NBC softball preview: Otsego favored to win title

Apr. 5—Two years removed from the reign of Eastwood and Eagles pitcher Ashley Hitchcock, the Northern Buckeye Conference promises to have a little more drama in deciding its softball champion this season.

Since the NBC began softball play in 2012, Eastwood has been dominant, winning six of the eight championships, all outright. Included were the most recent four in a row (2016-19) that were contested before the coronavirus pandemic wiped out the 2020 season.

In those four seasons, the Eagles were 108-8 overall and a perfect 55-0 in conference play.

For her part, Hitchcock posted a four-year record of 102-7 in the circle, with 1,337 strikeouts and 66 shutouts in her career. She also carried a .462 career batting average with 22 home runs and 163 RBIs. The career shutouts are the second most in Ohio prep history, the career strikeout total ranks third all-time, the win total ranks fourth, and the RBI total is 20th.

Despite these magnificent efforts, Eastwood lost to its nemesis, Cardington-Lincoln, in three straight regionals (2017-18 finals, 2019 semifinals). The Eagles take a 57-game conference winning streak into Monday's start of NBC play.

That era has passed, and this season NBC coaches view Otsego (19-8 overall, 8-6 NBC in 2019) as the favorite to win its first title since 1998 in the former Suburban Lakes League.

The Knights of fourth-year coach Jason Colyer received five of the eight first-place votes and 61 of a possible 64 voting points to place first in a preseason poll of NBC coaches.

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Elmwood got the other three first-place votes and was second at 59 points, Lake was third at 45, and Eastwood fourth at 40. Genoa, Woodmore, Rossford and Woodmore, in order, rounded out the voting.

OTSEGO

Otsego is deep, with 10 players returning who would have lettered a year ago. Eight of those were slotted to be starters.

Leading the way for Otsego will be seniors Eve Serrato (shortstop), Khloey Hutton (pitcher-outfield) and Araha Burgy (third base), and juniors Summer Berry (catcher) and Lexi North (P-OF).

Serrato, who has committed to play at Monmouth University, batted .570, scored 39 runs, and drove in 22 in 2019. Burgy hit .407 with 27 runs and 35 RBIs, and Berry hit .487 with 20 runs.

Colyer is confident in his team's pitching and hitting potential, but is somewhat concerned with the Knights' overall lack of depth.

"Welook to have a strong season, and we should be strong in the circle with Lexi North and Khloey Hutton," Colyer said. "They will be assisted by a veteran infield."

ELMWOOD

Elmwood (19-8, 8-6 in 2019) was the last team to win an NBC crown before Eastwood's current run, taking the title in 2015, when the Royals finished 25-4, 12-2. Elmwood has won seven league championships under 22nd-year coach Matt Hoiles, including five in the former SLL.

The Royals have just two seniors on their roster, but nine players return who were set to letter in 2020, including seven who were pegged as starters.

Hoiles will look for leadership from seniors Madison Hoiles (first base) and Lainey Bingham (center field), juniors Jordyn Babcock (catcher) and Mackenzie Mareches (second base), and sophomore Maddie Milligan (P).

Madison Hoiles, who started as a freshman and sophomore, has a .450 career batting average with 12 home runs and 74 RBIs. Bingham is a .395 career hitter, Babcock .400, and Mareches hit .400 as a freshman in 2019.

Matt Hoiles likes his team's mix of older and younger players, but five of his current starters had no prior varsity experience.

"I look for us to have a successful year," Matt Hoiles said. "We have a very talented group of older girls that have been great leaders, and a young talented group of girls that are very eager to get this program back to the top."

LAKE

Lake (13-12, 7-7) has 10 players back for 14th-year coach Dave Rymers, including seven who were set to start in 2020.

He will rely on seniors Kenzie Jackson (infield), Natalie Patrick (catcher), McKenna Encalado (3B-OF), and Elizabeth Cowell (OF), and juniors Abbie Rymers (OF) and Mackenzie Mickens (P).

Jackson hit .351 and was 4-1 pitching in 2019. Patrick hit .424, Encalado .313, Cowell .315, and Rymers .348. Mickens was 9-7 in the circle.

Coach Rymers likes his team's overall athleticism and the core of returnees. His chief concern is pitching depth.

"Our goal is to improve every day," Rymers said. "This season will be about growth and moving forward. To be successful, we need to make the routine plays defensively, throw strikes, and have productive at bats. The most crucial part of success for our team this year is having the upperclassmen step up and lead us through adversity."

EASTWOOD

Eastwood (27-2, 14-0) has won seven league titles under 14th-year coach Joe Wyant, including the past four in a row from 2016-19.

But, the Eagles are staring at a rebuilding process after dominating the NBC with an All-Ohio pitcher and a glut of other talented players. There are only two seniors on this year's roster, and just two players remain from the 2019 team — senior Jaylee Souder (2B), who batted .403 with 19 RBI, and junior Kaitlyn Luidhart (3B), who hit .403 with 18 RBI.

They will get help from sophomores Delaney Maynard (catcher) and Jessyca Smith (SS), and freshman Lilly Escobedo (OF).

Wyant likes the Eagles' attitude and work ethic, and believes they are very coachable. But, the team may struggle at times because of inexperience.

"We will have some growing pains with our youth and with a freshman pitcher," Wyant said. "But, we expect to be competitive with most teams, and hopefully finish somewhere in the top half of the NBC."

GENOA

Genoa (18-8, 9-5) enters its third year under coach Mike Burriola with four players back who would have lettered in 2020, including three starters.

Burriola will look to big things from senior Caitlin Cruickshank (OF), who batted .414 and was named first team All-NBC in 2019.

Also expected to contribute will be juniors Lacy Frias (OF), who batted .380 in 2019, and Keana Snyder (SS), as well as freshmen Kaylin Shields (P) and Lily Frias (OF).

The Comets should be strong defensively up the middle and have balanced hitting in the lineup. With three freshmen starters, Burriola is concerned about inexperience.

"The season is a big unknown," Burriola said. "We have the potential to be one of the top three teams in the league, but our team needs to gain experience fast to compete. Hopefully, we can peak towards tournament time."

WOODMORE

Woodmore (13-13, 5-9) has five seniors on the roster for fourth-year coach Scott Smith, but only one player back with experience from 2019 in senior Brooke Allen (SS), who batted .433.

She will need help from the four juniors Smith sees as top contributors — Sophie Blausey (P), Karys Becerra (1B), Liv Rowe (OF), and Annie Wellons (catcher).

Smith views the Wildcats as coachable and competitive, and his chief concerns are their overall defensive play and the lack of varsity experience.

"We are inexperienced at every position," Smith said. "I believe, as the season progresses, we will become a better team. I have a great group of girls who want to get better every day, and want to be competitive."

ROSSFORD

Rossford (10-16, 1-13) hopes to improve its place in the NBC standings this year, and 20th-year coach Tom Kralovic is cautiously optimistic about that mission with five players back that would have lettered in 2020, including three that were set to start.

Leading the Bulldogs will be seniors Sophie Seckel (catcher) and Marie Findley (IF), juniors Paige Kromenacker (SS) and Zoe Hussar (SS-OF), and sophomore Lola Leiderman (P-IF).

Kralovic is pleased with the Bulldogs' work ethic and ability to play hard. His top concern, like most coaches this season, is the inexperience created by the lost season of 2020.

"Right now, I would say we are an average team," Kralovic said. "But, if we continue to work hard in practice and gain some experience, we should become a good team by the halfway point of the season."

FOSTORIA

Fostoria (5-18, 2-12) begins its ninth season under coach Clayton Moore, who has four seniors on his roster and six players who were set to letter in 2020. Five of those are back to start this year.

Leading way will be seniors Kaybriauna Kleinmark (P) and Hanna Puente (catcher), and juniors Jasmine Groves (3B) and Raelyn Hoffman (OF).

Moore likes his team's closeness, but sees offensive production and defensive play as potential trouble areas.

"We are very young and will start four or five freshmen," Moore said. "We're looking forward to the growth of the team from the beginning to the end of the season."

First Published April 4, 2021, 6:46pm