook: The Eagles are looking to make a run at first place in the Catholic League after finishing third last year. In five years of existence, this program has improved each season, as Deegan has built the team on defense and fundamentals. Zile leads the team on the mound, and Schwoy -- an all-metro soccer forward -- is a standout shortstop.
Milford Mill Millers 1993 record: 0-12. Coach: Charlene Diamond.
Top players: Lynette Mellerson, Jr., CF; Stacie Green, Jr., 1B; Sarah Lee, So., P-C.
Outlook: The Millers return only one player from last year's team. Then again, that may not be so bad. They have no seniors and will use this season to build for the future.
Mount Carmel Cougars 1993 record: 2-6. Coach: Sister Michele O'Brien.
Top players: Amy Adams, Sr., 3B-P; Larissa Paulino, Jr., C; Karen Homberg, Jr., CF; Stephanie Spangler, So., P-2B.
Outlook: The Cougars are young, with only one senior, and somewhat inexperienced. O'Brien, however, believes that this team will improve and should finish with a better record than last year.
Mount de Sales Sailors 1993 record: 1-10. Coach: Phil Pollard.
Top players: Lisa Schlesinger, Jr., 1B; Shannon Newton, Jr., LF; Daniel Peterson, Jr., C; Laura Deboy, So., P-OF; Jen Hughes, So., 3B.
Outlook: The Sailors are very young -- with no seniors -- and will need this season to build as a team and learn the game. Still, their goal is a .500 season, which isn't completely out of the realm of possibility.
Oldfields
1993 record: 4-4. Coach: Sue Austin.
Top players: Page Scully, Jr., P; Ceili Betsch, Sr., C; Corbett Plaxico, Jr., CF.
Outlook: How far did this team come in its first year of competition last season? Just look at its games against Bryn Mawr. After losing by the 15-run rule in the season-opener, Oldfields came back to beat the Mawrtians, 10-0, in the season-finale. With a plethora of returners and Scully's pitching, the team should continue to improve.
Overlea Falcons 1993 record: 2-12. Coach: Donna Harrold.
Top players: Erin Bockstie, Jr., P; Renee Hauck, Jr., P; Jennifer Little, Sr., C; Lisa Hollick, Sr., 3B; Danielle Stidham, Sr., 2B.
Outlook: Harrold, who previosuly had coached the Falcons for 31 years, returns to find a team with some young talent but even more question marks. Bockstie and Hauck look solid on the mound, but outfield defense could be a real problem. If the defense comes through, Overlea will be better than last year.
Owings Mills Golden Eagles 1993 record: 13-8. Coach: Lisa Meyer.
Top players: Jen Ziomek, Sr., P; Nicole Winik, So., C; Sheree Tilley, Sr., 2B; Alison Kleiner, Fr., P; Kim Kraus, Fr., IF-OF.
Outlook: The Eagles return virtually the same team that advanced to lastyear's Class 1A state semifinals. They lost just one starter, return two others who were injured last year and feature a pair of freshmen -- Kleiner and Kraus -- who could have an immediate impact. Meyer says that this could be the best team she's ever coached when the players learn to play as a unit.
Parkville Knights 1993 record: 4-8. Coach: Karen Locke.
Top players: Stacey Komins, Jr., 1B; Katie Greenwood, Jr., P; Samantha Stahl, Sr., C; Jennifer Lenahan, Sr., OF.
Outlook: The Knights are young, but could very well be better than last year's team by season's end. Komins, a second-team all-county selection, leads the way with her strong bat and solid glove at first. Locke says she expects her team to improve a little each game.
Patapsco Patriots 1993 record: 9-4. Coach: Pat Poletynski.
Top players: Courtney Rider, Sr., P; Samantha Porter, Jr., CF; Nicole Travagline, Sr., SS; Michele Mills, Sr., 1B; Jen Mills, Sr., DH;
Outlook: The Patriots move back to the 4A-3A League after finishing second to Towson in the 2A-1A last season. They lost quite a few players to graduation, but Rider will be a stabilizing factor on the mound and Porter will lead at the plate and in the outfield. This is basically the sameteam that won the county JV title two years ago.
Perry Hall Gators 1993 record: 13-2. Coach: Emily Thon.
Top players: Beckie Baker, Sr., P; Jessica Loehr, Jr., SS; Krisan Pfeifer, Jr., 2B; Andrea Capitano, Jr., IF-OF-C; Stephanie Koman, So., C.
Outlook: This team returns at least six starters from last season's regional semifinalists, and should once again fight for the Baltimore County 3A-4A League title. Baker leads the way on the mound, and the overall team defense looks to be superior. Hitting will be the big question mark.
Pikesville Panthers 1993 record: 6-7. Coach: Marlene Honkofsky.
Top players: Nancy Ross, Sr., 3B; Danielle Reinhart, Sr., SS; Jaime Levy, Sr., P -CF; Jesse Lehman, Jr., C.
Outlook: The Panthers should be much improved. They lost only one player to graduation, and got three back from injuries. Lehman, a second-team all-county catcher, and Levy and Ross, honorable mentions, pace a team that Honkofsky says; "has all the potential in the world."
Randallstown Rams 1993 record: 1-12. Coach: Reggie Brooks.
Top players: Edie Ledson, Sr., OF; Heather Miller, Sr., C; Amy Sette,Sr., 2B; LaTonya Chambers, So., 3B.
Outlook: Brooks takes over the program just days after leading his boys' basketall team to the Class 3A state semifinals. His goal is to instill that same winning attitude in his softball players, and to show them that winning is fun. That would be a major breakthrough for the Rams, who haven't had much to laugh about in recent years.
Sparrows Point Pointers 1993 record: 6-9. Coach: Duke Vickery.
Top players: Kim Laurie, Sr., OF; Kimberly Wilson, Sr., 2B; Tammy Hudson, Sr., P; Tammy Hudson, Sr., P; Heather Unkart, Jr., P; Colleen Dillon, Jr., 3B; Kathy Maynor, Sr., SS-OF; Belinda Fisher, Sr., C.
Outlook: If last year was a building year for the Pointers, this could be the year they turn the corner. Vickery says the team is looking better than ever, and expects at least a .500 record. Five seniors, led by Laurie and Wilson, lead the way.
Towson Generals 1993 record: 13-3. Coach: Paul Becker.
Top players: Jessica Owens, Sr., P-SS; Kerry Dumphy, Sr., CF; Katherine Walker, Jr., 1B; Katherine Bevans, Jr., P-SS; Jessica Clerkin, Jr., C.
Outlook: If past history means anything, the Generals are in for a big year. Two years ago they lost in the regionals. Last year, they lost in the state semifinals. This year -- with eight returning players -- their goal is to go all the way. Owens will be the catalyst on the mound, trying to help her team repeat last year's perfect county record.
Woodlawn Warriors 1993 record: 4-10. Coach: David Savick.
Top players: Diana Crisfulli, Sr., Inf.; Amanda Andrews, Sr., P-IF; Michelle Bailey, Sr., 1B; Laurie Smith, So., C.
Outlook: The Warriors return most of last year's team and hope to win at least half of their games. They have good team defense, and potentially -- with improved control -- a standout pitcher in Andrews. Her success, along with the team's ability to score runs, will decide Woodlawn's fate.