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04/11/2008

Winslow has won the Eastern B softball title in three of the last four seasons. The Black Raiders certainly have a shot at making it four out of five, but they will have to do so with a much different team than they've had in recent years.

"There's no question we took a hit from graduation," Winslow coach Terry Parlin said. "We graduated six seniors who all contributed. There's no question that we've got some holes to fill, especially the offensive part of it."

To bolster that offense, Parlin is having ace pitcher Katie Knowlen take a turn in the lineup for the first time in her high school career. Other standouts in the lineup are shortstop Katie Caron, center fielder Jill Smith, catcher Beth Fisher and third baseman Liz Cheesman.

Other teams have also had to tinker with their lineups because of graduation. But as Waterville coach Dave Morissette points out, they know that drill by now.

"There are some excellent coaches in this league," Morissette said. "It doesn't seem to matter how much a team loses to graduation; these coaches have their teams ready to play tough every year."

Maine Central Institute has one of the league's best pitchers in Jordan Kennedy, but often struggled to get its offense going against the top-tier pitchers. Coach Steve Bodge said he saw signs of the offense coming around in summer ball. Kennedy and catcher Kristen Sousa are the only seniors, but Bodge doesn't see that being a problem.

"We can't say we're young anymore, because all those juniors have been there two or three years," Bodge said. "We've got small numbers out this year, so we've got a pretty tight-knit group."

Maranacook returns its starting outfield and two capable pitchers in sophomore Sarah Maxwell and senior Delaney Evans. Both can also hit, so coach Terry Hickey will likely find room for their bats when they're not on the mound. Maranacook's offense will have a much different look this season, as the Black Bears have the speed to try a lot of different things.

Oak Hill has finished 9-9 in each of the last two seasons. In 2006, that earned the Raiders a No. 4 seed. Last season, it brought the Raiders in ninth in Western B. This spring, the Raiders have the potential to push their record past .500 and earn a higher seed to boot.

The Raiders have added depth this season, and coach Julie Boucher thinks she has three quality pitchers in senior Brittany Wood, freshman Lauren Hall and sophomore lefthander Sarah Albert.

Gardiner will move from Class A to Class B this season. Coach Conrad Lewis is guarded in his optimism pointing out that Winslow could have competed with Class A teams last season.

"People have this misconception that if you drop from Class A to Class B, you should win," Lewis said. "They don't realize that Class B softball teams could play with Class A."

Gardiner was 5-12 last season in Class A, and returns seven starters, including shortstop Chelsea Striker, who hit around .350 last spring.

Erskine coach Mike Soule praises the leadership of his seniors, who will be sprinkled around the infield and outfield. After graduating two pitchers from last year's team, the Eagles give the ball to sophomore Samantha Morse.

"She's only a sophomore, but she works hard," Soule said. "She pitches all year round. She knows she's going to get the ball, and she wants it."

Waterville's girls tennis team won the Eastern B title last season, and the girls track and field team is coming off a state championship. Both of those teams are loaded again, and while the softball team has talent, it does face an uphill climb of sorts with so many quality athletes out for other sports.

Coach Morissette thinks the Purple Panthers can be better than their 5-11 record of last season. Junior Paige Gardiner has been the top pitcher the last two years, and Morissette felt junior Jess Murray looked strong on the mound in the early preseason.

Mt. View squeezed into the preliminary round last year, and this year the Mustangs are talented but young. Coach Mike Gagnon will rely heavily on his four veteran varsity players, Mollie Arute, Kristin Masessa, Cassandra St. Clair and Felicia Story.

"Those four have done the deal, danced the dance, if you will," Gagnon said.

Matt DiFilippo -- 861-9243

mdifilippo@centralmaine.com

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