SMCC wants to boost offense; Monroeville has good mix of talent

The only area softball team competing in the Sandusky Bay Conference River Division this season is St. Mary Central Catholic. Danbury doesn't have enough girls to field a team, leaving other schools scrambling to find games to replace the Lakers on their schedules. The Panthers were 1-24 last year, but graduated just two seniors and bring in a talented freshman class. New Riegel won the league championship in 2025 and returns Most Outstanding Performer, pitcher Karsyn Piper, who is a junior. In the Firelands Conference, Crestview won the league title by going 14-0 while Monroeville was runner-up at 12-2. The Eagles used the fuel of not winning the league championship to make a run to the state championship game for the second year in a row. The softball season starts Saturday. SBC River The Panthers won just one league game last year, splitting two meetings with Old Fort late in the season. SMCC averaged fewer than four runs a game, something the Panthers have worked to improve this preseason. "Offensively, we look to make improvements from last year," SMCC coach Madison Hayberger said. "Hitting wasn't one of our strengths before, but we've really focused on it this preseason. We're learning to be more confident at the plate and do a better job at making contact and putting the ball in play." Sophomore Brittney Rhoads led the Panthers with 27 hits and 15 runs last year while juniors Rachel Spicer and Ella Brownell each added 20 hits. Sophomore Laney Torres and graduated Bailey Woodruff each knocked in 10 runs for SMCC. "We're a very young team this year with five freshmen, six sophomores and three juniors, but that also makes us really exciting," Hayberger said. "We've put a big emphasis on building a strong foundation by focusing on the basics and fundamentals offensively and defensively. The team has worked really hard in the preseason and our chemistry and effort have been great so far." Rhoads, Torres and Spicer each saw significant time in the circle for the Panthers. Rhoads started 14 games while Torres got the start 10 times. "We have three pitchers and they've been working hard on building endurance, which will be a big strength for us as the season goes on," Hayberger said. "Defensively, we've spent a lot of time on fundamentals, staying composed and building better situational awareness." New Riegel won 21 games en route to the River Division title. The Blue Jackets were district runners-up, falling to Mohawk. In addition to Piper, New Riegel brings back first-team infield league picks Ruthann Baughman (senior) and Jacqui Tiell (sophomore). Calvert won 24 games last year. The Senecas won a district title, defeating Hopewell-Loudon in a district final at Margaretta High School. Calvert then lost to Defiance Ayersville in a regional semifinal. The Senecas graduated three first-team league selections in Alyssa Rishty (infield), Addison King (infield) and Addie Endicott (outfield). Gibsonburg returns first-team pitcher Ava Amor after going 19-8 last year. The Golden Bears bring back some experience in first-team league picks Cheyenne Reese (catcher) and Leah Hall (outfield). Firelands Conference Monroeville finished as state runner-up each of the last two years. Last season, the Eagles were 27-4 overall. Monroeville won a regional title, defeating Vienna Mathews before topping Mohawk in a state semifinal. The Eagles came up short against Portsmouth Notre Dame in the Division VII state title game. Monroeville has a new coach this year in Pat Scheid, who has been around the program for a while under previous coach Abe Helmstetter. "I think the team we have this year has a good mix of veteran talent mixed with some very hungry youth," Scheid said. "We will be strong on infield with most of it back from last year. Offensively, we return six from last year's lineup, and pitching will be led by three juniors with two of them seeing time last year." Monroeville has to replace Veanna Helmstetter in the circle. She made 29 appearances for the Eagles, going 23-2 and striking out 166 batters in 141 2/3 innings. Junior Payton Weilnau pitched in 15 games, throwing 36 1/3 innings. She had 68 strikeouts. Junior Taylor Scheid made six appearances, tossing 12 2/3 innings. "We will be younger than expected this year in the outfield because of some injuries, but are feeling more confident every day that the youth will rise up to our expectations," coach Scheid said. "Offensively, just getting some more reps is what we need out of our youth and I think we will fill our voids from last year in time." Taryn Tyler graduated after leading the Eagles in five hitting categories. She topped the team in batting average (.561), runs scored (55), hits (60), runs batted in (55) and doubles (19). Senior Madi Reiber is the top returner for Monroeville at the plate. She hit .429, smacked 42 hits and drove in 52 runs. She belted four home runs for the Eagles and matched Weilnau with five triples apiece. "As far as pitching, just keep grinding and putting in the work like we always do," coach Scheid said. "My overall goal for this unit is to stay healthy, work hard, grow together everyday and put together another successful season." St. Paul went 13-12 overall, finishing 8-6 and in third place in the league. The Flyers won a pair of tournament games before losing to Monroeville in a district final. St. Paul returns a wealth of talent including junior catcher Ella Kalizewski and senior pitchers Bella Guerra and Taegan Mansfield-Bush. Kalizewski, a first-team league pick, led St. Paul with a .547 batting average, 41 hits, 40 RBI, eight doubles and nine home runs. She was third with 24 runs scored and tied for second with three triples. "We are very excited for this season as we are returning nine lettermen from last year," St. Paul coach Aaron Kalizewski said. "Our team has been putting in a lot of hard work this past offseason and preseason and it's really starting to show." Guerra made 20 appearances in the circle for the Flyers while Mansfield-Bush appeared in 14 games. "Our overall hopes and goals for the season start with having a healthy and injury-free season," coach Kalizewski said. "We hope to build upon the experience we got last season from finishing as district runner-up." Crestview was a district champion last year, going 23-4. The Cougars graduated first-team league picks Chesnie Patton (pitcher), PJ Endicott (catcher) and Kalee Hamman (outfield). New London was 17-10, but must replace first-team selection Madison Rowland at catcher. The Wildcats tied Mapleton (11-13 overall) for fourth in the league, both going 7-7. Returning All-SBC River selections First team Pitcher: Karsyn Piper, New Riegel; Ava Amor, Gibsonburg; Ava Eilrich, Calvert Catcher: Cheyenne Reese, Gibsonburg; Abbi Ward, Old Fort Infield: Lexi Moon, Lakota; Ruthann Baughman, New Riegel, Araceli Velasquez, Hopewell-Loudon; Jacqui Tiell, New Riegel Outfield: Leah Hall, Gibsonburg; Chevelle Rubel, Lakota Second team Pitcher: Liv Scavio, Woodmore; Sophia Bomer, Lakota Catcher: Kelsey Kaylor, Woodmore; Gracie Miller, Calvert Infield: Emily Henderson, Gibsonburg; Alivia Wauford, Gibsonburg; Miranda Evans, Danbury Outfield: Charley Lenthe, Danbury; Scarlett Faber, Calvert; Kaleigh Concepcion, Calvert Honorable mention Pitcher: Brittney Rhoads, SMCC Catcher: Rylee Cortright, Danbury; Mya Stoudinger, Lakota Infield: Amaree Haralson, Fremont SJCC; Mia Brink, Gibsonburg Returning All-Firelands selections First team Catcher: Ella Kalizewski, St. Paul Infield: Gracie Thomas, New London; Madi Reiber, Monroeville Outfield: Carlee Crider, Crestview Second team Pitcher: Bella Guerra, St. Paul; Taegan Mansfield-Bush, St. Paul Infield: Ryleigh Mansfield-Bush, St. Paul; Layken Barnhart, Western Reserve; Addison Hess, Mapleton; Pailee Wilso, New Riegel; Ella Sanders, South Central; Bella Hillman, Crestview Outfield: Kegney Stoll, St. Paul; Mattie Bates, Mapleton; Allison Volz, Crestview Honorable mention Pitcher: Kelsi Clark, Mapleton Catcher: Makayla Case, Western Reserve Infield: Olivia Yetter, New London; Ember Phillips, South Central, Payton Preston, St. Paul; Madison Montgomery, Plymouth Outfield: Rachel Fries, Monroeville