Public schools
Annapolis Panthers
1998 record: 2-16
Coach: Joy Eskuchen
Top players: Dawn McMaston, Sr., C; Sharie Neptune, Sr., SS; Juli Smith, Sr., 2B; Mindy Alexander, So., P.
Outlook: Eskuchen, a math teacher at Annapolis who played softball at UMBC, takes over as coach and is starting from scratch. "The kids are learning the basic fundamentals. Right now, we want to function as a team and have strong team moral." Neptune will move from first to short. McMaster will catch after playing first last season, and Smith is a returnee at second base. Alexander will handle most of the pitching.
Arundel Wildcats
1998 record: 14-7
Coach: Paul Yannuzzi
Top players: Soraya Grace, Sr., P; Breanna Kitchen, Sr., C; Emily Walther, Jr., 3B; Ashley Hines, Sr. OF; Alexis Viera, So. SS; Becky Carlson, Sr., 1B; Valerie McDowell, Sr., 2B; Sarah Polger, Sr., OF.
Outlook: Eight starters are back, led by Grace and Kitchen, both four-year starters. Yannuzzi expects vast infield improvement this year. McDowell will spark the top of the order, with Kitchen, Viera and Carlson the big run producers in the middle of a deep lineup. Kitchen hit .368 last season with 19 RBIs as a first-team All-County selection. In the pitching-rich county, Yannuzzi knows the Wildcats will have to manufacture runs at times. Opposing teams will have to do the same against them, with Grace, always around the plate with a mix of pitches, and Kitchen the area's top battery. "Both know what they are doing," the coach said.
Broadneck Bruins
1998 record: 6-12
Coach: Jim Ware
Top players: Suzie Shuttleworth, Sr., P; Jamie Hughes, Sr., OF; Bryn Weller, Jr., C; Katie Henschel, Jr., OF; Afton Solis, Sr., 1B/DH; Chrissie Seeley, Sr., 1B/DH; Megan Atkinson, Jr., OF.
Outlook: Ware sees improvement and more wins this season. Shuttleworth is a good starting point in her fourth varsity season on the mound. "She's working real hard and has improved her change-up. She has great control, always a good drop and a reasonable curve," said Ware. The Bruins spent plenty of time in batting cages during the off-season, so more runs should come. Weller, who hit .430 last spring with 35 stolen bases, will lead off. Atkinson is a scrappy hitter, with Shuttleworth the key in the middle of the lineup.
Chesapeake Cougars
1998 record: 13-7
Coach: Dennis Thiele
Top players: Lauren Gontkof, Sr., LF; Michelle Cappe, Sr., CF; Meredith Pirone, Sr., 2B; Jen Browning, Sr., OF; Kareem Falcon, Sr., C; Katie Nelson, So., P; Erin Taylor, Jr., P; Kristen Bishoff, Jr., 3B; Kristen Bland, Sr., 1B; Justine Wagner, Jr., 1B.
Outlook: A heart-breaking 4-3 loss in extra innings against eventual state champ Glen Burnie ended the Cougars' season in the region semifinals last spring. All but one starter return, though, so the Cougars look primed to run at a state title. Thiele, who stepped down during the off-season only to return after his replacement, Lin Sullivan, decided not to take over, likes his team's chances. "This looks like our best shot in a long time," he said. Gontkof, a first-team All-County outfielder who hit .461 with 19 runs scored and 11 RBIs, leads an attack that Thiele says has good bats one through nine and off the bench. Pitching is a question, but Nelson and Taylor got valuable experience last season. Junior Lindsay Ries takes over at shortstop.
Glen Burnie Gophers
1998 record: 18-4
Coach: Bob Broccolino
Top players: Jamie Dotson, Sr., OF; Michelle Schultheis, Sr., OF; Denise Schultheis, So., OF/P; Tiffany Jordan, Jr., 1B/P; Kristen Shacklock, Jr., SS/P; Erin Thomas, Jr., OF; Christina Bounelis, So., 3B; Casey Whelan, Jr., 1B; Tina Willis, Fr., P/OF.
Outlook: No county team hit harder by graduation (six starters gone) than the Gophers, who won their third state title and were last spring's No. 1-ranked team. Broccolino is restocking from a 13-3 JV. "We're very optimistic, but also realistic," he said. "There are five or six teams in the county with just about everyone back." Denise Schultheis, Jordan and Whelan provide speed at the top of the lineup. Bounelis and Willis are line-drive hitters in the middle. The biggest concern is pitching, and Broccolino has five young pitchers to work with.
Meade Mustangs
1998 record: 3-12
Coach: Bill Henderson
Top players: Andrea Misher, Sr., SS/CF; 3B/OF; Jennifer Beitzell, Jr., P; Charlene Hatcher, Jr., OF; Christina Stewart, So., 1B; Amanda Pinkham, Jr., C/OF; Kristen Clutz, Jr., 2B; Traci Welch, So., C/IF.
Outlook: Seven regulars are already familiar with Henderson's system, giving the second-year coach hope for a few more wins. The priority is this, Henderson said: "We have to get rid of that one bad inning." Beitzell provides the Mustangs with pitching experience, and junior Selena Stevens will get some innings. Misher provides experience, stability and versatility. Stewart, Pinkham and Stevens provide good bats.
North County Knights
1998 record: 13-7
Coach: Brian Love
Top players: Kellie Evans, Sr., P/SS; Linda Parks, Jr., OF; Amy Balonis, Sr., P/OF; Miranda Cole, Jr., 2B; Chrissy Suit, Jr., 3B/C; Brandi Schickton, Jr., P/IF; Cecilia Chaves, Sr., OF; Brittany Boyd, Fr., P/1B.
Outlook: Most of last year's region semifinalists return, so the Knights are looking to get to the state tournament. Evans, a first-team All-Metro player last spring, was a dominant player on the mound and at bat last season, finishing 8-3 with a 0.89 ERA and hitting .481 with 25 RBIs. Love expects more help around her in the batting order, along with a Balonis as a second starter. Suit (.353, 17 runs) is coming off a first-team All-County season at third and will catch some this season. Parks, at first last year, will try to solidify an inexperienced outfield this season. "Everyone is a year older and I think we'll be better top to bottom. We're very optimistic," said Love.
Northeast Eagles
1998 record: 15-3
Coach: Marianne Shultz
Top players: Renee Mrowczynski, Sr., CF/1B; Stacy Smith, Sr., P/1B; Deana Benner, Sr., P/2B; Cassidy Tivvis, Sr., 3B; Amanda Shifflett, Sr., SS; Erin Gray, So., OF; Stephanie Adams, So., C; Melissa Rode, Sr., 2B.
Outlook: The Eagles are loaded but will have to overcome the early absence of their top two pitchers. Smith, a first-team All-Metro selection as a junior, is ill and not due back until after the Easter holiday; Benner, injured, should return in a week or so. Until then, sophomore Rachel Herrick will handle most of the pitching. She had two shutouts in her only varsity appearances last spring. The Eagles, who pulled off a big 2-1 win against perennial state power Northern-Calvert in their region opener before losing to Patuxent in the next round, are deep everywhere else, as well. Team-leader Mrowczynski sparks the offense at the top of the order. Gray, Shifflett and Adams provide power. The defense is always sound.
Old Mill Patriots
1998 record: 5-10
Coach: Karen Wagner
Top players: Heidi Verostik, Sr., 2B; Janet Gonzalez, Sr., OF; Sandi Edwards, Jr., OF; Erin Porter, Sr., SS; Elizabeth Corbett, So., C; Sarah Szczerba, Jr., P.
Outlook: Wagner, the former Karen Jacobson, is a 1993 Old Mill grad, former standout pitcher, and four-year UMBC player. She inherits a team with a nice mix of experienced players and newcomers -- four seniors, four juniors, three sophomores and four freshmen. The strength is up the middle with Corbett coming off a solid freshman season at catcher, Verostik and Porter at second and short, and Gonzalez a captain in center field. Wagner will rely on Verostik and Gonzalez to get on base in front of Corbett. The pitching goes to Szczerba, who saw some varsity action as a sophomore.
Severna Park Falcons
1998 record: 15-8
Coach: Duane McAlister
Top players: Amanda Donaldson, Sr., P; Meredith McAlister, Sr., SS; Lauren Huber, Sr., 2B; Joan Prim, Sr., OF; Melissa Ledsome, Sr., C; Lauren Pollock, So., P/IF.
Outlook: The Falcons, solid in all the right places, find themselves in the middle of the strong county pack. Donaldson, in her fourth season starting, is a two-time All-Metro first teamer who had an 0.48 ERA last season with 138 strikeouts in 117 innings. "She brings the desire to win and compete at a very high level," said McAlister. The defense should be solid again with Meredith McAlister and Huber. Scoring was a problem last year in the Falcons' run to the Class 4A East region final, where they lost to state champ Glen Burnie, 4-0. McAlister expects more balance in the order, with Donaldson (.433, 19 RBIs, 18 runs), Meredith McAlister (.422, 17 runs, 11 RBIs) and Pollock a good starting point in the middle of the order. "The pitching and defense kept us in games last year. Hopefully, the offense will come on better to stay away from those one-run games," said coach McAlister.
Southern Bulldogs
1998 record: 0-17
Coach: Teri Green
Top players: Kim Garnett, Sr., OF; Alaina Nutwell, So., SS; April Catterton, Jr., 3B; Sarah Higdon, So., 2B; Seton Hurson, So., OF; Kadee Gee, So., P/C; Sara McDonald, Sr., 1B; Erin Metz, Fr., P.
Outlook: Green, in her second season, and the Bulldogs haven't lost any enthusiasm despite their winless season in 1998. "Kids are playing in summer leagues, and we've already seen improvement. We want to continue to improve and win a few games," said Green. Gee and Metz are two of five underclass pitchers. Garnett, one of two seniors, anchors the outfield in center and, with Gee, will be looked on to drive in runs. Nutwell is a contact hitter who runs the bases well.
South River Seahawks
1998 record: 11-10
Coach: Steve Rose
Top players: Mandy Kessinger, Jr., P/OF; Christy Tilman, Sr., 1B; Terra Goswick, So., SS/P; Becca Hopkins, Sr., C/3B; Dawn Cooley, Sr., 2B; Bridget Scanlan, Sr., 3B/OF.
Outlook: The Seahawks have a mix of experienced players with talented newcomers. Six starters are back. Freshmen Jennifer Stanton (C/OF) and Sarah Savoye (3B/OF) expected to make an immediate impact. Kessinger, in her third varsity season, will have to provide pitching stability. "It's just a matter of her throwing strikes. Walks were a problem for her at times last season, but it doesn't look to be, so far," said Rose. Goswick provides speed and will anchor the middle infield with Cooley. Hopkins and Tilman are two more strong bats. Senior Amie Ward will be a valuable utility player who may also DH.
Private schools
Archbishop Spalding Cavaliers
1998 record: 16-4
Coach: Linda Taylor
Top players: Sabrina Ryals, Sr., SS/P; Jen Datz, Jr.,1B; Julie Bahus, Sr., P; Andrea Loepker, Sr., OF; Tine Ryals, So., SS/2B; Jackie Emmart, Jr., C; Bridgette LaPorte, Jr., C/IF; Sara Merkl, Jr., OF.
Outlook: The Cavaliers fell just short in their bid for a fifth straight Catholic League championship last spring, falling to Mount de Sales, 5-4. A strong group returns with some freshmen talent to fill in. Sabrina Ryals, three times a first-team All-Metro, leads with plenty of talent around her. Last season, she hit .366 with 24 RBIs and 23 runs scored, going 7-1 with a 0.64 ERA and one save on the mound. Bahus will be a key. "Sabrina is solid, very reliable, and Julie will do a lot more pitching. She will shine this year," said Taylor. Datz will drive in plenty of runs in the middle of the Cavalier order. Freshmen Kristen Marll, Christine Sheridan and Meghan Cowan are versatile. Marll and Sheridan can pitch.
St. Mary's Saints
1998 record: 4-8
Coach: Marilyn Sherrane
Top players: Kelly Bertwell, Sr., C; Sarah Rankin, Sr., OF; Beth Scully, Sr., 3B; Alicia Childs, So., P; Katarina May, So., P; Erin Holland, Fr., P; Danielle Baran, So., 1B; Lisa Preston, So., OF.
Outlook: Youth adds speed and enthusiasm as the Saints try to turn the corner in the Catholic League. Sherrane keeps 19 players on the varsity roster with many underclassmen and healthy competition. "We have a lot of new talent to watch out for -- good speed and good hitters," said Sherrane. The experience is behind the plate in Bertwell, who Sherrane will count on for leadership, strong defense and driving in runs. "Kelly is our captain -- so dedicated to the sport. She also runs the bases smart." A new luxury is pitching depth, with Childs, May and Holland. "I'm very confident in all three. They are young and developing well," said Sherrane.
Pub Date: 3/18/99