Softball ratings and comments

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BY LORI GRIFFIN / Lincoln Journal Star

Softball ratings

Class A                                Pvs

1. Papillion-La Vista (34-5)     1

[+]Enlarge

2. Millard West (14-14)          -

3. Millard South (19-15)          7

4. Papillion-La Vista South (36-3) 4

5. Millard North (22-12)          6

6. Omaha Marian (26-9)           5

7. Omaha Westside (24-11)          3

8. Lincoln Southwest (29-12)          2

9. Lincoln Southeast (29-15)          6

10. Lincoln North Star (23-20)   10

Class B                 Pvs

1. Blair (26-8)          4

2. Elkhorn (23-1)          1

3. Beatrice (29-7)         2

4. Ralston (26-8)        3

5. Omaha Skutt (22-14)   8

6. Cozad (16-11)         -

7. Omaha Gross (18-12)    7

8. Columbus Lakeview (20-6)  9

9. Lincoln Pius X (15-16) -

10. Seward (18-7)        5

Class C                    Pvs

1. Twin River (25-6)     8

2. Tekamah-Herman (29-9)  1

3. Wayne (27-7)          2

4. Centennial (20-15)    10

5. Bennington (27-10)     6

6. Bishop Neumann (19-13)  7

7. Fillmore Central/E-M (22-8) -

8. Milford (23-5)         3

9. Central City (19-10)  -

10. West Point CC (20-8)  9

CLASS AContenders: Lincoln East, Bellevue East, Bellevue West.

Why No. 1: Papillion-La Vista finds itself in a familiar place atop the Class A preseason rankings. The 12-time state champion Monarchs return an experienced squad with seven seniors, including four who will be fourth-year starters. Nebraska recruit Megan Southworth leads the Monarch returners after batting .464 as a catcher last season. Despite the loss of current Creighton freshman Kylie Hovinga, Papillion-La Vista looks poised to add to its long line of great pitchers with sophomore Karissa Hovinga.

The others: Millard West, which played one of the most difficult schedules in Class A last season, returns seven starters and should benefit from the transfers of juniors Anna Runge and Katelyn Raatz from Lincoln East and pitcher Kaylee Richards from Papillion-La Vista. Millard South gets the nod at No. 3 largely because of a strong group of returning starters. The Patriots are looking for their fifth straight state tournament appearance, a streak matched only by Papillion-La Vista, which has appeared in every state tournament since the sport was sanctioned in 1993.

Right off the bat: The traditional opening-night games have Lincoln Southwest traveling to Papillion-La Vista South and Lincoln East playing host to Papillion-La Vista. Saturday, the Lincoln Public Schools tournament features several ranked teams. It, along with the Omaha Marian Invitational, could play a role in the first regular-season ratings.

Returning all-staters

P Ashley Dunn, sr., Lincoln Southwest

P  Molly Negrete, sr., Millard South

C Megan Southworth, sr., Papillion-LV

OF Jennifer Brown, sr., Millard North

OF Lindsay Redding, sr., Papillion-LV

Others to watch

P Courtney Gau, sr., Lincoln Southeast

P Kelsie Novotny, sr., Millard North

P/IF Kaylee Richards, jr., Papillion-LV

C  Amy Baker, sr., Omaha Westside

C Emily Perry, sr., Papillion-LV South

SS Alyssa Greckel, jr., Millard West

SS KK Houser, sr., Lincoln Southeast

SS Ashley Szelag, sr., Columbus

IF Danielle Christiansen, jr., Millard North

SS Jamie Zillig, jr., Lincoln East

OF Kassie Nurton, sr., Omaha Marian

OF Anna Runge, jr., Millard West

CLASS B

Contenders: Waverly, Aurora, Norris, Scottsbluff.

Why No. 1: For the first time in several years, there’s a new name in the No. 1 spot in the preseason rankings. Blair gets the nod over Elkhorn largely because of its returning players. Eight starters return from a team that finished fourth in the state last season. Junior MacKenzie Weichert returns at pitcher and infielder Sarah Rome is part of a solid defensive lineup.

The others: Elkhorn, although without a true starting pitcher for the first time in a number of years, gets the nod at No. 2. Coach Terry Graver’s tendency to put together a top-notch team each season, along with the return of infielder Amy Dreessen, gives the Antlers plenty to work with. Several sophomores will be looked upon to keep Elkhorn’s string of four straight state titles alive. Beatrice, which lost to Elkhorn in the state finals last season, returns two pitchers (senior Elizabeth Schwartz and sophomore Abbie Vitosh) who both saw significant playing time in spite of injuries. Senior Jina Hamm returns after batting .320 for the Lady Orange last season.

Right off the bat: The Lincoln Public Schools tournament on Saturday includes several Class B powers, including Elkhorn, Beatrice, Skutt, Gross, Lakeview and Pius X. Gross and Lakeview are in the same pool.

Returning all-staters

SS Mariah Montgomery, sr., Ralston

IF Amy Dreessen, sr., Elkhorn

IF Sarah Rome, jr., Blair

OF Devon Reick, sr., Ralston

Others to watch

P/SS Katie Bonifas, sr., Adams Central

P/IF Elizabeth Schwartz, sr., Beatrice

C/OF Kayla Randel, jr., Beatrice

SS Lauren Bodfield, sr., Lincoln Pius X

SS Jordan Funk, jr., Norris

SS Brittney Hunke, sr., Cozad

SS  Teshia Steuben, sr., Lakeview

IF/C Amanda Einspahr, so., McCook

IF Ashley Gigax, jr., Omaha Mercy

IF Macey Gronenthal, jr., Lakeview

IF Jamie Reed, sr., Lincoln Pius X

CF Jina Hamm, sr., Beatrice

CLASS C

Contenders: Arlington, Douglas County West, Syracuse.

Why No. 1: Unlike previous seasons, Class C is lacking a dominant preseason pick. Several teams return their top players, thus putting several teams on the same level early in the season. Twin River takes the top spot over defending champion Tekamah-Herman and 2007 state runner-up Wayne largely based on the sheer number of returning players. Kayla Mohr and Tanya Snyder each batted over .400 for the Titans last year.

The others: Tekamah-Herman returns senior pitcher Cara Cameron, who will also be the Tigers’ lead-off hitter. Wayne returns one of the top batteries in the state in Shannon Jarvi (0.82 ERA) and Alesha Finkey (.353).

Right off the bat: Wayne and Milford will be tested early in Saturday’s Lincoln Public Schools Classic. Twin River faces a tough first weekend, opening against Wayne before competing in the Fillmore Central/Exeter-Milligan tournament Saturday.  

Returning all-staters

P Cara Cameron, sr., Tekamah-Herman

P Kate Erickson, sr., Central CIty

C Sarah Weber, sr., Milford

IF Nicole Rauner, sr., Wayne

OF Brooke Sass, so., Bennington

Others to watch

P Megan Bulin, jr., Thayer Central

P Kerra Grantski, sr., Centennial

P Chelsea Jones, sr., Twin River

P Krista Menke, so., Friend

P/IF Maddy Emshoff, sr., FC/E-M

P Natalie Hauschild, jr., Syracuse

C Alesha Finkey, sr., Wayne

C Tanya Snyder, jr., Twin River

SS Kayla Mohr, sr., Twin River

SS Lexie Martin, sr., Ashland-Greenwood

IF Kasey Romohr, sr., Centennial

IF Riley Jelinek, sr., Bishop Neumann