Softball home opener is April 9
By Dan Truttschel
Correspondent
The loss of two first-team, all-conference players in a league with a team that went to the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association Division 2 State Tournament usually is not a recipe for success.
But those are the cards the East Troy High School softball team will have to play this spring, and the Trojans are confident they can make a little noise before all is said and done.
East Troy lost a trio of talented seniors to graduation, including All-Rock Valley picks Paige Kloth and Myranda Dallas, from the squad that finished 11-9 overall and 10-6 in the RVC, good for third.
McFarland won the conference crown at 15-1 and advanced to the state tournament last year.
“We have some decent players back at a number of positions, but it really hinges on pitching,” East Troy coach Greg Prince said. “We are going to be really inexperienced in some positions, but I really like our enthusiasm and work ethic as of now.”
Prince said the team will be led by the only senior with varsity experience, pitcher-outfielder Anna Foley, along with the junior trio of Vanessa Dingman (infield), Hunter Scheel (infield) and Chloe Jakscht (infield).
All three juniors enter the spring with two varsity letters to their credit.
That foursome will have to bring along a lot of inexperienced teammates, Prince said.
“(They need) to lead by example, be a role model for the younger players and be there to help the younger players, support them and encourage them,” he said. “They have been there and been through it. They know what it’s all about.”
Finding a reliable second pitcher will be one key to success, Prince said, along with how fast the newcomers adapt to varsity softball.
“The game moves much faster and how well the new and inexperienced players pick this up will be big for us,” Prince said.
Others on the varsity roster are senior Morgan McPhail (outfield; junior Kezra Swanson (infield-pitcher); sophomores Kaitlyn O’Connell (catcher), Natalie Bearce (outfield), Kelly Griffa (outfield), Maranda Ducommon (outfield-pitcher), Maria Kulick (utility) and Maria Longstreet (infield); and
Freshmen Jordan Scheel (infield), Samantha Donahue (infield-pitcher), Lisa Heidelmeier (infield), Lexi Oswald (infield), Brianna Schubert (infield-pitcher), Victoria Pott (outfield), Heather Nowalske (outfield) and Ashlee Johnson (infield).
McFarland team to beat
Prince, who is entering his seventh year as the Trojans’ head coach, said McFarland, which lost in the state semifinal last year, returns a solid core in 2015 and should be the team to beat in the North Division.
Others to watch include Evansville, which Prince said also has a number of returning letter-winners, and Edgerton, which traditionally in the mix.
In the South Division, Beloit Turner, Parkview and Brodhead should lead that race to the title, Prince said.
As for the Trojans?
“I would like to finish in the top half of the RVC North, finish at least .500 or better,” he said.
Prince will be assisted this year by Jodi Kostochuski and Mike Foley.
East Troy was scheduled to open its spring Tuesday afternoon at Beloit Turner. The Trojans return to action next Tuesday, April 7, at Palmyra-Eagle, at 4:45 p.m.
The Trojans host their 2015 home opener Thursday, April 9, against Parkview, also at 4:45 p.m.
