the future of softball in Scioto Co is FANTASTIC !

[ManitouDan]

I know we still have 2 county teams competing but was thinking how bright and super competitive the county will be in upcoming years:
1st to the 2 teams still playing --CONGRATS , way to represent the SOC I and II.

Now to the future : I don't think Valley loses too many , they are actually quite young and will add a hitter that will just have to seen to be believed. And she is good enough in the circle to win lots of games at the HS level right now. Hit a 210 ft homer to the opposite field sunday. the rich get richer out to lucasville. and they keep Dillow, Dunn, corns and several others.

Clay loses a major player in osborne but adds a quality player bigtime in jenkins. And again they are actually a young team that this tourney experience will only help further along their progress. Still have Mader in the circle also.

minford --already much improved and now has really good leadership and most importantly they are strong in the circle , and will be for years to come.

Burg --don't know how many seniors they lose but their jr high bunch is loaded , kinda in the same shape as Portsmouth --fantastic group of girls who were good enough to win LL state champs . a large core of young talent is coming.

SW --again a young team who will only grow in talent. and they are getting where it counts --in the circle. Ellifrit girls are good and will get better.

West --SUPER finish to the season, Kegley ain't going anywhere and she is lights out. they were very very young and with a years experience behind them they will only get better. They get a few girls who set out a year to play and they go from being tough to top ten state wide.

Portsmouth --right around the corner is a great group of young players. And they are getting so much experience by playing a strong summer schedule in travel ball . couple of them are all conference type players the moment they suit up.

feel free to add to the list as I've ran short of time and memory. exciting time to be a fastpitch fan in Scioto co. MD

[West Side Pride]

LOL....^^^^

[ManitouDan]

WSP -c'mon and share an opinion --whats funny ? the west comment -? they lose 1-0 to a very good piketon team that is state ranked and should'nt given up that run. you add AT LEAST 1 solid 8th grader (maybe more I don't know them well) and talk the soph's to be into playing and west should'nt lose many games next year. MD

[West Side Pride]

MD, you stated how bright the future would be, meaning after this year...correct? I was laughing at G4ever because
(as we all know, it's about pitching) IMO the future of pitching will be decreased by the increase of three feet at
the pitching rubber. You better have rock solid oufielders that can track a ball, and fearless defenders at 3rd and
short. The future does look bright for scioto county, you are very right MD.

[ManitouDan]

no problem --I agree the extra 3 feet makes a difference. Ky's offensive numbers seem up according to most people. They went 43 this year. I've been a fan of mask at 3rd , even at the HS level. Pitchers should wear them also.

[ladymohawk]

So basically what you are saying is with strong hitting it's anybody's game come next year? How different do you see a kid like Dillow thowing if you add 3 feet? Or the Kegley girl? I watched Kegley warm up, 3 feet is not going to change her speed too much, instead of throwing 61mph fast balls she'll throw 59, still hard to hit. besides, she has a year to get ready for it. All a pitcher has to do is adjust the distance now, and that 3 feet will not change things too much. Better stay focused on batting still. Have you heard anything about the bat changes for next year? I had an umpire tell me about an article he saw that said OHSAA is not going to allow bats that have sleeves next year (example: the rockettech bat). MD or anyone have you heard this? I agree with the mask. I watched the 3rd baseman take a hard hit from R. Lute from Northwest. Line drive straight to the face, the girl caught it and I thought she was going to fall over. Her instinct to protect her face is why she caught it and even the NW coach Cable asked her if she was OK. I hate to think of what would have happened had she not caught it.

[West Side Pride]

It's not the pitching speed, it's the batter getting that extra time to see the ball. Sleeves won't be allowed
2012 (pretty sure).

[ladymohawk]

ND will look great for the next three years, that is a good group of freshmen they had this year.
NW will stay strong, especially in the batters box, as well as pitching from Jordan. Ed will have some good replacements for the three strong starters that graduate. Most of the girls are getting some good summer ball this year, and that always helps. Next year will stay very competitive as far as Div. I+II go.
Oak Hill I think will show a vast improvement, if they can keep the girls playing some summer ball. I think their problem with softball is their devotion to B-Ball. Not that I blame them they always have the team to beat in B-Ball.

[ladymohawk]

It's not the pitching speed, it's the batter getting that extra time to see the ball. Sleeves won't be allowed
2012 (pretty sure).

Speaking as a mother of a freshman this year, I like the sound of that. It will be a batters game then? Thanks for the info on the bat, I won't feel so bad when I buy a new rockettech for my daughter.

[fast1]

Unreal.
17 innings . I would have never imagined.
Piketon 2
Valley 1
Congrats Piketon on your victory.Go all the way!
Congrats Valley on your season ! Way to represent the SOC!

[Jif]

With the quality of travel ball teams at the 12-u level a couple of years ago, I made the statement that the road to a district championship will go through Scioto County in a few years. Those kids were freshmen this year and we are beginning to see it. The Scioto County teams will only get stronger.