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Hernando Today

Fresh Faces Rule The Diamonds

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By TONY CASTRO SPORTS EDITOR

Hernando Today

Published: May 8, 2008

There was an unprecedented turnover for the 14 members of the annual Hernando Today All-County Softball All-Star team.
So much so, that 71 percent or 10-of-14 chosen players, plus the Coach of the Year, were new selectees based on the balloting by the Hernando Today staff and area coaches.

NCT: New ground broken

Before 2008, NCT had one previous All-County selection, catcher Jen Marshall in 2007 as a utility pick.
There really hadn't been much to cheer about across the Lady Sharks' first three seasons as NCT went through its growing stages behind a combined 11-54 won-lost slate.
That changed this spring with the arrival of first-year Head Coach Mettina Maggiore.
Maggiore, a Citrus High and Eckerd College product, was aided by assistant coaches Jug Olmstead and Alicia LePage. The trio helped turn the NCT culture around to the tune of a county-best and school-record 19-6 slate.
In the process, NCT went from worst to first in the county ranks. NCT's fourth season yielded an impressive 6-0 mark within the county borders.
The Lady Sharks also snapped a three-game post-season losing streak with a solid 12-2 win over Sunlake before being eliminated by eventual 4A-8 champion Zephyrhills in the semifinals, 9-3.
For her efforts, Maggiore edged out Hernando Christian Academy's Sue Murphy for Coach of the Year Laurels.
"I know I couldn't have done it without Jug," said Maggiore. "He was a huge, huge help. And Alicia's (LePage) insight helped a lot too."
What was the key to turning the ship around?
"I think we were handed a team that was dedicated to the sport and disciplined. They were willing and were hungry to improve their game," responded Maggiore. "I felt like winning had to be a habit. This group (eventually) felt that once they stepped on the field, they were going to win."
What impressed the opposing coaches?
"Mettina is very easy to get along with," explained Central High's first-year Head Coach Tyson Ellis. "She's got a good feel for the game.
"Last year, Nature Coast had a lot of problems with errors, but she got those girls believing (in winning). She taught 'em how to win and that's really hard to do. Ultimately, she had faith in her players and her players had faith in her ability."

Sharks: four all-stars

NCT had four all-star selections this year highlighted by Marshall, a sophomore, as a rare repeater from last season as catcher along with three first-time picks: sophomore pitcher Ashley Antczak, sophomore second baseman Lizzy Olmstead and senior Kaitlin Wadsworth as a utility pick.
Marshall, who hit .360 as a freshman, nearly duplicated her numbers behind a .351 average and a solid effort behind the dish.
"Catchers are natural leaders. They have to be," shared Maggiore. "We depended on Jen. She was a solid player and our only catcher. She never complained once.
"She's a smart player and she watches the game intently," Maggiore added. "She has softball idols. And it just seemed like Jen got the most 2-out hits of anybody this season."
Lizzy Olmstead, who paced the Sharks in hitting as a freshman at .375 went 33-for-87 this spring for an even higher .379 average. She's scored 23 runs in both seasons and more importantly raised her run batted in count from seven to team-tying 24.
Olmstead's overall game helped edge out Hernando High's reining three-time All-County selection Katie Geiger, who dipped to .230.
"Lizzy is a good, all-round player," expressed Maggiore. "I was confident that when she was on the field, she would make something happen. Bottom line, she's a hard worker and is always looking to get better."
Antczak, who went from .266 in '07 to .326 this year at the plate, typified the Sharks' comeback going from 5-14 on the mound to 18-6 overall.
Just as impressive, she fanned 156 batters in 153-plus innings, featuring a county-best five shutouts.
Her coach was quick to point out what impressed her most about Ashley's turnaround.
"Her maturity," said Maggiore. "I think she grew up a lot from the Gulf game on. We knew we had a great offense and good defense, but we had to rely on her. And she worked really hard to get better.
"I'm so much looking forward to seeing how much better she'll grow over the next two years."
Wadsworth, who hit a combined .190 after her first two varsity seasons, blossomed in year four.
The PHCC signee had a season to remember going 30-for-81 for a .370 average.
Besides her improvement at the plate, her steadiness at shortstop stabilized the middle infield behind Antczak.
"Kaitlin would win our 'heart and hustle' award," declared Maggiore. "Because she played other sports, when she got to softball, she had to work that much harder to catch up with the others. We're graduating two seniors, but we've got big shoes to fill to replace Kaitlin. She was a wonderful leader."

Eagles: two repeaters, two newbies

Springstead finished runner-up to NCT in the county standings and finished with a fine 17-8 mark. The Lady Eagles tied NCT with four all-star picks including three repeat selectees.
Senior pitcher/first baseman Becky Powell led the way as she was the unanimous repeat pick as the County's Player of the Year.
Powell, a four-time All-County selection, is joined by sophomore shortstop Jamie Lee Basinger, sophomore catcher Olivia D'Acunto and freshman third sacker Shannon Cataldo.
Powell went 33-for-84 at the plate for a team-best .393 average this spring including 20 runs batted in.
Besides filling in at either shortstop or first base, Powell set the standard for county's other pitchers.
She completed 20-of-23 starts with three shutouts. She struck out an eye-popping school-record 201 batters in 142 innings against 21 walks -- that's nearly a 10-to-1 ratio in strikeouts versus walks.
She finished her fourth varsity season with a 15-7 mark on the mound and threw perhaps two of best outings to close out her career against Gulf and Pasco.
"She's definitely the County's Player of the Year," expressed HCA's Coach Murphy. "We saw her three times in two years. She struck out our best hitters.
"Thing was she seemed not to be arrogant," described Murphy. "She seemed like a nice lady. It was a pleasure to play against her. She was a great all-round player. She wasn't just a pitcher, she could hit too."
Basinger, who hit .382 as a freshman, dipped slightly to .321 this spring. Yet, the former West Hernando Middle School product collected 26 hits in both seasons and went up in RBI from seven to 14.
"She's a dynamic player on the field," said sixth-year SHS Head Coach Craig Swartout. "She makes everything look easy. She make plays and you'll sit there and shake your head and say 'Wow!'
"You look at her and she appears itty-bitty with her frame," described Swartout. "But she can mash."
D'Acunto, who hit .257 as a freshman, blossomed to .372 this spring. She went from eight runs scored to 19 and drove in 10 runs compared to three last year.
Defensively, she replaced four-time All-County selection Hilary Fiocca behind the dish.
"She never caught before," expressed Coach Swartout. "But she's such a great athlete she never complained once. It's unheard of to take an outfielder and say, 'Go catch.' But that's exactly what she did. I don't think I've ever coached a better athlete."
Cataldo, who hit a respectable .263 this spring, matriculated from Powell to SHS to become one of the only two freshmen on this year's all-star squad.
"When we had tryouts," recalled Swartout. "She told us she just wanted to play junior varsity. After I saw her play and said, 'No. No. That girl has got to play varsity. And what a job she did.'
"She and Jamie Lee just shut things down along the left side defensively," said Swartout. "I was very impressed with her poise. She's the sweetest girl off the field, but she has this ice cold demeanor, that I like, when she's on the diamond."

HCA: Lion trio

There are three reasons HCA was represented by three all-stars.
Sure, it could be the fact that the Lady Lions' played a rugged schedule: three of their opponents reached their respective regional finals.
Maybe it was the fact that HCA collected its school-record, fifth straight district title.
Perhaps, just as important was the trio's 1-2-3 placing among the county's final batting honor roll.
As a result, senior catcher/pitcher Mary Ellen Langley became a rare five-time All-County selectee along with junior first baseman Heidi Riley and junior outfielder Jackie Butler.
Langley, who has already signed with Pasco Hernando Community College, paced the county in hitting again with a .554 average, compared to Riley's .544 mark and Butler's .526 average.
Langley, who finished 5-3 as a relief pitcher, went the distance in the school-record Class 1A, Region II quarterfinal win over Calvary Christian.
"Ellie is a well-rounded athlete," declared the second-year Murphy. "Softball, however, is her favorite sport. She's a good catcher, but you could put her in any position and she's do a great job."
With so much attention focused deservedly on Langley, Riley and Butler quietly existed.
"Heidi (Riley) really was our key player this year," commented Murphy. "She played a great first base and she brings a special intensity. I just tried to tone it down a little bit. I kept telling her 'Don't think about it, just do it.'
"She's a wonderful young lady and athlete and she's a great kid to have on any team."
On Butler, "She played shortstop and outfield in her first year," described Murphy. "This year, she was strictly an outfielder. And what a great arm. Has a super attitude and has a desire to become a better player. She's so fun to coach."

Hernando: one senior, one junior

Hernando High suffered just its second losing season (10-15 overall) in 19 years at Tom Varn Park.
Unlike in 2007, when the Purple and Gold collected its fourth straight county championship and was rewarded by six all-star picks, plus Coach of the Year honors with Kevin Bittinger, HHS dipped to two picks this spring -- both outfielders.
Senior left fielder Jessica Kreider joined centerfielder Erica Maldonado as All-County choices.
Kreider, who went 0-for-11 in 2007, had a stellar final season. Kreider finished 23-for-60 for a team-best .383 batting average.
"Jessica is an athlete first," explained the third-year Bittinger. "Knee brace or not, she has tremendous hand and eye coordination and she works so hard. She had such a great year, we're really gonna miss her."
Maldonado, who hit .286 as a sophomore, climbed to .338 this spring. She may have made the all-star team on her glove alone. She sparkled defensively especially in her final game this year against No. 3 seeded Zephyrhills.
"Erica (Maldonado) was definitely the most consistent batter we had all season," said Bittinger. "She's our little sparkplug. Our fist-round district game was a capsule of her season.
"She hit the ball. She ran well and she made two huge defensive plays," recalled Bittinger. "She did it all. On the throw to the plate against Zephyrhills, it was so good it could have flipped the coin from heads to tails -- it was so good. She did a great job."

Burns represent CHS

Central High, which did not have an all-star pick in 2007, had one all-star selection this time despite its seventh consecutive losing season.
It was no surprise as freshman shortstop/pitcher McKenzie Burns paced the Lady Bears in hitting with a stout .380 mark behind 30 hits in 79 at-bats.
Burns was Hernando Today's Middle School Softball Player of the Year in 2007 from West Hernando.
"The other girls counted on Kenzie," explained Coach Ellis, following his team's 6-14 campaign. "We felt like once Kenzie got on base, we were gonna score. She's a phenomenal player and great player for years to come.
"Without her, we don't beat Springstead to come back in districts and beat Wesley Chapel," Ellis said. "She put on a clinic on how to play shortstop in districts. The way she played, my jaw dropped. She's that good."

2008 Hernando Today All-County Softball Team
PLAYER GP AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI .AVG
1B - Heidi Riley, HCA 19 57 29 31 10 4 0 17 .544
2B - Lizzy Olmstead, NCT 25 87 23 33 3 1 0 24 .379
SS - *Jamie Lee Basinger, SPG 25 81 23 26 4 1 0 14 .321
3B - Shannon Cataldo, SPG 23 57 12 15 1 1 0 03 .263
C - *Jen Marshall, NCT 25 74 21 26 3 0 0 12 .351
P - Ashley Antczak, NCT 25 86 05 28 6 0 0 07 .326
OF - Erica Maldonado, HER 23 77 16 26 4 2 0 10 .338
OF - Jessica Kreider, HER 24 60 11 23 7 0 0 12 .383
OF - Jacki Butler, HCA 18 57 22 30 6 4 1 25 .526
DH - $ Mary Ellen Langley,HCA 18 65 31 36 5 7 4 14 .554
UTL - McKenzie Burns, CEN 20 79 17 30 2 0 0 10 .380
UTL - Olivia D'Acunto, SPG 24 78 19 29 2 1 0 10 .372
UTL - Kaitlin Wadsworth, NCT 25 81 23 30 5 0 1 17 .370
Player of the Year - ^Becky Powell, Springstead
Coach of the Year - Mettina Maggiore, Nature Coast Technical
$ Denotes 5-time Selection
^ Denotes 4-time Selection
* Denotes 2-time Selection

2007 Hernando Today All-County Softball Team
PLAYER GP AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI .AVG
1B - *Cheyenne Sellers, HER 26 62 12 26 1 2 0 16 .419
2B - ^ Katie Geiger, HER 25 69 16 24 6 0 0 08 .348
SS - Jamie Lee Basinger,SPG 25 68 14 26 4 0 0 07 .382
3B - ^ Alex Gaffney, CEN 18 51 19 20 3 3 5 20 .392
C - $ Hilary Fiocca, SPG 25 75 19 33 9 0 2 15 .440
P - ^ Becky Powell, SPG 23 74 07 29 7 0 0 12 .392
OF - $ Katelyn Vanderham, HER 24 74 23 36 9 3 1 26 .486
OF - $ Chelsea Chipoletti,HER 25 85 20 30 4 1 0 15 .355
OF - * Destinee Mormando, SPG 24 74 22 34 5 1 3 21 .459
DH - $ Mary Ellen Langley,HCA 20 70 45 45 6 8 9 32 .643
UTL - $ Ashley Lewie, HER 26 82 15 32 4 0 0 19 .390
UTL - ^Ari Lowman, HER 23 14 01 01 0 0 0 00 .071
UTL - Jen Marshall, NCT 25 86 13 31 1 0 0 14 .360
Player of the Year - Becky Powell, Springstead
Coach of the Year - Kevin Bittinger, Hernando
$ Denotes 4-time Selection
^ Denotes 3-time Selection
* Denotes 2-time Selection

2006 Hernando Today All-County Softball Team
PLAYER GP AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI .AVG
1B - Cheyenne Sellers, HER 25 78 20 22 3 1 0 12 .282
2B - * Katie Geiger, HER 25 85 30 37 5 0 0 18 .435
SS - Destinee Mormando, SPG 26 78 12 24 5 0 1 08 .308
3B - * Alex Gaffney, CEN 20 51 15 29 5 1 1 15 .569
C - ^ Hilary Fiocca, SPG 27 84 19 28 5 0 2 17 .333
P - * Becky Powell, SPG 27 85 05 23 5 0 0 11 .271
OF - ^Katelyn Vanderham, HER 25 81 25 45 8 9 4 35 .555
OF - ^Chelsea Chipoletti, HER 25 94 33 42 9 7 0 23 .447
OF - * Tasha Cox, SPG 27 85 12 26 4 1 0 06 .306
DH - ^ Mary Ellen Langley,HCA 23 86 42 54 9 8 6 43 .628
UTL - ^Ashley Lewie, HER 25 78 18 27 3 0 0 18 .346
UTL - *Ari Lowman, HER 21 37 12 11 2 1 0 05 .297
UTL - Jourdan Kraemer, CEN 20 58 11 25 3 1 0 08 .431
Player of the Year - Katelyn Vanderham, Hernando
Coach of the Year - Kevin Bittinger, Hernando
^ Denotes 2004-06 Selections
* Denotes 2005-06 Selections

2005 Hernando Today All-County Softball Team
PLAYER GP AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI .AVG
1B - Stephanie Discepolo, SPG 25 88 23 36 9 1 2 20 .409
2B - Katie Geiger, HER 26 84 23 21 3 0 0 05 .250
SS - Chelsea Chipoletti, HER 26 98 22 42 4 2 0 15 .429
3B - Becky Powell, SPG 25 78 10 27 6 1 0 17 .346
C - Alex Gaffney, CEN 24 71 11 26 9 1 0 14 .366
P - Ari Lowman, HER 24 01 00 00 0 0 0 01 .000
OF - Sophia Gill, HER 26 85 25 37 0 1 0 07 .435
OF - Tasha Cox, SPG 27 85 12 26 4 1 0 06 .306
OF - Katelyn Vanderham, HER 20 55 11 20 3 1 0 14 .364
DH - Mary Ellen Langley,HCA 13 56 29 30 4 4 0 18 .536
UTL - Hilary Fiocca, SPG 25 79 10 23 1 0 0 10 .291
UTL - Ashley Lewie, HER 26 78 14 25 3 0 0 24 .321
UTL - Ashley Liberatore,SPG 25 81 28 24 3 3 0 06 .296
Player of the Year - Stephanie Discepolo, Springstead
Coach of the Year - Doug Rogers, Hernando

2004 Hernando Today All-County Team
PLAYER GP AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI .AVG
1B - Liz Wallace, CEN 25 77 19 38 7 7 1 14 .494
2B - Jackie Manfredo, CEN 21 58 10 15 0 1 0 05 .283
SS - Ashley Liberatore, SPG 23 66 11 22 2 0 0 08 .333
3B - Chelsea Chipoletti, HER 26 88 31 33 6 2 1 11 .375
C - Hilary Fiocca, SPG 27 89 10 31 7 0 0 15 .348
OF - KatelynVanderham,CEN 25 79 20 41 9 1 1 12 .519
OF - Sophia Gill, HER 26 80 27 25 2 2 0 05 .313
OF - Heather Benson, SPG 27 93 16 27 2 4 0 07 .290
P - Stephanie Cox, SPG 27 69 10 19 0 0 0 04 .275
UTL - Ashley Rogers, HER 26 84 11 21 2 2 0 18 .250
UTL - Ashley Lewie, HER 26 81 18 24 1 1 0 13 .296
UTL - Mary Ellen Langley, HCA 17 71 23 29 2 1 0 11 .408
MVP - Stephanie Discepolo,SPG 27 89 20 36 14 0 0 20 .404
Player of the Year - Stephanie Discepolo, Springstead
Coach of the Year - Doug Rogers, Hernando

2003 Hernando Today All-County Softball Team
PLAYER GP AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI .AVG
1B - Stephanie Discepolo, SPG 23 74 08 24 2 1 1 18 .324
2B - Kristi Langworthy, HER 28 87 24 32 6 4 1 13 .368
SS - Diana Eckert, SPG 23 84 23 34 4 1 0 06 .405
3B - Scottisha Scrivens, HER 27 83 14 26 7 2 1 22 .313
C - Caitlin DeCristofaro, SPG 23 73 22 33 8 2 1 22 .452
OF - Samantha Downing, CEN 24 77 20 44 11 4 1 10 .571
OF - Megan Allen, SPG 23 78 14 31 0 1 0 11 .397
OF - Whitney Massingale, HER 26 80 19 23 0 2 2 13 .280
P - Emily Eicholtz, SPG 23 81 22 38 10 2 0 15 .469
UTL - Ashley Liberatore, SPG 23 76 13 26 9 0 0 10 .342
UTL - Carolyn Gant, HER 28 94 20 27 1 1 0 10 .287
UTL - Liz Wallace, CEN 24 68 13 27 6 3 1 21 .397
MVP - Emily Eicholtz, SPG 23 81 22 38 10 2 0 15 .469
Player of the Year - Emily Eicholtz, Springstead
Coach of the Year - Craig Swartout, Springstead

2002 Hernando Today All-County Softball Team
PLAYER GP AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI .AVG
1B - Ashley Rogers, HER 25 81 14 31 7 1 0 23 .383
2B - Vicki Albert, SPG 25 72 13 22 6 1 0 17 .306
SS - Lindsay Grey, CEN 23 73 16 29 3 2 0 08 .397
3B - Vanessa Ziegler, SPG 26 72 12 20 1 1 0 11 .278
C - Shauna Dampier, CEN 23 71 04 16 6 0 0 12 .225
OF - Samantha Downing, CEN 23 73 13 26 2 1 0 15 .356
OF - Nicole Young, HER 25 82 29 31 0 0 0 05 .387
OF - Megan Allen, SPG 22 59 08 15 0 0 0 08 .254
P - Jenny Clark, CEN 21 76 10 28 3 1 0 10 .368
DH - Caitlin DeCristofaro,SPG 23 68 10 27 6 0 0 15 .397
DH - Scottisha Scrivens, HER 25 77 13 29 5 1 0 12 .377
UTL - Diana Eckert, SPG 26 92 20 34 2 5 0 12 .370
UTL - Christen Baldwin, HER 22 63 08 19 1 0 0 06 .302
MVP - Emily Eicholtz, SPG 26 93 15 32 8 3 0 14 .344
Player of the Year - Emily Eicholtz, Springstead
Coach of the Year - Carmine Rufa, Springstead

Sports Editor Tony Castro can be reached at (352) 544-5278 or online at acastro@hernandotoday.com

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