County softball teams get going in 2024 season

Mar. 29—Staff Report

George Frasure will lead the Saint John softball team this season.

Key contributors from last season's 7-9 team include: sophomore pitcher-shortstop Izzy Holler; senior shortstop-pitcher and team captain Alyssa Cevera; freshman catcher-infielder Rylee Frasure and junior first baseman-pitcher Isabelle Stern.

"Strengths are our pitchers who have lots of talent we need to see translate on the field," Frasure said. "The girls gel well together and play aggressive. They aren't shy about swinging the bat early and often."

Frasure said the team is young and inexperienced.

"The goal is to bring the extensive travel ball coaching background to the program and help develop this young group very quickly. They are taking leaps and bounds every day."

Frasure said the key is to keep building.

"We have a lot of talent and ability to work with and get this ball rolling," he said. "The growth of all the girls has been great to see. I believe in these ladies and think they will definitely outplay expectations."

PV

Pymatuning Valley finished 20-6 overall last season.

The Lakers return seniors Saige Payne at pitcher and Mariah Sharpe, third base; junior Kendall Gray, first base and sophomores Kylie Luke, shortstop and Nataleigh Haines, catcher.

Payne batted .390 last season, and recorded 11 pitching wins. Haines hit .364, while Luke checked in at .300.

"We have two seniors and one junior and only having 15 players means we will be a young team," coach Andy Gray said. "We lost four good players from last year. We are going to need these younger players to step in these key positions and contribute a lot. I think if we can come together as a team, we should be OK."

Freshmen McKenna Jordan, in centerfield, and Allison Clark, outfield-catcher, are also vying for playing time at the varsity level.

"I think strength will be our hitting and fielding, but our weaknesses is our youth," coach Andy Gray. "I think my overall expectations is that: How is our cohesiveness going to be?

"But I do think we have the kids to compete in the NAC, we have the pitchers, hitters and hopefully a good defense. Hopefully the spring the weather gets better so we can finally get outside and play some games."

JEFFERSON

The Falcons went 15-7 overall last season.

Returning players are: Allie Hill, Mia Contenza, Marillia Matuz, Gabby Barress, Adrianna Brass, Kennidie Rogers, Lani Zeman and Rylee DeMattia. Olivia Lewis, Ada Sirine and Julia Sprague are newcomes to the team.

"Our goals are to improve our play with each game, play every team competitively, and represent our school well in the CVC [Chagrin Valley Conference] Lake," Jefferson coach Seth Gilman said.

CONNEAUT

The Spartans will look to improve on a 6-10 overall 2023 season.

Juniors Lexi Brown, Ella Boroski and Ashlyn Sherman are returners. Brown batted .444, and was a pitcher.

Boroski hit .348 as an outfielder-first baseman and Sherman checked in with a .312 average at third base.

"Strengths this season would be consistent pitching by Lexi Brown, our defense will hopefully be stronger this season and we have a lot of speed, so we're hoping to use that along the base paths," coach Lexi Zappitelli said. "Weaknesses are we are very young and inexperienced. We lost five seniors last season who played major starting roles for us, so we have a lot of open positions and it may take some time for the girls to get comfortable in them."

Freshman Maddy Drew will look to make a push for the starting shortstop position.

"We would like to make it a fun learning year," Zappitelli said. "As we do not have any seniors this season, we will have the same girls coming back next season, so we are hoping to learn, and improve this year."