The Tyrone and Bellwood-Antis girls softball teams begin the 2004 season with a new league. Both local schools are in the Mountain Athletic Conference (MAC). Bellwood-Antis is in Division 3, while Tyrone will play in Division 2. The divisions have been set up as much as possible according to size.
Coach Lois Loncher leads the Tyrone Lady Eagles in her fifth season as head coach and is assisted by MaryAnn Volders, Jim Domenick and Denielle Wilson. The Lady Eagles were 11-7 over last year, 10-5 in league play.
Tyrone returns starters Stephanie Catich, SS; Hilary McNelis, P; Missy Stager, 2B-SS; Heather Stanton, C-INF; Katie Whitby, CF; and Ashley Ripka, OF/2B, from the 2003 campaign. Other returnees include: Meghan McAllister, OF; Lauren Snider. P; Casey Bonsell, OF/1B; and Katie Schreckengost, OF.
Catich is the only senior, McNelis, Stager, Stanton, Whitby, McAllister, Bonsell and Snider are juniors, and Ripka and Schreckengost are sophomores.
“We have a lot of returning players, which will be needed for our schedule,” said Loncher. “We have moved up a class this year and each game we will have to be at our best. However that will also make us better for district playoff games.”
The Lady Eagles have experience, but not much bench strength with nine returnees and just three newcomers, ; and freshmen Stefani Bryan, 3B; and Kim Cherry, C/1B and Ashley Pennabaker, OF.
“The concerns we have are how well we gel and how much time we can get outside to practice,” questioned Loncher. “We also are concerned with our mental toughness against the better competition. How will we react when we have our backs against the wall will determine our success. We are excited about playing the bigger schools, but it is difficult to gauge wins and losses because of the competition and an injury here or there could change things around.”
At Bellwood-Antis, Alex Sitman is the new coach taking over for John Hammond, who started the program at Bellwood. Sitman was a volunteer coach for the Lady Blue Devils last year, when a 6-12 record included five losses by two runs or less that could have turned the mark around.
Only two starters return and four other girls who were all ninth graders on the team in 2003 form the nucleus for Sitman and assistants Jim Kovac, Galen Claar, Frank Forney, Trista Kovac and Melissa Sitman.
Becka Forney, SS,; and Charlie Burns, C, return from the 2003 staring lineup and Heather Detwiler, Chelsea Kephart, Christine Pfahler and Karlie Walters are the others back from last season.
“We have good team leadership, great attitudes and they are willing to work hard,” stated Sitman, in noting the Lady Blue Devils’ strengths.
Obviously a lot will depend on the newcomers and how quickly the team adjusts to the coaching staff.
The newcomers include: Laura Cresswell, C/OF; Casey Narehood, 2B/OF; Alycia O’Donald, 1B/OF; Katie Bells, OF; Brittany Emery, OF; Amanda Mortimore, C/OF; Kerstin Myers, 2B/P/2B; Keera Stehley, OF; Pam Weyant, OF; Ashley McClellan, 3B/OF; Danielle Riley, C/OF; Lindsey Carney, OF; Ashley Lechner, OF; and Bethany Helsel, OF.
“We are concerned about the lack of experience at key positions and low numbers overall,” explained Sitman. “With their willingness to work hard, this team will improve as the season goes on and their experience this year will help to build for the future. The girls are excited to play. We are trying to see what we have. It is going to take a while, but this year should be very interesting.”
Tyrone will open the season at home against Huntingdon today at 4 p.m., then go on the road for the rest of the week with games at Hollidaysburg on Wednesday at 4 p.m. and Bellwood-Antis on Friday at 3:30 p.m.
Bellwood-Antis opens the season at Hollidaysburg today at 4 p.m. and then hosts Northern Bedford on Wednesday and Tyrone on Friday. Both home contests are set for 3:30 p.m.
