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04/11/2008

Since the year 2000, Western D softball championships have come in pairs: Monmouth in 2000-01, Buckfield in 2002-03, Richmond in 2004-05 and Buckfield in 2006-07.

With Monmouth in Western C, the patterns say it's Richmond's turn. But while the Bobcats look like they have the pieces to put up a strong fight against Buckfield in the Western D race, other teams should combine to make this an interesting season in the East-West Conference.

Buckfield is considered the favorite because pitcher Kasey Farrington is back after leading the Bucks to the state title last season. Richmond hit Farrington well last season (losing games by scores of 10-9 and 8-7), and Rangeley and Forest Hills are closer to the top than they have been in years.

Richmond coach Rick Coughlin was worried about numbers but was delighted when 18 players showed up for tryouts. Coughlin will keep all 18, and the roster includes five seniors -- all of whom will start -- and seven freshmen.

Senior Amy Russell is the only pitcher, so Coughlin will use her in both games of doubleheaders. Russell split the pitching duties with Katie Cray last season, so she has experience.

"She's come a long way in the four years," Coughlin said. "She's very, very smooth, and getting quicker. She's got a great attitude, and she loves pitching."

Rangeley finished 10-5 last season and has a strong group of returning players who will help the Lakers be one of the stronger teams in Western D under new coach Phil Olivieri. Rangeley's infield is its strength, with catcher Hayley White, first baseman Samantha Olivieri, second baseman Ali Godaire and third baseman Krista Jamison.

Angela White returns as the top pitcher, and Coach Olivieri said he is concentrating on having her get the ball over the plate and letting Rangeley's solid infield take things from there.

Forest Hills has just 31 girls in the high school, but 11 of them are on the softball team, along with two eighth-graders. That has given the Tigers a strong starting lineup with good bats in Leann Doyle, Crystal Allen, Elise Begin and twins Jasmine and Jessica Worster.

With Allen bringing her experience to the mound, this could be a strong team. But in early April, the snow on the field measured 4 feet.

"We'll be lucky if we can get on (our) field two weeks into the season," Forest Hills coach Ernie Giroux said. "But we've got experienced girls, and they're athletic. It's going to hurt us, but not as much as it would with a younger team."

The big news at Valley this season is that the Cavaliers have enough players to field a junior varsity team. Since hardly anyone else in Class D has that luxury, Valley's JV team will likely play against Class C schools.

The boost in numbers came from a group of 10 freshmen who could see varsity time. Alyssa Vitalone, Valley's leading hitter as a sophomore last season, returns at first base, with Jessica Brown again bringing a solid glove to shortstop. The deep pitching staff will be led by Katelynn Atwood and Jocelyn Laweryson.

"I've got six girls who can pitch well enough to do it, so that will be nice flexibility," Valley coach Robin Lindeman said.

Kents Hill has a talented wave of athletes at the school, and coach Meg Bennett is hoping that will get the Huskies over the hump. Kents Hill has been the runner-up in the Maine Association of Independent Schools Athletic Directors Conference in each of the last four seasons.

The Huskies have 20 players again, and Bennett's major problem isn't such a bad one: She may have more good players than available spots in the lineup.

"We have a lot of returning starters this year," Bennett said. "We seem to have a lot of diversity on this team as far as where different girls have played and can play."

Averill, which had only eight girls express an interest in playing softball this season, will not field a team.

Matt DiFilippo -- 861-9243

mdifilippo@centralmaine.com

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