2023 BASEBALL AND SOFTBALL PREVIEWS

First base/outfielder Zara Harper (.500 OBP, .889 FPCT) -- Zara is a returning starter who was our Rookie of the Year last year. She is one of our utility players that we can plug in at first base or anywhere in the outfield.

Mia Schaecher, Hayle Force and Annabell Christensen also are returning starters who will have key roles to the success of our team.

Key newcomers: Chase Neice will have a starting role as catcher and some infield this year. She has one of the best arms on our team already, and I expect her to thrive behind the plate. Naveah Matthews is another freshman who will have an impact on our team. She will be our backup pitcher, and I expect her to be a starter in the field when not pitching.

Pitching: Mackenzie Gerard will be our ace and will get the lion’s share of the innings. She has developed a changeup in the off-season and is working on a third pitch. She will be much more dominant than last year. Naveah Matthews is our backup and will start in junior varsity games as a freshman.

Hitting: Addy Blimling and Mackenzie Gerard will lead us in batting, with Addy leading off and Mackenzie in the three spot to drive her home. Addy will hit for average and has improved her bunting in the offseason. Mackenzie will hit for power, and I expect her slugging percentage to increase by quite a bit.

Fielding: Addy Blimling will be the leader in the outfield. She will play center or left depending on the scouting report and where the opponent tends to hit. I have four players who can play just about anywhere in Mackenzie Gerard, Zara Harper, Mia Schaecher and Chase Neice. Mackenzie and Chase will make up the battery most of the year but will also play some infield. Zara will play first and some outfield, and Mia will anchor the infield at short and also get some reps in center.

Season outlook: I think we will improve our record from last year. With a good core of freshmen coming in, and losing only three seniors, we will be deeper at every position. I expect to double our win total this year and compete more with the top tier Central State 8 teams.

New Berlin Baseball

Coach: Bo Gum

Last year’s record: 21-11-1

Returning starters: Junior Lucas Bixby (.396 BA, 7 HR/7-2 record, 2.00 ERA, 50 IP, 107 K). Sangamo First Team All-Conference. Solid lefty who we expect to hold our ace position.

Sophomore Rockman Prince (.370 BA, 3 HR). Sangamo First Team All-Conference. Consistent second baseman with a hot bat.

Junior Gannon Dodd. Although known for basketball, has a strong outfield arm and a consistent bat.

Junior Jacob Roberts. Really good center fielder.

Senior James Moore. Solid backstop for the Pretzels pitching staff

Senior Landon Schutz. Does a little bit of everything for the Pretzels.

Junior Trevor Colwell. Leader of the infield and a scrappy offensive player.

Key losses: Gabe Spann (1B/ OF), to graduation

Key newcomers: Senior outfielder Jack Hepperly will fill in the spot opened up by Gabe Spann from graduation. Jack is a scrappy baseball player who runs the bases really well. He has the potential to have a really good senior year.

Freshman Reid Hepperly has a chance to make an immediate impact on the mound for us. He can swing it as well -- and will get an opportunity to play multiple infield positions.

Players who also have a chance to earn some playing time include junior Tyler Moore, sophomore Mason Scroggins, sophomore Keaton Teel, sophomore Wyatt Frantz and freshman Henry Wys.

Pitching: Junior Lucas Bixby leads the way for the Pretzels. After Bixby, it’s a group of guys that will get an opportunity to earn valuable innings.

Sophomore Rockman Prince came on strong last year. Pitched a complete game in a 2-1 loss to Gillespie in the regional championship.

Senior Landon Schutz and junior Trevor Colwell both will have their roles enhanced on the mound. Neither is overpowering, but both are smart and crafty.

Junior Wesley Preckwinkle is recovering from knee surgery. The team hopes to have him back to eat up innings for us in April.

Freshman Reid Hepperly led the Pretzels junior high baseball team to its first regional title in school history. Hard thrower. The Pretzels expect him to pitch significant innings this year.

Sophomore Wyatt Frantz, sophomore Mason Scroggins, sophomore James Ushman, and freshman Nolan Robinson will have an opportunity to earn some extra innings.

The Pretzels return a lot of players from last year’s squad. We don’t see much of a change to the lineup.

James Moore will be the mainstay behind the plate. Several guys are competing for the backup catcher’s role. Wyatt Frantz and Henry Wys will have opportunities.

Freshman Reid Hepperly is working hard to play a vital role in the Pretzels lineup.

Season outlook: Potential is here for the Pretzels to improve on last season’s 21-11 record.

New Berlin Softball

Head coach: Chip Wagner

Assistant coach: Melissa Dillon

Last year’s record: 12-15

Returning starters: Senior catcher Mae Bandelow (captain) – Great motivator, role model and leader. Defensive wall at catcher. Great bat. Great communicator and worker.

Senior center fielder Alyssa Hopkins – Leader, general of the outfield, great lead-off batter, hard worker.

Senior pitcher Kailyn Middleton – Leader, ace of the staff, solid contact hitter, ball of energy.

Junior first baseman Marissa Heironimus – Leader, great defensive first baseman, good power, great motivator.

Junior shortstop Ashlee Brown – Leader, solid defense, good contact, some pop.

Sophomore third baseman/ catcher Carlie Smith – Quiet leader, solid bat, solid corner player.

Second baseman/outfielder/ pitcher Autumn Green – Quiet leader, hard worker, great contact hitter.

Sophomore outfielder Halle Bandy – Great contact hitter, hard worker.

Key newcomers: Junior Whitney Williams (OF) – Brings good energy, solid bat, reads fly balls well, hard worker.

Sophomore Taylor Staub (INF/P) – Smart player, solid bat, throws the ball in the zone.

Sophomore Audrey Attig (INF) – Solid bat, good defense, coming back from ankle injury.

Sophomore Katy Wiser (OF) – Keeps the mood positive, good contact, good attitude, solid mindset.

Sophomore Kaelyn Green –Good contact hitter, great teammate, good outfielder.

Sophomore Kristi Wright (OF) – Positive, positive, great supporter and great teammate, good contact hitter.

Freshman Riley Holloway (INF/OF/P) – Quick, good arm, good contact hitter.

Freshman Caitlin Harney (IF/ OF) – Good teammate, solid contact hitter, tough.

Freshman Drue Zenger (OF) – Good contact hitter, willing to learn and hard working.

Pitching: Kailyn Middleton will be the team’s ace and will see the majority of innings. Taylor Staub, Autumn Greene and Riley Holloway will pitch in relief roles. The goal will be to throw strikes and cut down on walks.

Hitting: Our offense will put the ball in play, work counts, and hit for contact pretty consistently. But we do have some power. We will bunt and move runners. We will strive to compete each game.

Defense: With seniors at catcher, pitcher and center field, we will have good leadership. Infielders have good, soft hands with solid arms. Outfielders track balls down well and have solid arms. Our goal is to make routine plays and flash the leather to steal some outs here and there.

Season outlook: We will compete daily and grow as a team. We have a lineup that can put runs on the board and defense to hold people to lower run totals. Consistent pitching and great work ethic. We have a great group of kids.

North Greene Baseball

Coach: Joe Kindred

Last year’s record: 5-16

Key returning players: Sophomore Garret Hazelwonder, senior Brayden Faulkner, sophomore Ethan Clark, junior Bradley Barfield, senior Reese Scott, junior Jacob Hinsey and sophomore Brody Barry.

Key losses: Brayden Roberts (1B/P), Colton Daniel (1B/OF)

Key newcomers: Freshman class will have a number of players competing with upperclassmen for spots in the daily varsity lineup.

Season outlook: Nine return- ers from last year’s team, including seven starters. North Greene hopes to continue to build a positive and competitive culture grounded in accountability and consistency. Staying healthy is a big key for us this year.

North Greene Softball

Coach: Nathan Roberts

Last year’s record: 3-9

Returning players: Senior second baseman Abigail Jones will be a big contributor this year as a senior leader on and off the field. Her bat will be big in the lineup this year.

Senior left fielder Kassidy Riley will anchor a young outfield and will be a rock on defense.

Junior catcher Carlee Speaker is a wall behind the plate with great hands and a very strong arm … should slow down a lot of potential baserunners. She led the team last year in home runs as well.

Junior outfielder Alyeah Benkowski was a surprise off the bench last year and should step right up this year to take her spot on the field.

Junior shortstop Kearstan Smith played several key defensive positions last year and should anchor our infield this year with a good glove.

Season outlook: We graduated eight players off the team last year, with most of those being starters. We will be young this year and building for a very bright future with the athletes that are out right now plus what’s in the upcoming classes. We should be defensively sound with pitching that will keep us in the games, giving our defense a chance to make some plays. We should be a scrappy young team with some team speed to put pressure on teams this year. We will have two freshmen in the circle for us this year in Brandy Davidson and Chelsey Castleberry. Both are always around the plate, and their pitch-