Baltimore City
Public schools
City Knights
1998 record: 8-9
Coach: Julio Fernandez
Top players: Anne Phillips, Sr., 1B; Amanda Evans, Jr., C; Erica Branch, Jr., P.
Outlook: The Knights return only three players, and will be inexperienced. Phillips and Evans are expected to provide leadership, and Branch came up from JV late last spring. Fernandez, who has the longest coaching tenure in the city league at 10 seasons, thinks City will be fine if its develop a chemistry.
Douglass Ducks
1998 record: 4-8
Coach: Rodney Cofield
Top players: Tarsha Bowie, Jr., SS; Lauren McPhail, Soph., P; Tarinisha Davis, Soph., CF; Christine Horton, Sr., C; Shanay McCelan, Soph., 2B; Dwaina Lamb, Sr., RF.
Outlook: The Ducks return five players, but face rebuilding, especially defensively and pitching. Cofield says he has some potential on offense.
Dunbar Poets
1998 record: 15-4
Coach: Greg LeCount
Top players: Brandie Anderson, Jr., OF; Katrina Lawrence, Jr., C; Keona Chestnut, Jr., 2B-3B.
Outlook: The Poets return four starters but there isn't much after. Pitching and defense could be major problems, in addition to inexperience. LeCount says Dunbar has speed and should score.
Lake Clifton Lakers
1998 record: No team
Coach: Delora Walker
Top players: Tyeasha Smith, Jr., SS-LF; Faith Moore, Jr., 1B; Danielle Alexander, Sr., 3B.
Outlook: The Lakers didn't have a program last season. Walker is happy with the turnout, but his work is cut out with an inexperienced group. The Lakers will play in the city's Division III.
Mervo Mustangs
1998 record: N/A
Coach: Nancy Havranek
Top players: Shamika Hawkes, Soph., SS; Tobie Ashley, Soph., P Outlook: Havranek expects a young and inexperienced team. Mervo will compete in the city's Division III with Carver, Lake Clifton, and Forest Park.
Poly Engineers
1998 record: 9-3
Coach: Norman Perry
Top players: Heather Myers, Sr., SS; Keisa Snyder, Sr. 1B; Luquanda Williams, Sr., 3B-OF; Janel Yung, Sr., OF-3B; Jadee Toe, Jr., P.
Outlook: The Engineers will be rebuilding with new faces at six positions. Toe will carry the pitching duties, and Perry expects Myers to lead the offense. Poly has some speed to create runs, and the coach expects to be competitive by mid-season.
Southern Bulldogs
1998 record: 12-5
Coach: Jack Nehsmann
Top players: Tiffany Sparra, Sr., P-3B; Tanya Mosher, Sr., C; Lisa Ariey, Sr., 1B; Wendy Cavanaugh, Sr., 2B; Jennifer Hoover, Jr., P; Dita Agresott, Sr., OF
Outlook: The Bulldogs, who reached the 4A North region finals before losing to Dulaney last season, have six starters back. Nehsmann likes the nucleus of experienced players and has been pleased with the newcomers. The offense should be fine, but Nehsmann is concerned with getting outside and developing his pitching rotation. Southern will be right there with Western battling for the Division I title.
Southwestern Sabres
1998 record: 6-3-1
Coach: Bernie Leneau
Top players: Robin Jenkins, Sr., 2B; Lisa Young, Jr., C; Tyra Shipman, Jr., Utl.; Amanda Kuhl, Soph., P.
Outlook: Leneau, who replaced Dave Lang, says the Sabres will be young this season. Shipman is the team's best athlete and Leneau likes Kuhl's potential on the mound. There are questions defensively, but Southwestern hopes to be competitive in the city's Division II.
Western Doves
1998 record: 12-4
Coach: Shawn Stoliker
Top players: Christina Williams, Sr., 3B; Jamaica Wood, Jr., 2B; Shante Ridgeway, Jr., C-OF; Chantay Haught, Soph., 1B; Ericka Butler, Soph, P-OF.
Outlook: The Doves may be again the city's best public school team. Seven players return, and Stoliker likes a mix of juniors and freshmen on the roster. Butler will anchor the pitching staff, and offense should be solid. Western will be tough in the new city Division I.
Private schools
Bryn Mawr Mawrtians
1998 record: 12-3
Coach: Terry Detorie
Top players: Marjorie Friedman, Sr., 3B; Sarah Cook, Sr., CF; Charlotte Elder, Jr., 1B; Erin Bellamy, Jr., SS; Sarah Issacs, Jr., LF; Ellie Fisher, Jr., P.
Outlook: The defending Association of Independent Schools A Division champs should again be the team to beat. Fourteen players return for the Mawrtians, including Cook, Elder and Bellamy. Detorie says Fisher on the mound will be crucial because depth is lacking with the loss of All-AIS pitcher Melanie Sperl to graduation. The Martians should be solid offensively, which along with their experience gives them an edge in the five-team AIS A Division.
Catholic Cubs
1998 record: N/A
Coach: Len Tiesi
Top players: Allison Merkle, Sr., SS; Jenna Meekins, Jr., P; Kelly Tiesi, Fresh., P; Laura Dantoni, Fresh., P; Megan McAuliffe, Fresh., Inf.
Outlook: Len Tiesi, who replaced Jerry Dieter, has only two starters back among seven returnees. The pitching nucleus of Meekins along with freshman Dantoni and Kelly Tiesi (the coach's daughter) gives Catholic a starting foundation. Len Tiesi knows this will be a rebuilding season, but he expects the Cubs to be in every game.
Friends Quakers
1998 record: 6-5
Coach: James Brown
Top players: Jesse Atkinson, Sr., 1B; Johanna Tassone, Sr., 2B; Anouk Erni, Jr., C; Sammi Williamson, Jr., SS; Molly Kasten, Soph., P.
Outlook: Brown has four starters back, but only two seniors on the roster with a mix of promising underclassmen. The infield of Atkinson, Tassone, Williamson should be solid and Kasten is expected to carry the pitching load. There are some questions in the outfield and offensively.
Inst. of Notre Dame Indians
1998 record: 12-10
Coach: Greg Ehrman
Top players: Jamie Clingan, Jr., 2B; Erin Farrish, Jr., SS; Sarah Galloway, Soph., P; Anne Parker, Jr., CF.
Outlook: The Indians were absent from the Catholic League Tournament title for the first time in eight years, but there's reason for a return this spring. Six starters return, including Clingan, a second-team All-City/County selection. Galloway tossed a school-record three no-hitters last spring. Ehrman, in his third season, says this is his best team from top to bottom, but isn't sure who will step up and be a consistent run-producer.
Mercy Magic
1998 record: 5-7
Coach: Carrie Hueston
Top players: Kristen Dorsey, Sr., OF; Ashlee Courter, Sr., OF; Michelle Russell, Sr., P; Mary McCotter, Sr., C; Jesse Eckerl, Sr., IF; Abby Pyzik, Jr., IF.
Outlook: The Magic returns most of its nucleus and could be a surprise team in the Catholic League. Though experienced, Hueston says consistency is needed offensively and defensively. Hueston is hoping for a move toward the middle of the competitive league.
Roland Park Reds
1998 record: 6-6
Coach: Mary Hain
Top players: Gretchen Cook, Sr., P; Adrienne Smith, Sr., 1B; Katrina Shank, Sr., CF; Blythe Beall, Jr., P/Utl.; Sylvania Deandruss, Jr., RF-1B; Lauren Dodrill, Soph., OF
Outlook: Seven players, including five starters, return. Hain also is excited about the infusion of three talented freshmen. The Reds appear solid defensively with Cook, Beall, Smith and Shank but lack depth and offensive punch.
Seton Keough Gators
1998 record: 10-7
Coach: Chris Ashby
Top players: Kate Barbee, Sr., 3B; Christina Thompson, Jr., IF; Kristin Dulay, Jr., P; Shalise Tolentino, Soph., SS.
Outlook: Seven players return, and Barbee, Thompson and Tolentino will provide leadership, as well as a solid defensive nucleus. Ashby expects Dulay to carry the pitching staff, but there are questions offensively. Seton Keough should contend with Spalding and Mount de Sales in the Catholic League.
Preseason Top 15
Rank Team '98 W-L
1. Chesapeake-AA 11-8
2. Northeast 14-3
3. North County 12-7
4. Severna Park 15-8
5. Arch. Spalding 20-4
6. Mount de Sales 16-5
7. Arundel 13-7
8. Howard 13-6
9. Glen Burnie 18-4
10. Franklin 14-3
11. Seton Keough 10-7
12. Wilde Lake 14-7
13. North Carroll 13-4
14. River Hill 18-4
15. Centennial 14-8
Pub Date: 3/18/99