The Sycamore fast-pitch softball team marked the start of the 2001 season by celebrating the opening of its new softball facility.

DIVISION I POLL

1. Sycamore (7) ....... 142   2. Fairfield (8) ....... 125   3. Seton ....... 69   4. Lakota West ....... 64   5. Lakota East ....... 56   6. McAuley ....... 46   7. Mercy ....... 45   8. St. Ursula ....... 43   T9. Hamilton ....... 42   T9. Mt. Notre Dame ....... 42   Also receiving votes: Northwest 28, Mason 25, Amelia 22, Oak Hills 14, Milford 6, Harrison 5, Hillsboro 4, Colerain, Loveland, Talawanda 3, Princeton, Ursuline 2.

        The Aviators are hoping they have more to celebrate at the end of the season. Opposing coaches think Sycamore has good reason to expect good times. For the second consecutive season, they've named the Aviators No.1 in the Enquirer's preseason coaches poll.

        Fairfield, Sycamore's Greater Miami Conference (GMC) rival and the team that narrowly edged the Aviators for last year's city championship, is ranked No.2 in the poll, in which four of the top five teams are GMC schools.

        Lakota West is fourth, behind Seton of the Girls Greater Catholic League Scarlet Division, and Lakota East is fifth. GGCL Scarlet schools McAuley, Mercy and St. Ursula fill the next three spots, and the No.9 spot is shared by one team from each league, Hamilton of the GMC and Mt. Notre Dame. Sycamore needed a new home after the 1999 tornado damaged the old facility.

        Senior Beth Conner will return on the mound. Conner went 19-5 with a 0.45 earned-run average and 193 strikeouts last season.

        One key issue for Sycamore is replacing speedy shortstop Sarah Melvin, who hit .383 and stole 13 bases last season. Junior Emily Futscher, who hit .340 and led the team with 21 RBI last season, will move from third base to shortstop.

        "'Futscher is more of a power hitter,” Sycamore coach Debbie Klemt said. “We have to find a new leadoff hitter, but we have a lot of talented youngsters.”

        Sycamore and No.2 Fairfield, which shared the GMC championship last season, aren't scheduled to meet this season until the end of the conference schedule. The Indians, who have posted seven consecutive 20-win seasons and won six of the last seven district championships, have their own ace pitcher back in senior Emily Breitholle. Also returning are two first-team all-league picks, infielder Kyla Chaney and designated- hitter Ciji Nelson. “We'll be inexperienced up the middle,” coach Brenda Stieger said.

        Seniors Carrie Higgins and Colleen Lahey lead third-ranked Seton. Higgins, an infielder, hit .443 with seven triples last season. Lahey, a catcher-outfielder, hit .281. Eighth-year coach Mary Agricola likes her team's pitching, speed and infield defense, led by senior Jackie Gibbs.

        Lakota West coach Keith Castner must replace six seniors from a team that went 21-8 and was knocked out of tournament by Northwest, which reached the state semifinals. Senior shortstop Celia Nowicki, who is on pace to set school records for runs scored and stolen bases, leads the returning Firebirds. Nowicki hit .348 and drove in 26 runs last season.

        Lakota East lost just two players from last season's team. Among the returnees are senior center fielder Kristin Gray, who will be in her fourth year as a starter after hitting .365 and driving in 14 runs last season.

        Senior first baseman Stephanie Salas will provide the punch for sixth-ranked McAuley. Salas hit .509 with four homers last season. Junior pitcher Jennifer Esterman put together an 8-2 record last season.Senior catcher-third baseman Angie Heintz is one of seven returning starters for the No.7 Bobcats. Eighth-ranked St. Ursula also lost just two players from last season's team which knocked off Seton and Ross in the sectional tournament. Senior center fielder Abby Molnar, who hit .312 and stole 30 bases last season, has already committed to Kent State. Sophomore shortstop Kristen Mahon hit .402 and stole 24 bases last season.

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