HS Softball: Cards, Spartans look to unseat Eagles in Division I
Blue Mountain head coach Paul Leonard pictured at Schuylkill League Softball Media Day (Staff Photo).
The past two softball seasons have been The Era of the Eagles.
Two Schuylkill League championships. Two District 11 Class 4A championships. Two PIAA Class 4A championships.
Back-to-back greatness for Blue Mountain.
How great?
How about a combined record of 52-4 (.929 winning percentage), four victories over district rival powerhouse Northwestern Lehigh and eight consecutive state playoff wins.
In high school sports, though, things change. Players graduate.
At Blue Mountain, the best senior class in school history — including Madison Heim (.454,), Marla Freiwald (.571, 8 HR, 45 RBIs; 17-1, 0.84 ERA), Olivia Labe (.500, 3 HR, 35 RBIs), Elle Walasavage (.337, 29 RBIs), Lindsay Gibson (.362, 24 RBIs) and Mylei Hablett (.396) — have completed their legendary high school careers.
That’s a lot of firepower to replace.
Then, on Feb. 9, head coach Mike Rollman, the architect of Blue Mountain’s budding dynasty, passed away. He was 37.
With heavy hearts, the Eagles did what Rollman would have wanted — to continue on, work hard and get better.
Paul Leonard, Rollman’s right-hand man for the past five seasons, was chosen as head coach.
As a new season dawns, the questions are many:
Will Blue Mountain rebuild or reload?
Will a loaded Pine Grove squad fulfill its potential and rise to the top?
Will North Schuylkill, Pottsville or others challenge for league playoff spots?
Will the six new head coaches be successful in building their programs?
All of those questions and more will be explored over the next two days. Today, Division I will be the focus. Then, on Friday, March 14, Division II will be previewed.
New look
The departure of Jim Thorpe and Lehighton to the Colonial League continues to have ripple effects around the Schuylkill League. Three divisions have been realigned into two. Blue Mountain, Lourdes, North Schuylkill, Pine Grove, Pottsville and Tamaqua remain in Division I. Mahanoy Area and Panther Valley move up from Division III to form an eight-team division,
Each team will play the others twice (home and away) for a 14-game schedule.
Around the division
To paraphrase a popular quote: To be the team, you have to beat the team.
And until somebody proves otherwise, that team is Blue Mountain.
The Eagles have a lot of positions to fill, but they return six full- or part-time starters and welcome a huge group of talented underclassmen.
Back from last year’s group are sophomore outfielder Addyson Fishburn (.456, 34 runs, 27 SB), junior infielder Avery Hudock (.462, 20 RBIs), senior catcher Courtney Cavadini (.333), junior utility/designated player Anna Borden (.308), junior infielder Hailey Place and senior pitcher Courtney Brown (6-0, 1.99 ERA, 31.2 IP, 52 K).
Sophomore utility players Carla Boyer and Callie Peel are returning letterwinners.
A key point will be the development of the Eagles’ pitching staff. Brown has been effective throughout her career, but Blue Mountain wants to use multiple arms in the circle. Sophomore MaKayla Bahm and freshmen Emily Leonard, Abby Phillips and Mary Whalen are also listed as pitchers on the roster.
Blue Mountain’s main challengers appear to be Pine Grove and North Schuylkill.
The Cardinals have nine starters back from last season’s 18-5 club.
The undisputed leader is junior center fielder Callee Leffler, who has already committed to play at Division I power Florida State. Leffler is coming off a huge season in which she hit .611 with 40 runs scored, five doubles, 10 triples, seven home runs, 28 RBIs and 22 stolen bases. She also played flawless defense. For her career, Leffler is batting .570 (81-for-142).
Senior first baseman Madison Shiffer, a Lebanon Valley College recruit, batted .440 last season with four home runs and 36 RBIs. Senior outfielder Addison Zimmerman is back after hitting .343 with 20 RBIs a year ago.
Other returnees include junior shortstop Hannah Aungst (.343, 21 RBIs), junior catcher Tailyn Bohr (.333), sophomore third baseman Meadow Umbenhauer (.327) and sophomore second baseman Lily Flynn.
A key will be the Nos. 8-9 batters in front of Leffler and Nos. 2-4 behind her. They must get on base in front of her and produce behind her so that Leffler gets some pitches to hit.
“The returning players are looking to take the next step as a team,’’ Pine Grove coach Ryan Leffler said. “Offensively, we need to pass the bat and get on base however we can.
“Callee Leffler and Madison Shiffer are looking to continue to have big numbers,’’ Coach Leffler added. “For them to have big numbers, we will need kids 1-9 to step up. Each player has some personal goals, and I’m expecting a lot of kids stepping up to hit them. They are a fun group to be around, they work hard, they believe, and once you have the formula, I see big things for this group. I’m excited for them and ready to watch them grow as a unit.’’
Wait, there’s more.
Pine Grove also returns a pair of sophomore pitchers in Chelcy Clark and Jamie Dinger. Both shared the workload last season and gained valuable experience.
Dinger finished 7-3 with a 1.61 ERA, striking out 89 in 69.2 innings. Clark went 11-2 with a 1.74 ERA and fanned 72 in 71.1 innings.
“This season I see a different Clark and Dinger,’’ Coach Leffler said. “Having a season under their belt at this level, I feel like they are in a better spot mentally as a pitcher.
“They both had a great offseason,’’ Leffler added. “Each of them increased their speed, but also their spins are looking better. They both support one another really well, and if one is off, they know they need to go get the job done. I’m excited to see their growth continue as each game goes on, It’s a really nice duo to have.’’
The Spartans graduated three seniors, including star center fielder Emilee Slotcavage. They have a new head coach in Jack Flynn, who welcomes seven returning starters and two other letterwinners.
It’s a young club overall, with three seniors: INF/OF Maria Monahan, INF/OF Kylie Meskunas and catcher Lindsey Brouse (.339).
A pair of juniors are back in the circle. Brigid Flynn (.365 22 RBIs; 7-5, 1.47 ERA, 86 IP, 86 K) and Olivia Jones (.381; 3-1, 5.64 ERA, 22.1 IP, 24 K). Those two, and freshman Peyton Miscannon are the pitchers on the club.
The other returning starters are juniors: 3B Mallorie Croker (.373, 22 RBIs), OF Lyza Holmes (.310) and 1B Jordanna Frie. Sophomore C/INF Gianna Capone is back, too.
“As a team, we created a list of 10 goals for the season,’’ Jack Flynn said. “Some of them include making league playoffs, winning Division I, winning Schuylkill League, making and winning districts and hopefully making a run in the state tournament.
“I have been around a lot of the players on our team for quite a few years, whether I taught them in class, coached them at a younger level, or in a different sport, added Flynn, a North Schuylkill graduate in his 22nd year as a math teacher at his alma mater. “I believe these girls have a lot of talent. So, I am excited to try and lead these girls to try and reach as many of the goals we listed. We have a strong core of girls returning from last season. … We all were able to spend some time together in offseason workouts, and we are all excited to hopefully have a great season!’’
Pottsville looks to take a step forward with seven returning starters and a slew of underclassmen. The Crimson Tide move up a class to 5A this season for districts.
Infielders Lana Cromyak and Aubrey Scanlan are the only seniors on the roster.
Junior returnees include Peyton Eckert (P-INF), Reese Ketner (INF-OF) and Justine Siminitus (OF). The speedy Siminitus hit .447 last season with 20 runs scored and 22 stolen bases.
Sophomores Jo Barnhart (INF-OF) and Megan Yost (INF-OF) are back as well.
Tamaqua struggled last season but has nine letterwinners returning. Seniors Addison Krall (C-3B), Kolbe Robb (2B-SS), Leah Crowley (SS-OF), Megan Linkhorst (P-OF) and Veronica Scott (C-OF) lead an experienced roster. Junior Ceanna Gormley (P-1B) and sophomores Mia Bamford (OF), Molly Evans (OF) and Sophia Sitlinger (3B-OF) have varsity experience, too.
At Lourdes, four-year starters Hailee Brown (.533) and Makayla Adams (.407) have graduated. Senior second baseman Gabby Dusendschine (.321), sophomore shortstop Arianna Adams (.322) and sophomore outfielder Brynn Barcavage (.411) lead the way.
Division newcomer Mahanoy Area has a new head coach in Mick Connolly. The Golden Bears return senior second baseman Ella Brode, senior pitcher-first baseman Olivia Kennedy, junior catcher Hailey Mroczka and four sophomores in center fielder Ella Connolly, first baseman/third baseman Allison Killian, shortstop Naomi Kowalick and utility Cadance Poslosky.
