By Bud Milroy
Sports Correspondent
A rare sub-.500 season (7-12 overall and 5-8 MCC) in 2013 for the Lady Toppers softball team should provide a springboard for success in 2014.
“In 2013, we played with three seniors, no juniors and nine underclassmen,” said head coach Bill Greskiw. “It was a struggle early, but we played pretty well over the final third of the season. The underclassmen that saw so much action as varsity players last year should be ready to take the next step this season.”
While the Lady Toppers have no seniors on the squad, the talent is there and as the leadership grows expect the Lady Toppers to be in the hunt for a conference title and a deep run in the playoffs.
Junior Mackenzie Kyle will be the main cog for Catholic Central as she returns to the mound following a 6-10 record last year.
“Mackenzie pitched the most innings for us last year,” Greskiw said. “She is a strong young lady and will provide some power in our lineup with her bat as well.”
Sophomore Makana Miles is expected to see some back-up action on the mound for the varsity as she also hones her skills on the mound for the JV team.
One of the holes the Lady Toppers have to fill from graduation is behind the plate. Freshmen Maddy Vos and Samantha Weiler will begin the year sharing the catching duties until one of them seizes the opportunity for the job permanently, according to Greskiw.
Up the middle for the Lady Toppers are two ladies that moved into those spots midway through last season and look to build on their solid performances. Sophomore Sara Hackbarth will be at second base, while junior Hanna Uhen will return at shortstop.
At the corners there is a battle. Juniors Taylor Reich, Natalie Rach and Tori Kempken, along with sophomore Olivia Sobbe and freshman Haile Weis, are all in contention for the first and third base positions.
Reich looks to be the favorite at third base with the others chasing the first base position and time at third base.
“The outfield will be a work in process,” Greskiw said. “Bridgette Wright is a done deal in centerfield. The corner positions are up for grabs with juniors Ellie Czerwinski and Mikayla Pederson joining Rach, Kempken, Sobbe and Johnson in challenging for those spots.”
Freshman Lindsey Lehman will provide support in the middle infield positions and centerfield.
St. Joseph’s, the 2013 undefeated conference champions and runner-up in the D-3 state championships, returns most of their players and all of their key performers and is expected to be the class of the conference.
“After St. Joe’s, it should be a real horse race in the Metro Classic Conference with everyone battling for second place,” predicted Greskiw.
A perfect start
Catholic Central opened its season with an easy 11-0 win Tuesday night at Shoreland Lutheran.
In five innings of work, Kyle threw a one-hitter and struck out eight.
Rach led the team with two hits and four RBIs, and Kyle helped her cause with two hits.
Reich added a hit for the Lady Toppers.
Catholic Central opened its home schedule with a 5-1 victory Thursday night against Greendale Martin Luther.
Kyle and Sobbe each led the way at the plate with two hits. The Lady Toppers opened up a 2-1 game with three runs in the bottom of the fifth.
On the hill, Kyle improved to 2-0 while scattering six hits, striking out five and walking three.
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