AREA SOFTBALL TEAMS EYE SEASON OPENERS

Girls softball enters its second season for some area high school teams and they will be looking to build off their initial seasons.

The Notre Dame Lady Bulldogs open action first with a game Tuesday at Sikeston. Scott City's Lady Rams host Portageville on Thursday and Chaffee opens its season March 31 at Meadow Heights.

A look at those three area softball teams:

Notre Dame

The Lady Bulldogs return all their pitching and all but one starter from last year's 16-7 team, giving coach Jerry Grim reason for optimism.

Sophomore Jill Huber returns to lead the pitching staff and will be helped on the mound by fellow basketball players Rachael Schlosser and Randi Senciboy.

"We've got all of our pitching returning," Grim said. "They'll be our strength if we ever get them off the basketball court."

Grim, of course, was jokingly referring to the Notre Dame girls' deep run into the state basketball tournament.

"Jill started most of our games last year," said Grim. "Rachael and Randi will help out."

Other players returning with experience are Sara Morrow at first base, Erin Hobbs in the outfield and three-year starter Becca Montgomery.

"I think we're going to do pretty good," Grim said, noting Kelly and Scott City look to be the Lady Bulldogs' toughest competition. "We have almost all our starters returning."

Scott City

Seven starters return from last season as Scott City coach Craig Schnurbusch looks to improve on the Lady Rams' 9-7 record.

"We have a lot of girls that played last year," said Schnurbusch. "If our pitchers throw strikes, and allow us to play some defense behind them, then we can play with anybody."

Four seniors look to be the core of this year's club. Dana Petitt returns as the top pitcher and Heather Miller will also help out on the mound. Both will also be looked to for offense along with classmate Lori Arnzen and junior Amy O'Brien.

Other players returning with experience are senior Jennifer Miller, junior Sarah Glenn and sophomore outfielders Megan Noon and Tara Phillips.

Miller, who has caught in the past, may be moved to another position due to knee surgery.

Chaffee

Coming off an 11-2 season last year, Chaffee coach Mark Devenport has only 12 girls out for softball this year.

But six off those girls started last year so barring injuries, Devenport is sill optimistic about the upcoming season.

"Our number one concern is staying healthy," said Devenport. "With only 12 girls, it's a concern."

Seniors Amy Goetz, Kelly Glueck and Wendy Hanselman all return as starters from last year. Glueck was one of the top pitchers last season, posting a 4-1 mark with a 2.26 earned run average.

Sophomore Jamie Duncan returns as the ace of the pitching staff. Last year as a freshman, Duncan went 6-1 with a school-record 1.19 ERA. She also struck out 70 in only 47 innings. Classmate Jennifer Siebert, who started at second base last year, will be counted on to start at either second or shortstop.

A key to the Lady Devils' season could be the health of junior Brandi Foulk. Chaffee's catcher last season, Foulk missed the final half of last season due to a knee injury suffered in a play at the plate. Foulk was hitting over .400 when the injury occurred and Devenport says she's 100 percent entering 1997.