Fact: The Northern Lakes League is one of the top softball circuits in Ohio.
Fact: Any one of at least four teams appears to have the raw material and potential to claim the NLL title this year and/or make a deep tournament run.
What remains to be seen as league play opened on Monday, is which team or teams rise to the top.
On paper, defending champion Springfield (23-3, 12-2 NLL last year) — which advanced to the Division I regional final in 2008 when five current players were freshmen or sophomore starters — seems to have the inside track.
Ninth-year coach Rob Gwozdz is counting on seven returnees, led by seniors Ashlyn Michalak (P), Jesse Zappone (2B), Fayth Atkins (C), and Krista Haley (3B), juniors Patrece Gibson (SS) and Cailyn Cordrey (LF), and sophomore Emily Rockman (1B).
Michalak was 19-3 in 2009 with an 0.99 ERA and 194 strikeouts in 149 innings, and was one of four Blue Devils to earn All-NLL first-team honors. Haley (.333, 28 RBIs) and Cordrey (.338, 21 RBIs) were the other two.
Gibson hit .368, Rockman .305 last season.
“Obviously it starts in the middle,” Gwozdz said of his deep and battle-tested team. “Ashlyn was first-team All-Ohio and we rely on our senior leadership all around. We have the ability to put the ball in play 1 through 9, and we just try to come out to play hard every day and only worry about the task at hand. We don't look ahead.”
Anthony Wayne (20-6, 11-3) handed Springfield both of its NLL losses last season as the Generals finished as runner-up.
New coach Carolyn Vogtsberger is actually in her 16th season leading AW, returning after three years away. Vogtsberger, who guided the Generals to a D-I state title in 2003 and a state semifinal appearance in 2001, says she was rejuvenated by her time away.
“It's fun again,” she said. “I feel like a kid with a new toy.”
The Generals will be led byseniors Stephanie Baker (C), Dani Haley (P), Kelly Hensley (2B), Melissa Sigg (LF), and Kristen Ramer (OF), and juniors Emily Curfis (P) and Sarah Bores (CF). Haley (11-1 record and 0.95 ERA pitching, .309 batting) and Sigg (.333) were first-team NLL selections in 2009, and Bores (.380) and Baker (.375) were the top hitters.
Helping Vogtsberger will be new assistants Jenn Woods, whose seven pitching shutouts took AW to the 2003 state title, and Kara Hensley, the starting third baseman on that team. Both played in college.
“This team has unlimited potential,” Vogtsberger said. “They have good attitudes and good work ethic.”
Southview (20-10, 9-5) has seven varsity returnees, including seniors Carly Damman (CF, .356), Paige Borgman (3B), and Amber Dunlap (OF), and juniors Olivia O'Reilly (P, 11-6, 0.78 ERA, 162 strikeouts, .337 hitter), Emily Estrich (SS-P, .394), Tejal Parikh (2B), and Kara Kruse (OF). A promising newcomer is freshman Jess Knepper (C).
“Our goal is to compete for a title in this league, as tough as it is,” said first-year coach Jim Zoltowski. “I don't see any team on our schedule we can't beat. I see us in the mix.”
Perrysburg (16-8, 9-5) has a new coach with Ryan DeMars, who coached Southview last year.
Helping that transition will be seven returning starters, led by seniors Kim Bryson (P, 10-4, 0.72 ERA, 161 strikeouts in 88 innings), Stephanie Messenger (C-OF, .364) and Lorianne Granata (2B), junior Lindsay Rich (P-1B), and sophomores Kimmy Granata (C-OF, .397), Ty Wilson (LF) and Cammy Messenger (OF-3B).
“I'm really excited about this group,” DeMars said. “Their energy level is outstanding. They just want to go out, play hard and win. I absolutely believe we can win the NLL.”
While the strength of the NLL can be measured by its upper division, perhaps truer barometer is its top-to-bottom parity.
Northview placed sixth last year but reached the Division I regional. As recently as 2007, Rossford was 23-8 and a Division III regional finalist. Maumee, which was last in the NLL last year, has started 5-1 this season. Bowling Green is also not far from contention.
Northview (12-17, 5-9) has a new coach — Steve Kyle, who is also a former Southview coach.
The Wildcats return five starters, including seniors Natalie Dicola (CF), and Aly Matthews (P), junior Ashley Yeager (2B), and sophomores Amelia Howerter (C) and Katie Perkins (LF).
“We've got great kids, but we have a lot to learn,” Kyle said. “We want to get the system in place and teach them to compete. We could be strong by the end of the season.”
Rossford (12-15, 3-11), under ninth-year coach Tom Kralovic, will rely on four returning players in senior Jordan Gauthier (2B), juniors Cassidy Gauthier (C) and Makayla McGee (SS), and sophomore Abby Stahl (P-1B).
Seniors Paige Schwake (1B-P) and Kaleigh Sampson (CF) are two solid lineup additions.
“We want to compete in the top half of the league,” Kralovic said, “but we're just looking to get better right now. We have two good pitchers and we're going to have to play good defense behind them.”
Maumee (10-17, 2-12), under fourth-year coach Jim Hall, is leaning on seven returnees.
That group includes seniors Tabitha Britt (RF) and Kelsey Gladieux (LF), and juniors Mareshah Scott (CF, .375), who was All-NLL first team, Alexis O'Hair (P), Katie Butler (1B), Bre Wojnarowski (SS) and Beki Hayes (C).
“We're hoping to be in the top four,” Hall said. “We have the ability. It's just a matter of whether we can make the routine plays under pressure.”
Bowling Green (12-15, 5-9) begins under new coach Jim Cress.
He has the services of seven returning players. Leading that group are seniors Rachel Irick (P, 9-10, 2.25 ERA), Megan LeGalley (1B, .311), Amy Cress (CF) and Amanda Thurman (P), junior Becca Ruehl (SS-IF), and sophomores Hayley Williford (C) and Casey Akenberger (P, 4-5, 2.33 ERA).
“Our success will heavily depend on the strong leadership of our returning players in the field,” coach Cress said, “and the newer players have to step up and prove that they have the confidence, ability, and effort that it takes to play varsity-level ball in this league.”
First Published April 15, 2010, 1:06 p.m.
