STAFF ACE … Bryan’s Addie Arnold figures to be the ace of the Lady Bears pitching staff this season as they look to prevent a third straight league title by Wauseon.
By: Nate Calvin
Wauseon is considered the league favorite by most coaches with Bryan, Delta, and Evergreen expected to challenge.
The Indians, coming off titles in 2018 and 2019, will be led in the circle by senior Macee Schang as she is one of eight letterwinners back for coach Mark Schang.
The Lady Bears of Bryan figure to be a factor in the league race as they return most of the team from last years canceled season with Addie Arnold expected to be the ace of the Bryan pitching staff.
Teams are listed in order of their finish in the 2019 league standings. Stats and records shown below are from the 2019 season.
1.Wauseon (23-6, 6-1 in NWOAL; Lost To Napoleon 6-3 in Division II District Final)
Head Coach: Mark Schang-4th Season
KEY LOSSES: Juli Spadafore (P) 2.03 ERA, .343 avg; Harlee Floss (C) .386 avg.
RETURNING LETTERWINNERS: Payton Albright (.400 avg), Jettie Burget (.349); Alexis Haury (.340); Chelsie Raabe (.380); Macee Schang (1.81 ERA, .455); Olivia Gigax (.302); Autumn Pelok (.308); Jayli Vasquez (.350)
PROMISING NEWCOMERS: Grace Calvin, Ella Albright, Madisyn Ledyard, Brianna Hayes, Ella Hageman
SEASON OUTLOOK: Eight letterwinners are back for Wauseon as they look for their third consecutive league title. Mix the returners with five newcomers to the varsity level and the Indians should have good depth this season.
Head coach Mark Schang a priority will be filling a couple holes left by the departure of two seniors.
In terms of the NWOAL this year Schang says it’s hard to predict what will happen. “Without a season last year, it is anybody’s guess on how the league will turn out.”
2. Archbold (18-9, 5-2 in NWOAL: Lost to Eastwood 8-0 in Division III District Final)
Head Coach: Andrea Thiel-5th Season
KEY LOSSES: Chloe Schramm (2B/C/P), Madison Roth (3B), Bralynn Blanton (P/1B)
RETURNING LETTERWINNERS: Kylie Sauder (SS), Alyssa McCoy (C/OF), Reagan Kohler (RF)
PROMISING NEWCOMERS: Lucia Rodriguez (P), Addi Ziegler (1B), Harley Phillips (UTL), Carsyn Hagans (OF), Emma Hall (2B), Mya Stuckey (P/OF), Bre Boysel (UTL), Maddie Thiel (UTL/P), Ella Bowman (P/OF)
SEASON OUTLOOK: Entering the 2021 season Archbold will have a very young pitching staff as they look to fill their top two starting spots.
Archbold will be young in several other key positions according to head coach Andrea Thiel. She likes the focus of the team and expects the Lady Streaks to be solid defensively.
“Our goal is to be playing our best softball of the year as we approach tournament time”, said Thiel when giving the season outlook for Archbold.
“We will have another very challenging non-league schedule, which will help us prepare for our NWOAL games. “After losing our 2020 season to COVID, there is a great deal of excitement to get back on the field and compete.”
“There will be some great competition in the NWOAL again this year as we attempt to bring a league title back to Archbold. Several teams return key players that will make each league opponent we face a tough test.”
“I believe that there could be several teams fighting for the top spot, with Wauseon being at the top of that list”, she concluded.
3. Patrick Henry (17-5, 5-2 in NWOAL; Lost to Fairview 5-4 in Division III District Final)
Head Coach: Tracy Greene-1st Season
KEY LOSSES: Audrey Sonnenberg-OF (.339 avg, 4 doubles, 2 HRs); Hannah Meyer-P/SS/3B (.549, 7 doubles, 4 triples, 2 HRs, 30 RBIs); Ryanna Tietje-1B (.260, 2 doubles); Nathalie Smith-OF (.250, 3 doubles, 1 triple)
RETURNING LETTERWINNERS: Abby McGraw-SS/2B (.369, 5 doubles); Kayla Kruse-IF/P (.262, 3 doubles), Ella Meyer-UTL (.219)
PROMISING NEWCOMERS: Baylor McGraw (2B/SS); Jazmine Miranda (C), Grace Haas (OF)
SEASON OUTLOOK: Coming off a district runner-up season in 2019 the Lady Patriots will look to reload this season.
Patrick Henry will be saddled with young pitching, low numbers, and inexperience at the varsity level due to graduation.
“We have a lot of inexperienced players this year, but we are making adjustments every day”, said first-year coach Tracy Greene.
“Our returners from last year’s team are learning different expectations and new positions but have been making great strides. We are hoping to compete in league games and make a run in the D-3 tournament this year.”
4. Evergreen (14-11, 4-3 in NWOAL; Lost to Archbold 8-4 in Sectional Final)
Head Coach: DJ Schuster
Requested information not submitted
5. Bryan (9-13, 3-4 in NWOAL; Lost to Lima Shawnee 6-0 in Division II Sectional Semifinal)
Head Coach: Samantha Fowls-2nd Season
KEY LOSSES: Kelly Miller (C/1st), Megan Voight (CF), Alison DuBois (OF), Hannah Goodrich (UTL)
RETURNING LETTERWINNERS: Scout Smith (2B/SS/3B, Alex Vreeland (1B/P/OF), Breanna Long (2B/OF/P), Olivia Moore (OF/3B/DP), Jasmine Richter (UTL), Addison Arnold (P/3B). Delilah Taylor (SS/C/P), Brooke Taylor (OF), Madison Grieser (OF/C, Alisyn Shaffer (C/DP)
PROMISING NEWCOMERS: Ella Voight (C/SS/OF), Katelan Nagel (2B/P/OF), Tabithah Taylor (SS/2B/OF), Kailee Thiel (OF/1B)
SEASON OUTLOOK: A wealth of talent is back for the Golden Bears who look to knock off Wauseon as the league champion.
In total 11 letterwinners are back for Bryan, including Addie Arnold, who figures to be the ace of the Bryan pitching staff.
“Our team has worked very hard during the first three weeks of this season. Our girls have stepped up and ‘bought into’ some new things that I have been trying to implement as a second-year head coach”, commented Samantha Fowls.
“Our team is very athletic and strong. We have a wide variety of athletes that are a part of our team. Many of our girls are multiple sport athletes.”
“Addison Arnold has been working extremely hard during the off-season to become a stronger and more skilled pitcher, on top of playing two other varsity sports. She will likely be our ace on the mound this year.”
“After last season being cancelled, we feel many of our girls missed out on a full year to improve. Many of our girls continued to work hard in the off-season but I think the loss of the season will be a weakness for everyone this year”, elaborated Fowls.
6. Swanton (19-7, 3-4 in NWOAL; Lost to Eastwood 14-0 in Division III District Semifinal)
Head Coach: Joe Nye-10th Season
KEY LOSSES: Kylie Ulch (1B, .610 avg), Alexis Sarvo (SS, .388); Alexis Bergman (P/IN, .319), Olivia Bergman (P/IN), Kara Truckor (OF)
RETURNING LETTERWINNERS: Rachel Waszak (C, .536); Brianna Williams (P, .419); Kailey Brownfield (2B, .263); Emma Operacz (IN, .255); Trista Eitniear (IN, .242); Bailey Arnold (OF, .200)
PROMISING NEWCOMERS: Rheannah Kesler (IF), Kyleigh Shinayer (OF), Taylor Forrest (P/IF), Amy Lawson (OF), Samantha Nelson (C), Alaina Pelland (IF), Aricka Lutz (IF/OF, Averie Lutz (IF/OF), Jayden Hendricks (OF)
SEASON OUTLOOK: Six lettermen are gone from a Swanton team who set a school record with 19 wins and won a sectional championship in 2019.
Defense and pitching are expected to be strengths of this season’s Swanton Lady Bulldogs and coach Joe Nye. Junior Brianna Williams will lead the Swanton pitching after going 11-2 with a 3.48 ERA two years ago as a freshman.
Swanton also adds a freshman to the pitching staff as Taylor Forrest joins the varsity ranks. Coach Nye expects Wauseon, Bryan, Archbold, and Evergreen to do battle for the NWOAL championship.
7. Liberty Center (12-10, 2-5 in NWOAL; Lost to Swanton 8-6 in Division III Sectional Final)
Head Coach: Scott Barrett-5th Season
KEY LOSSES: Riley Miller (C/IF), Lexi Mohler (IF), Emily Carpenter (DH), Rebekah Orr (UTL/C)
RETURNING LETTERMEN: Sam Engler (OF) .371, 6 HRs, 21 RBIs; Cass Chapa (SS) .339; Michaela Jeffers (IF) .377, 3 HRs, 13 RBIs; Claire Atkinson (OF) .283, 12 RBIs, Morgan Garber (P/IF) .300, 11 RBIs; Kylee Kern (IF/OF) .333, 2 RBIs, .556 OBP
PROMISING NEWCOMERS: Delany Krugh, Paige Bartels, Cadence Sifuentes, Emma St. Clair, Bea Narrett, Eme Gray, Molly Perry
SEASON OUTLOOK: Liberty Center will boast pitching depth this season, something that hasn’t happened in several season according to coach Scott Barrett.
The ace of the staff will be senior Morgan Garber who went 3-4 with a 2.03 ERA two years ago as a sophomore. Reese Kessler, Cadence Sifuentes, Eme Gray, and Molly Perry all figure to contribute to the Tigers pitching said Barrett.
“As with nearly every team in the area, there are many unknowns due to the cancellation of last season. We felt poised to have a very strong 2020 season based on the roster we had at the time”, said Barrett.
“Fast forward one year and many players have not seen the diamond in nearly 12 months. The first few games will be a learning (or relearning) experience for the entire squad and coaching staff.”
“There will likely be several experiments at some positions based on what is projected after scrimmages and spring workouts, but the line-up on day one may look drastically different than the line-up in our final game.”
“Overall, our seniors will drive our team’s success. I think we will generate runs, and our young pitching staff will need to answer the bell.”
“At Liberty Center we have multiple sport athletes so not many dedicate time to softball in the off-season.”
Barrett expects the NWOAL to be competitive like always.
“Teams like Archbold, Bryan, Wauseon all have strong rosters and good pitching and strong softball cultures. Swanton also had a good season last year.” “The league is good top to bottom and I expect the 2021 campaign to be very competitive.”
8. Delta (1-19, 0-7 in NWOAL; Lost to Woodmore 11-1 in Division III Sectional Semifinal)
Head Coach: Kelsey Gillen-2nd Season
KEY LOSSES: Jorrdyn WolforD, Lydia Yoder, Lizzy Ford, Ramzie Hockenberry, Marissa Cargill, Jordan Mauter, Madison DeSantos
RETURNING LETTERWINNERS: Reagan Rouleau (SS)
PROMISING NEWCOMERS: Mariah Mattimore (3B/OF), Jasey Spiess (OF/P), Katie Friess (C/2B), Madison Savage (P/1B/OF), Karsyn Gillen (P), Gretchen Culler (OF/SS), Sophia Burress (3B), Abby Ford (C/2B)
SEASON OUTLOOK: Second-year head coach Kelsey Gillen will have plenty of new faces with just one returning letterwinner as they look to fill the void by the departure of seven seniors.
“I believe we will be able to compete with teams in the league and non-conference this year”, commented Gillen who took over last season before the season was canceled.
“This will be a great season filled with triumphs and learning opportunities. When we believe in ourselves and our skills and have the will to do great things, the results will take care of themselves.
“We have a lot of upcoming talent and great team culture. Although we only have one returning varsity player, we are looking strong defensively”, said Gillen.
“Reagan Rouleau’s leadership and skills on the field will help keep everyone moving in the same direction and toward our team goals. We have quick decision-making skills with a good sense of the game.”
“Versatility and team chemistry will help the team rise above previous seasons and inexperience at the varsity level. Our offense is coming along nicely with great plate discipline and refining the swing mechanics of each player.”
“We are excited and ready to be able to compete in the league this year!
Nate can be reached at publisher@thevillagereporter.com