Friday, March 30, 2001
N.Ky. fast-pitch softball preview
Boone County hopes for area's first state title
By Mark Schmetzer
Enquirer contributor
Boone County fast-pitch softball coach Patti Oliverio can expect to celebrate the 300th win of her 13-year career early this season. She also has high hopes that the Lady Rebels will be celebrating a Kentucky state championship at the end.
Even though no Northern Kentucky team has won a state championship in the six-year history of the tournament, her hopes are realistic. Boone County is deep and experienced and has its most talented players at the key positions. Most of all, though, the Lady Rebels are hungry after opening the 2000 season with 23 consecutive wins, only to be upset in the Ninth Region semifinals and fail to even reach the title game while finishing 28-4.
Boone County, which went 17-0 with 11 shutouts while allowing only 12 runs against Northern Kentucky competition in the regular season last year, has generated enough respect among area coaches to be voted No. 1 in the Enquirer's pre-season coaches poll. Conner earned the No. 2 ranking, followed by Dixie Heights, Simon Kenton, Ryle, Walton-Verona, Notre Dame, St. Henry, Scott and Holmes.
Oliverio practically gushes when she talks about her team, which is led by junior pitcher Heather Lawrence, .500-hitting sophomore shortstop Amber Janneck and junior catcher Machelle Van Cleve.
Lawrence earned the Enquirer's Player of the Year award last season after setting a school record with 25 consecutive wins before suffering her only loss in the region semifinals.
“She went through a tremendous off-season conditioning and throwing program which resulted in adding 13 pounds of muscle mass,” said Oliverio, who opened the season with a 293-115 career record. “She added 4 mph to her fastball and two new pitches (riser and drop curve) to go with her changeup, fastball, slider and sinker.
“Janneck has great speed and a great arm and a lot of power. She can also hit from the left side. Van Cleve is the best defensive catcher around. She threw out 78 percent of base stealers in 2000, and she also hit .410.”
The Lady Rebels have been further fortified by members of a junior varsity team that has gone 27-0 while giving up less than one run per game over the past two seasons.
“We have the most experienced team in the region,' Oliverio said. “We return 17 players off the 2000 team. We have three quality pitchers and catchers with a great defense and team speed, Offensively, we can put the ball in play. We struck out less than four times a game in 2000.
“We just need to be able to focus for seven innings.”
The Lady Rebels will be challenged by second-ranked Conner, which is led by pitcher Stephanie Brummer. The sophomore set a school record with 195 strikeouts and hit .444 last season.
No. 3 Dixie Heights hopes to build on its regional runnerup finish with a veteran infield, which features three returning starters, and sophomore pitcher Lyndsey Mayberry, who is in her third season on the varsity.
“Graduation hit us hard with the loss of six seniors,” coach Dean Fookes said. “Our outfield is a big question at this time, since we will start three players with no varsity experience.”
Fourth-ranked Simon Kenton, the defending regional champion, will be led by new coach Kraig Hoover and senior first baseman Danielle Corbin, who hit .400 last season.
No. 5 Ryle figures to be bolstered by the return of senior catcher Holly Matteoli, who missed the 2000 season with a knee injury. Matteoli celebrated her return with a home run in her first at bat of the season Tuesday.
Sixth-ranked Walton-Verona lost just one player from its 32nd District championship team.
“We need to cut down on our errors,” coach Peggy Gaffer said. “I think the confidence they gained last year in the post-season will help.”
No. 7 Notre Dame features three seniors with three years of varsity experience, while No. 8 St. Henry has two seniors with four years of varsity experience. Ninth-ranked Scott will be led by sophomore shortstop Carlie Hutchinson and senior second baseman Jesse Thomas. No. 10 Holmes is among the few schools who will play fast-pitch and slow-pitch softball this season.
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N.Ky. fast-pitch softball preview