FALL PREP SOFTBALL SLOWLY CATCHES ON WITH AREA SCHOOLS

It's becoming an extremely full plate for fall high school girls softball in this area.

As recently as a few years ago, not many local teams played softball in the fall even though that's when state championships are contested. Most of the area squads competed in the spring, when there are no state playoffs.

But all that is changing in a hurry. This year, two more area schools are converting from the spring to the fall, bringing the number of local fall softball squads to six.

Fall veterans Cape Girardeau Central, Jackson, Kelly and Perryville are being joined this year by fall newcomers Notre Dame and St. Vincent.

The four holdover squads from last fall are all coming off winning seasons, with Kelly capturing the Class 2A state championship.

Here is a look at the area softball teams for 1997 as the season gets under way this week:

Cape Central

Last year at this time, Central coach Don Lang faced the prospect of opening the season with plenty of question marks because very few players with experience returned.

But Lang's situation this season is totally different. He has plenty of experience back from last year's 14-8 team, so the Lady Tigers' outlook is solid.

"You always have holes, but we're in a lot better shape this year than we were last year, with experienced players at just about all positions," said Lang. "I think we've got a good group of girls so we should be pretty solid."

Senior regulars back from last season are outfielder Courtney Haman, third baseman Cassie Koch, second baseman Michelle Lunsford, outfielder Erica McDonald (who will move to first base) and pitcher Kathy Michel, who figures to lead the mound corps.

Junior Jennifer Daume returns at catcher while the Voerg sisters -- sophomore twins, center fielder Amber and shortstop Ashlie -- are back after earning all-state honors as freshmen.

Lang will also be counting on several other juniors off last year's JV team, including Dionna Webb, Ashli Langston, Crissi Matthews, Sara Mann and Eve Lungwitz, along with sophomore pitcher Casi Childers, who hurled for the JV a year ago.

Cape Central opens the season Wednesday at home against Notre Dame.

Notre Dame

The Lady Bulldogs have been a solid spring team over the years and coach Jerry Grim is hoping they'll be able to transfer that success to the fall.

"I think the girls are excited just to have the chance to participate in district tournaments," said Grim of the move to the fall. "And we'll also get to play some of the teams we used to play, like Cape Central, Jackson and others."

Notre Dame went 10-8 in the spring and the Lady Bulldogs return some key players, including their top two pitchers: seniors Randi Senciboy and Jill Huber.

Senciboy, who plays shortstop when not on the mound, led last year's team with a .410 batting average. Huber plays first base when she's not pitching.

Other returning regulars are senior Ashley Koettker, who played third base and outfield last year; senior second baseman Nikki Davie; and junior outfielder Jessica Serratti.

Grim said younger players will help fill in the rest of the spots. That group includes freshmen Mica Williamson, Traci Kluesner and Holly Schnurbusch. Williamson and Kluesner both played on the Heartland Nationals 13-15-year-old team that recently won a national title.

"Our pitching should be solid. We'll have better pitching than we've ever had," Grim said. "If we can hit the ball we'll be all right."

Notre Dame visits Cape Central Wednesday to open the season.

Jackson

The Lady Indians carry plenty of optimism into the 1998 season -- and with good reason.

Jackson returns 10 letterwinners from last year's squad that went 15-10 and finished third in a rugged 4A district tournament.

"We started out 0-5 last year but then we really came on and had a good season," said coach Becky Riney. "With the people we have coming back, we're really excited."

Among the 10 returners are four seniors who Riney will be counting on: Melissa Palmer, who split time at first base and third base last year and earned all-state honors; Carrie Myers, who played second and third a year ago; shortstop Jessica Sander, entering her fourth season as a starter; and outfielder Jessica Shultz.

Five juniors with experience are also back: pitchers Beth Becker and Gretchen King, outfielders Megan Kuntze and Cherish Tillman and infielder Emily Sander.

Sophomore Amanda Bullinger started at catcher last year as a freshman and will be behind the plate again once she recovers from an injury that will sideline her for a few games.

Riney is also looking for contributions from juniors Stacey DeClue and Staci Illers and sophomore Lindsey Meyr.

Jackson plays its first game Wednesday on the road against Notre Dame of St. Louis.

Kelly

Coach Rhonda Evans has got to be wondering what her Lady Hawks can do for an encore.

After finishing as state runner-up in 1996, Kelly won it all last season, compiling an 18-4 record. Along the way, the Lady Hawks also captured their 12th consecutive district title.

"Last year was just an unbelievable season," said Evans. "And the girls are already really excited. One of their goals is to head back to state, but I told them you can't get to state unless you play all the little ones first.

"We have a lot of people expecting us to go (to state) and that puts a lot of pressure on me and the girls. I hope they just relax and play ball and not worry about what people expect. If they do that, then I think we'll have a shot to get back to state."

Even though the Lady Hawks lost five talented seniors, they certainly should have the talent to make another state run.

Six seniors return and all were key players last year: second baseman Ashley Beggs, center fielder Natalie Robert, catcher Andrea Heisserer, right fielder Cheryl Barnett, outfielder Amanda Backfisch and pitcher Britney Lambert.

Junior Audrey Burford started in the outfield last year but is now at first base while junior Julie Milam will play third.

Evans will also be counting on some young talent, including several players who starred for the Heartland Nationals 13-15-year-old team that recently won a national title.

Three of those players competed for the Lady Hawks last year as freshmen: Marissa Essner, who started as designated hitter last season, catcher Nicole Kern and Megan Beggs, who figures to be the regular at shortstop.

Sophomore outfielder Kari Lape is also off that national championship squad.

Freshmen Brigdett Riley will compete for the Lady Hawks after playing for the Heartland Nationals.

Essner and Riley, the Nationals' two main pitchers, will join Lambert on the mound, as will freshman Natalie Lewer.

Kelly opens the season Sept. 1 at Jackson.

Perryville

The Lady Pirates return plenty of experience from last year's 13-11 team and that has coach Lynn O'Neil excited.

"We're looking forward to the season," he said. "Most of the girls have a lot of starting experience and they've made a lot of progress over the last few years."

Perryville returns six full-time starters and one part-time regular.

Five of the returning starters are seniors: pitcher Carrie Preston, all-district first baseman Lauren Tucker, catcher Andrea Regelsperger, second baseman Julie Preston and left fielder Jenny Dunker.

Carrie Preston recorded 12 of the 13 wins last year while Regelsperger and Julie Preston will both be starting for the third season. The Prestons are twins.

Junior shortstop Amanda Schumer will also be a third-year starter while junior Rachel Versemann, now at third base, started some in the outfield a year ago.

O'Neil will also be counting on, among others, sophomore center fielder Stacey Baer.

The Lady Pirates begin the season Aug. 31 by hosting Notre Dame.

St. Vincent

First-year coach Mary Kutz hopes the Squaws fare better in the fall than they have in the spring.

St. Vincent went winless two years ago and won just one game last season. But Kutz said the Squaws are looking forward to fall participation.

"We'll get to play in the (district) tournament, so that makes it more exciting," she said.

The Squaws will be extremely young, with only three seniors and one junior on the squad. The rest of the roster consists of sophomores and freshmen.

Seniors, who all started last year, are shortstop Elaine Brown, catcher Kelly Brickhaus and Missy Thomas, the squad's main pitcher the past two seasons.

Junior Sara Weibrecht didn't see much action last season.

Two of the sophomores started a year ago as freshmen -- third baseman Amanda Brown and first baseman Monica Weith -- while second baseman Amanda Richardet is in her first season of play.

Kutz will also be counting on several freshmen, including Jean Brown, Stephanie Brown and Kindle Ernst.

St. Vincent kicks things off Wednesday at St. Pius.