Hopewell Titans
Coach: Cheryl Burwell, first season
Conference: I-MECK 4A
Last season’s record: 18-8, 8-4 (third place)
Top returning players: senior pitcher Lindsey Russell, senior second baseman Shelby Randall, junior catcher Bre Blakley, senior third baseman Tayla Berry
Season outlook: The Titans bring aboard their third coach in three seasons, but Burwell knows the program inside and out. Over the past three years, she’s either coached the current batch of players at Bradley Middle School or worked with them as Hopewell’s junior varsity coach. Hopewell graduated all-conference players Chaney Watson, Stephanie Spain, Carmin Schelling and Kelly Braman but return an established presence in second-year starter Russell, a Pfeiffer University recruit who, along with the slap-hitting speedster Randall, has cemented a leadership role. Blakley should add power to the lineup. Hopewell suffered a big blow when Berry was sidelined with knee surgery. She isn’t expected back until mid-April.
– Chris Hunt
Hough Huskies
Coach: Mary Lee Giurintano, first season
Conference: I-MECK 4A
Top players: Junior catcher Jasmyn Lindsay, freshman shortstop Katelyn Shifflett and sophomore center fielder
Kayla Hall
Season outlook: The Huskies enter their first season with some nice building blocks. Giurintano coached a season at Charlotte Christian after a four-year career as an all-conference catcher for Queens University. Lindsay is a two-year varsity starter from North Mecklenburg, where she boasted a .479 on-base percentage last spring to go along with her 27 runs scored and 35 RBIs. Along with Shifflett and lead-off hitter Hall (from Hopewell), the strength of the Huskies should be in the middle of the defense. Still, Hough is extremely young with 10 freshman and no seniors on the roster. A season-ending shoulder injury to North Meck transfer Gaylin Bennett doesn’t help, either. Krista DeWolfe (North Meck) and Jasmine Lamontagne could become really good pitchers.
– Chris Hunt
Lake Norman Charter Knights
Coach: Kyle Pierce, third season
Conference: Piedmont Athletic Conference 1A
Last season’s record: 12-5, 1-2 (third place)
Top returning players: junior pitcher Rachel Gebelein, sophomore first baseman Sarah McIntosh, sophomore second baseman Chloe Watson
Season outlook: The Knights finished 12-5 last season with power pitcher Gebelein collecting eight victories. Only four starters from 2010 return, but that’s not because the team lost players. An influx of young talent reshuffled the lineup, adding names such as sophomore catcher Hannah Hasker, who played at Hopewell in 2010. Clean-up hitter Shelby Wiggs, outfielder Alex Busch and speedster Lauren Cavasinni (sister of former North Mecklenburg star Michael Cavasinni) will see plenty of action as freshmen. This spring, the Knights will play home games at North Mecklenburg Park instead of the Waymer Center, shortening the outfield wall distance 300 to 200 feet. Power hitter McIntosh is most likely to benefit.
– Chris Hunt
North Mecklenburg Vikings
Coach: Paul Kikta, sixth season
Conference: I-MECK 4A
Last season’s record: 21-5, 11-1 (first place)
Top returning players: senior catcher Sarah Mooney, senior pitcher Morgan Lashley, and senior infielders Kayla Lemke and Erin Lehnert
Season outlook: After winning two consecutive conference championships, the Vikings will regroup this spring. North Meck’s once-deep program lost eight young players to first-year program Hough High School, including power hitters Jasmyn Lindsay (.479 on-base percentage and 35 RBIs) and Gaylin Bennett (.439 with three home runs). Power hitter/pitcher Sara Allen, shortstop Lauren Lewis and second baseman Daniela Torres also graduated. Even so, Kikta still has two big pieces in place to contend for a third consecutive title in All-American catcher Mooney (.663, 10 home runs and 40 RBIs) and all-conference performer Lashley (12-3 record, 119 strikeouts). Nine seniors also grace the 2011 roster, but most didn’t play significant innings last spring.
– Chris Hunt
SouthLake Christian Eagles
Coach: Jessica Huffman Causey, second season
Conference: Metrolina Athletic Conference 2A/3A
Last season’s record: 5-11, 4-8 (fifth place)
Top returning players: junior pitcher Anna Landis, sophomore catcher Veronica Dziuk, and junior infielders Lauren Shanks and Allie Ayers.
This year’s squad: The Eagles are once again extremely young with just one senior on the roster, and they’re a long way from competing against state powerhouses Northside Christian, Gaston Christian and Hickory Grove for a MAC title. Then again, a solid foundation is being set for the future. Huffman Causey is a familiar name after starring for Hopewell High School’s 2002 and 2003 state championship teams before playing at Campbell University. The middle of the lineup is poised for a breakout season, led by Dziuk, Ayers and Landis. The Eagles also bring back a deeper team that could be a year away from conference-championship consideration.
– Chris Hunt
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