Softball Preview Top 10.

Written Saturday April 11th at 1:10 PM

1. Orion: The Dragons will be loaded once again this season. Orion will be led by utility player Alex Carpenter, third baseman Carly McGee, shortstop Rachel Dolland, and first baseman Megan Hall. The Dragons also have Shelby Misak whom had a strong freshman season last season. If junior pitcher Sierra Gonzales stays healthy and improves her game than manager Joe Woytira will have a strong chance at repeating in the Red and possibly go far in the playoffs but they have a tough district ahead of them at home with Clarkston, Adams, Oxford, and Waterford Mott.

2. Clarkston: The senior laden Wolves have a lot of experience back for a team that had defensive troubles last season. Clarkston will be led by two of the state's top pitchers Candace Kitchen and Madeline Maday. The Wolves also have a very solid hitting lineup for manager Don Peters in senior shortstop Rachel Vieria along with fellow seniors Ashley Skaggs and Makayla Blaska, who batted 509 last season. They are junior laden as well and will have a player whom has already committed to Michigan in catcher Abby Skvarce and Mariah Hood. Clarkston could very well be a state title contending team but they will get by Orion first, the Dragons have eliminated the Wolves the last two seasons and the district is right back at Orion.

3. Troy: The Colts are going to be young but they do have some talent returning for manager Tom Calnen. Senior outfielder Maggie Bohr returns along with all state catcher Ashley Messina who is going to Wayne State next season. Messina had a 410 batting average last season. First baseman Caroline Morton is expected to be counted on to lead Troy this season. Carlie Sebastian will be the Colts starting pitcher whom had a solid sophomore season. Troy is a tough out when it gets to later in the season as they will likely have to clash with Troy Athens on the road in district play.

4. North Farmington: The Raiders lost a lot of talent last season to graduation but they are still very talented and well coached. Their pitcher returns from a year ago in junior Alexa Cherney. Cherney, a girls basketball player as well for coach Jeff Simpson had a 1.8 earned run average, struck out 335 batters, and won 33 games last season. Her catcher Elizabeth Sullivan returns as well. North Farmington will have three talented freshman to watch as well in Sarah Lynch, Cherney's sister Samantha, and Kenze D'Asceno. Expect the Raiders to be in games and is the darkhorse in the Red and in the district.

5. Adams: Highlanders manager Fran Sczhwioticz will have some offensive troubles this season but they will be in games thanks to their Robert Morris bound pitcher Kelly McCasland. McCasland is one of the league's top pitchers and will have to be for a team that returns only two offensive threats in outfielders Melissa Wei and Haley Willis. The district is not pretty either as they will see Orion, Clarkston, Oxford, or Waterford Mott.

6. Oxford: The Wildcats have experience back for second year manager Jessie Granger and also basketball experience as well. Senior Cherylin Bandis, whom is going to Lawrence Tech on a basketball scholarship will be relayed on to lead off for Oxford, Skye Donaldson is a very good player as well for the Wildcats as she is versatile. The basketball to softball experience doesn't last with these two players as Madison Dinges along with freshman Lauren Donaldson and Kaitlyn Bean complete the basketball to softball transition for Oxford. Expect the Wildcats to be solid this season.

7. Seaholm: The Maples will be young this season but they do have some key talent returning to a team that was solid last season. Seaholm will rely on their shortstop and starting pitcher Maddy Cormier whom had a strong offensive campaign last season and will be heading to Dension University next season. Catcher Christina Dennis returns and is a solid defender and offensive threat and junior outfielders Vivian Righter and Ashley Lenington will be solid players as well for the Maples.

8. Rochester: The Falcons suffered graduation losses and to make things worse, they moved up from the White to the Red this season. Rochester will have UNC-Wilmington commit Haley Lenderman back and the offense could be an issue to watch. They will have ulitilty player Collete Coulter and shortstop Ross Myers back. The district is wide open though but they will have to deal with Romeo, Utica Eisenhower, and Stoney Creek at Utica Eisenhower this season.

9. Troy Athens: Graduation hit the Red Hawks hard a season ago, manager Dave Marr could struggle this season in replacing a lot of talent left from the team that battled Troy in the district finals. Troy Athens will have solid infield play, led by senior catcher Jensen O-Branovic. Juniors Maddy Ellinger and Alina Kirkland will lead the pitching staff for the Red Hawks. It could be an interesting season on John R Road in Troy.

10. Farmington: The Falcons have two top players returning to a team that was middle of the pack last season. The first player is sophomore catcher Danielle Pentras. Pentras last season hit 380 and is expected to have a strong season in her second season in Farm Town. The other one is four year shortstop Claire Knie who is expected to be the top player back this upcoming season. Farmington is in a tough district to close out the season with Farmington Hills Mercy and North Farmington at North Farmington so we'll see what happens.