Maidens have good frosh, sophomore turnout

The Ronan Maidens have a host of young talent coming out for the softball team this year, eager to fill the shoes left by six seniors who graduated last year.

The team's leadership, though, will come from first-team all conference shortstop Lauryn Lynch and fellow senior Nicole Starkel, who, along with junior Brittany Bilile, make up the upperclassmen on the team.

Head coach Doug Fisher, in his second year with the Maidens, sees that as a positive way to build from the ground up, working with the 20 frosh and sophomores who have been working hard over the past two weeks to prepare for next Thursday's season opener against Mission.

"We only have three upperclassmen. Sometimes people think that's a negative, but I think it's a positive after last year as my first year as coach. We were able to wipe the slate clean last year and start over," Fisher said. "Even the freshmen who are coming in this year, I was able to spend a lot of time with them on the field last year. We are all on the same page this year."

Fisher said his final roster is still undecided, and he's got a lot of girls fighting hard for starting spots, but there's some good talent out there. Frosh Kaylee Larson will probably step in as the team's pitching ace, filling the shoes of Kayla Couture, who graduated last year. Carli Starkel will also see some time on the mound, as will Jordan Strozzi — all freshmen, Fisher noted, but good athletes who have been working hard in practice.

The team will have sophomores Kirsten Cordier, Kallia Orr and Katy Sorrell returning — all of whom started as freshmen in the state tourney last year. Allison Crenshaw saw some good varsity playing time last year, and is also back. Sophomore Arisha Hales played with the Mission team last year, and is now in the Ronan school district and on the Maidens team.

Lynch, as much a utility player as ever, will alternate behind the plate and at shortstop, depending on the other team's speed, Fisher said.

"Teams that were fast, we'd put her behind the plate to slow down the game. She's my team captain this year," Fisher said, noting he might pick another one before the season gets underway.

Bilile went out and earned the third-base spot, Fisher said.

"She made up her mind to play third, and she's playing solid as a junior," he said.

The team will open by hosting Mission next Thursday, with the varsity at 3 p.m. and the JV at 5 p.m. The team will travel to Hamilton later that weekend.