2023 BASEBALL AND SOFTBALL PREVIEWS

Lorschbach (IF/P), sophomore

Jake Snyders (IF/P), freshman

Blake Nolte (OF/P), freshman

Max Toppmeyer (C/P), freshman

Jack Zipprich (IF/P)

Pitching: I would not say we have an ace. We have a lot of depth with about 16 guys that I would feel comfortable putting on the mound in a varsity game. We threw a lot of young guys out there last year, and they are now a year older and stronger.

Hitting: Same as the pitching, we have a lot of depth as these guys are all a year older after taking some lumps last year. We will definitely be more of a contact hitting team with some speed scattered in the lineup to make things happen.

Fielding: Without a dominant pitcher who can go out and strike out 10 to 15 guys, our defense will be asked to make a lot of plays. We have a lot of competition for starting spots in this year’s lineup.

Season outlook: We have 22 players out, with 16 of them being freshmen and sophomores. This core of young guys has played a lot of ball and gained valuable experience during last season. I look forward to competing in the rugged WIVC conference this year. I hope Mother Nature cooperates and we can see what our young squad can accomplish this spring.

Calhoun Softball

Coach: Ann Gilman

Last year’s record: 26-11

Returning starters: Sophomore second baseman Lila Simon (.327 BA), junior first baseman Delani Klaas (.233 BA), senior shortstop Jaelyn Hill (.192 BA), sophomore designated player Anna Oswald (.169 BA), junior center fielder Gracie Klaas (.304 BA), junior left fielder Katie Matthews (.252 BA), sophomore third baseman Lacy Pohlman (.233 BA), sophomore pitcher Audrey Gilman (.423 BA/138 IP, 17-5 record, 253

K, 1.826 ERA)

Key losses: Ella Sievers -- our No. 2 hitter, and caught every varsity match. Also a team leader for us. Kylie Angel -- our No. 3 hitter who pitched and played right field. Both will be hard to replace out of the gate.

Key newcomers: Junior Grace Ballard (IF) -- great defensive skills, and very quick. She will more than likely start off as our leadoff hitter. Junior Haylee Armbruster (IF) -- returning after tak- ing a year off but has great glove work with a strong arm, and has a solid plate presence. Freshman Kiera Sievers (utility/C) -- has solid skills all the way around, and on both sides of the ball. Freshman Anabel Eilerman (P) -- should be able to put in some innings on the mound to give Audrey a break, and has a great swing.

Pitching: Audrey Gilman will be our ace. She pitched us to the super-sectional last year but the top three hitters in the lineup to be Grace Ballard, Audrey Gilman and Lila Simon.

Fielding: Position possibilities -- Grace Ballard third, Jaelyn Hill short, Lila Simon second, Anna Oswald/Katie Matthews first, Anna Oswald/Katie Matthews left, Gracie Klaas center, Lacy Pohlman right. Key position to fill -- Catcher … looking at Delani Klaas, with Kiera Sievers on standby. We also have Haylee Armbruster who could earn a spot. I have a number of girls who are equally talented and making it difficult to make player decisions. We look very solid defensively in practice -- just need that to transfer to games.

Season outlook: I look for us to be just as good if not better than last season. We have talent, speed and strength working in our favor.

Carrollton Baseball

Coach: Ryan Howard

Last year’s record: 13-16 (sectional champs)

Returning starters: senior Boden Flowers (catcher/pitcher/middle infield), junior Caleb Howard (outfield/pitcher), sophomore Lucas Howard (infield/ catcher/pitcher), sophomore Dagan Cordes (infield/pitcher) starting roles. We have an ambitious group of young men. With two seniors this season, we will have a lot of moving parts. The underclassmen are excited and ready to do their part. Bo and Lucas are our two returning infield starters. We will be looking to them and Dagan Cordes to anchor this infield. Caleb Howard is our two-year returning outfield starter.

Carrollton Softball

Coach: Travis Klingler (6th year)

Last year’s record: 25-8 couldn’t finish the game on the mound due to an injury. Audrey has speed and spin, and can present an issue for most batters. Anabel Eilerman will see innings. She has a great pitch selection with good command and speed.

Returning starters: Sophomore Lauren Flowers. She was our main pitcher last year, going 15-6 with 168 Ks across 118 innings. She had an ERA of 1.65. She will also be our shortstop when not pitching. Flowers led our team in most offensive categories, with a .517 average, 8 home runs, 50 RBIs, 53 runs scored, and 26 stolen bases.

Hitting: I look for our team to be solid hitters up and down the lineup. Most of our hitters are power hitters, but they will all do what is necessary to put runs on the board. Any one of them can do damage. At this time I look for

Key losses: We lost a very talented senior class, including Grant Pohlman (pitcher/catcher), Gus Coonrod (shortstop/ pitcher), Kyle Leonard (catcher/ pitcher), Jackson Cotner (center field), and Travis Evans (first base). Those boys were the cornerstone to our success last year. They will be missed.

Key newcomers: Freshmen entering the program are: Carson Flowers (infield/pitcher), Eli Cox (pitcher/utility player), Reed Schnettgoecke (utility player), and Charlie Stumpf (pitcher/utility player).

Pitching: Our returning relievers will be moving into some key

Sophomore Hannah Uhles. She will also compete for innings on the mound as she is now one year removed from surgery and fully healthy. Uhles was 5-2 with 36 Ks across 43 innings, and had an ERA of 3.71. She will also be one of our top hitters. She finished last year with a .453 average, 14 doubles, 35 RBIs and 37 runs scored.

Sophomore Daci Walls. She will share duties at catcher and first base. She returns after a very good freshman season in which she hit .384 with 16 doubles and 43 RBIs.

Sophomore Vanna Holmes. She was a very solid, consistent hitter in our lineup, usually in the four or five spot during her freshman year. She hit .385 with 5 home runs, 37 RBIs and 35 runs scored.

Senior Ella Stumpf. She will slot into an infield position depending on who is pitching. She hit .364 last year with 3 triples, 44