Lincoln softball capsules

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By the Lincoln Journal Star

With the Nebraska high school softball starting up, the Journal Star takes a closer look at area schools.

East

COACH: Butch McLaren, sixth season.

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2007: 27-13, No. 8 final ranking

LETTERWINNERS: Jamie Zillig, SS, jr.; Katelyn Peterson, IF, jr.; Megan Meyerson, IF, sr.; Kara Scheel, OF, sr.; Marley Christian, P, jr.; Alyse Menghini, IF, so.

OTHERS TO WATCH: Kelly Schulz, sr.; Allison Yardley, jr.; Alec Schrad, fr.; Betsy Reimer, fr.; Stacey Herbel, so.

OUTLOOK: The Spartans return a solid core from a team that just missed advancing to the state tournament. East needs to replace two key starters, Anna Runge and Katelyn Raatz, who transferred to Millard West, as well as Catie Dahl, who chose to focus on basketball. “We have several solid returners and some promising newcomers this year. Early, we will be looking to set a positive tone relying on our veterans as the new players settle into roles,” McLaren said.

SCHEDULE: Aug. 28—Papillion-La Vista; Aug. 30—LPS Classic.

Sept. 4—Kearney Quadrangular with North Platte; 6—Heartland Conference; 9—at Columbus (DH); 11—Grand Island (DH); 13—Omaha Gross Invitational; 15—Lincoln Northeast (DH): 17—Lincoln High (DH); 20—Elkhorn Invitational; 22—at Fremont (DH); 24—Lincoln Southwest (DH);  25—Beatrice; 27—Lincoln Southeast Invitational; 30—Lincoln Southeast (DH).

Oct. 1—Lincoln North Star (DH).

Lincoln HighCOACH: Jeff Pierce, first season. 

2007: 1-39, unranked

LETTERWINNERS: Janeigh Castillo-Barraza, P/IF, jr.; Katie Martin, OF, jr.; Catherine Harvey, IF, so.; Stella Yoon, OF, sr.; Kelsey Scott, OF, jr.; Ellie Johnson, OF, jr.; Valerie Raffety, C/IF, so.

OTHERS TO WATCH: Emma Rathe, fr.; Paige Skillett, fr.; Anne Sorensen, fr.; Natassia Mason-Retke, sr.

OUTLOOK: Lincoln High, which broke a losing streak of more than 100 games last season, will be working with their third coach in three years as girls basketball coach Jeff Pierce takes over. “The Links are coming in with a different feeling this year and hope to capitalize on some experience and talented youth to show progress throughout the season,” Pierce said.

SCHEDULE: Aug. 30—LPS Classic.

Sept. 4—Kearney Quadrangular with North Platte; 6—Heartland Conference; 9—Lincoln Southeast (DH); 11—Columbus (DH); 13—Columbus Tournament; 15—at Fremont (DH); 17—Lincoln East (DH); 22—at Auburn; 24—Omaha Benson (DH); 25—Lincoln North Star (DH); 27—Omaha Benson Invitational; 30—Lincoln Northeast (DH).

Oct. 2—Norfolk (DH); 4—at Grand Island (DH); 6—Lincoln Southwest (DH).

Northeast

COACH: Kari Amen, 13th season.

2007: 27-32, unranked.

LETTERWINNERS: Tina Weixelman, IF, sr.; Brittany Singleton, IF, sr.; Natalie Svoboda, OF, sr.; Sheridan Morgan, OF, sr.; Sarah Larson, P, so.; Brandy Singleton, IF, so.; Jocelyn Wittrock, IF, so.

OTHERS TO WATCH: Chelsea Cox, fr.; Ashton Steckleberg, fr.; Marisa Garver, fr.; Jessie Overton, so.; Lindsay Dill, so.; Robyn Sullivan, so.

OUTLOOK: Northeast returns a young team with only four seniors. “Young talent will be expected to fill large roles,” Amen said.

SCHEDULE: Aug. 28—Columbus (DH); Aug. 30—LPS Classic.   

Sept. 4—Grand Island (DH); 6—Heartland Conference; 8—Fremont (DH): 9—at Lincoln Pius X (DH); 10—Lincoln Southwest (DH); 11—at Norfolk (DH); 15—Lincoln East (DH); 16—Lincoln North Star (DH); 19-20—Omaha Westside Invitational; 23—Lincoln Southeast (DH); 25—at Kearney (DH); 27—Lincoln Southeast Invitational; 30—Lincoln High (DH).

Oct. 6—Omaha Marian (DH).

North Star

COACH: Todd LaVelle, third season.

2007: 23-20, No. 10 final ranking.

LETTERWINNERS: Brittany Coufal, SS/P, sr.; Jamie Peterson, OF, sr.; Lindsey Cale, C, sr.; Steph Densberger, IF, sr.; Brianna Steiner, OF/P, sr.; Paige Policky, IF/P, jr.; Mallory Nesson, IF, jr.; Emily Weber, OF, jr.

OTHERS TO WATCH: Kylie Harpst, fr.; Emily Howe, so.

OUTLOOK: Navigators return several players, including pitcher/shortstop Brittany Coufal, who was out most of last season with a hand injury. LaVelle expects a successful season if health issues don’t get in the way again. 

SCHEDULE: Aug. 30—LPS Classic.   

Sept. 2—Kearney (DH); 4—at Columbus (DH); 6—Heartland Conference; 9—Norfolk (DH): 11—at Fremont (DH); 13—Columbus Tournament; 16—Lincoln Northeast (DH); 18—Lincoln Southeast (DH); 20—North Platte Invitational; 22—Millard South; 24—at Papillion-La Vista; 25—Lincoln High (DH); 27—Lincoln Southeast Invitational.

Oct. 1—Lincoln East (DH); 2—Lincoln Southwest (DH); 6—Grand Island (DH). 

Pius X

COACH: Stefanie Novotny, second year.

2007: 15-16, unranked.

LETTERWINNERS: Lauren Bodfield, SS, sr.; Jamie Reed, IF, sr.; Abby Wilmes, P/OF, sr.; Jackie Champoux, OF, sr.; Haylee Vrbka, IF, jr.; Steph Webb, C, jr.

OTHERS TO WATCH: Valerie Eckrich, jr.; Jess Boehm, jr.; Molly Sullivan, so.; Jess Vrbka, so.; Jennie Sayker, so.

OUTLOOK: The Thunderbolts return a strong infield from a year ago. Seniors Lauren Bodfield (.351) and Jamie Reed (.388) each batted over .300. At catcher, junior Steph Webb returns after compiling a .393 average.

SCHEDULE: Aug. 30—LPS Classic.   

Sept. 2— at Omaha Duchesne; 4—Omaha Mercy; 6—Millard North Invitational;  9—Lincoln Northeast (DH); 11—Columbus Lakeview; 13—Blair Triangular with Norris; 16—at Norris; 18—Ashland-Greenwood; 20—Hastings Invitational; 25—Gretna; 27—Lincoln Southeast Invitational; 29—at Lincoln Southeast (DH).

Oct. 2—Omaha Skutt; 4—Beatrice Triangular with Nebraska City; 6—at Ralston.

Southeast

COACH: Tim Roberson, 10th year.

2007: 29-15, No. 9 final ranking.

LETTERWINNERS: KK Houser, SS/CF, sr.; Courtney Gau, P/OF, sr.; Melissa McCormick, IF, sr.; Sydnie Abel, P/OF, sr.; Matley Jones, IF, so.

OTHERS TO WATCH: Sara Scheffert, so.; Sarah Smith, so.; Kasey Bose, sr.

OUTLOOK: “We are extremely young with some solid returners. The players are extremely hard-working with a tenacious attitude to improve themselves,” Roberson said.

SCHEDULE: Aug. 28—Fremont (DH); Aug. 30—LPS Classic.   

Sept. 4—Lincoln Southwest (DH); 6—Heartland Conference; 9—Lincoln High (DH): 11—at North Platte (DH); 13—Columbus Invitational; 16—at Grand Island (DH); 18—Lincoln North Star (DH); 19-20—Papillion-La Vista Invitational; 23—Lincoln Northeast (DH); 25—Columbus (DH); 27—Lincoln Southeast Invitational; 29—Lincoln Pius X (DH); 30—Lincoln East (DH).

Oct. 4—at Papillion-La Vista (DH); 6—at Norfolk (DH). 

Southwest

COACH: Mark Watt, seventh year.

2007: 29-12, No. 2 final ranking

LETTERWINNERS: Ashley Dunn, P,  sr.; Ashley Janssen, OF, sr.; Alli Catlett, OF, sr.; Becca Changstrom, P/IF, jr.; Abbie Moser, IF, jr.; Mallory Noakes, IF, so.

OTHERS TO WATCH: Alex Schmidt, so.; Monica Knabe, jr.; Kylie Garrett, jr.; Brittni Eitzmann, so.; Elizabeth Dike, fr.; Maggie Whiteley, sr.; Emily Hartman, sr.; Lindsay Hanson, sr.; Michaela Patt, sr.

OUTLOOK: Southwest lost several four-year starters to graduation but still returns a top crop of players from its state runner-up team. “With six returning starters, including our top two pitchers, we will be working all season toward a return to the state tournament,” Watt said.

SCHEDULE: Aug. 28—at Papillion-La Vista South (DH); Aug. 30—LPS Classic.   

Sept. 4—Lincoln Southeast (DH); 6—Heartland Conference; 10—Lincoln Northeast (DH): 11—Kearney (DH); 16—Beatrice; 18—at Norfolk (DH); 20—North Platte Invitational; 23—Grand Island (DH); 24—Lincoln East (DH); 27—Lincoln Southeast Invitational; 29—at Fremont (DH).

Oct. 2—Lincoln North Star (DH); 4—Millard South Invitational; 6—Lincoln High (DH). 

NOTE: LPS home games at Doris Bair; Pius X home games at Uni Park.