SVC 2015 "A Rising Tide Lifts All Boats"
Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2015 10:13 pm
SVC 2015
"a rising tide lifts all boats"
"Loose lips sinks ships"
SVC softball translation- You don't hear much pre-season SVC softball chatter,
most coaches have their scrimmage schedule on the down low.
Keeping critical information about their squads and coming season discrete.
With the SVC coming off a historic season
in where we had two great SVC Ships set mooring at the finals of the state tournament
and one of those teams came away with the ultimate achievement in high school sports,
A State Title.
The question is:
Can this years league match the success of last season?
"To be the Man you gotta beat the Man
Wahoooooooooo!" (Ric Flair circa 1988)
And folks the RED-lady's of westfall are the-MAN.
Let's not talk about the fact
that the almighty X picked them
to finish 4th in the SVC last season,
No,
let's focus on the SVC and STATE title
the Pherson Mustangs of Westfall claimed last season.
Folks you might as well get use to the X bragging about the
State Title Westfall won last year.
So much work and dedication goes into such an accomplishment
I for one will never grow tired of talking about it
or hearing Coach Redman tell his
Legendary tales of the tournament trail.
Every team and player in the state should have such goals.
It's no secret the Mustangs took a hit in the graduation department
but interest in the softball program hath never been greater
and the cupboard is far from bare at Westfall.
Westfall returns some very key role players,
probably none with a greater Winning resume than the Fuchs girl.
She has been part of Three SVC titles in three different sports,
countless sectional, district, and regional tournament wins,
but none sweeter than the lone run she scored in the state title game last season.
Paint Valley:
Hard to believe a run like Paint Valley had last year
would be on the the X's pre season pre-view undercard
and in most season by most league standards it would not be.
But last year was not like most seasons
and the SVC is not the standard run of the mill softball league.
Like Westfall the Bearcats of Paintvalley had an amazing tournament run last season
that ended just a few outs shy of a State Title.
But when we talk of hard hits by graduation
nobody is harder hit than the Bearcats this season.
I don't have the number in front of me right now
but I think PV needs to replace around 7 or 8 seniors
from last years final four team.
The one saving grace is the return of the super sophomore Newland.
Her pitching will have PV in every game this year
and if PV can average 3.28 runs a game I look for a return trip to State for them.
The Lady's of Purple Gold
My beloved Shermans!
A runner up finish in a league that put two teams in the State final four is not too shabby.
Did I mention the lady Shermans was 3 for 4 in league action against those two teams last season?
I don't know how many years now the Shermans have defeated
a State final four team during the regular season,
I'm thinking its around 6 years in a row.
The records show we are right on the cusps of our own run to the promise land
and with the returning cast this may just be the year the Tanks get it done.
The Shermans lost only Two to graduation but both were all-league caliber players,
Bre Harvey and Rachel Wright.
Bre was a four year starter in the outfield for the tanks
and was a key part of the Shermans back to back SVC titles.
Rachel was like wise a four year starter
playing centerfield and stints at shortstop her freshman through junior season.
Last year she took over behind the plate to lead the Shermans to a very successful season.
Zane Trace-
Will be the favorite by many to win the league
and of the top four teams returns the most depth from a season ago.
The Pioneers is one of four SVC schools who will have a new coaching staff this season.
Don Kunz comes in from Jackson where he built a very nice program.
Leading the way for the Pioneers is Senior Morgan Geno.
Truly one of the greats to ever lace 'em up in the SVC.
Around Geno returns a solid core of supporting cast
that has many from 180 way talking State Title run.
The question mark for Trace will be how quick they
"the players and coaches"
Adapt to each other.
If it is a seamless transition the Lady Pioneers
could have the league title all but wrapped up at the turn.
But if the learning curve puts them slightly behind
expect to see a four-way dog fight for the SVC crown
going down to the last week of league play.
Huntington-
Takes some substantial losses in both players and coaching from a season ago.
The lack of over-all depth will be the Achilles Heel
in the Lady's of Kelly Green quest for the SVC title.
Huntington does return two players who will be playing at the college level next season,
Depugh and Lytle.
Along with Carrol and Neighbors in the line-up
should put the Huntsmen in every game this season.
How the rest of the roster comes along
will decide how far up in the league standings Huntington finishes.
Piketon-
Has a huge hole to fill in the loss of Dunn.
In my opinion she was the most underrated player in the league the past few years.
I don't know much on what the Streaks return,
I do hear rumblings they have a nice pitcher in the pipeline.
Adena-
Brings in a new coach.
Some solid pieces are in place at Frankfort
and the Warriors was one of the youngest teams in the league last year.
I look for them to improve on last years record.
Southeastern-
Another SVC coaching change from a season ago.
Some talk of the Panthers being contenders this year.
Before the X makes that claim I will need to see who is on the roster
And who is not.
So Here you go the X's nautical narration of how the SVC season will shake out:
#8 "If you can't tie a knot, tie a lot"
Southeastern- Among SVC schools Southeastern is probably 2nd to Westfall
in numbers of girls participating in softball in grades K through 12.
Sooner or later that should have an impact at the varsity level.
#7 "Swabbing the Deck"
Adena- New coach and still a young club,
will be better than last year
but I don't see them getting out of the bottom half of the league standings.
#6 "All Hands on Deck"
Piketon- Scary picking the Streaks here
but I gotta pick somebody 6th and they draw the short straw
based on who they need to replace from a year ago.
#5-"You're gonna need a bigger boat"
Huntington - The talent of Lytle and Depugh
alone would be enough to put Huntington at the top of most leagues
but like I stated earlier the SVC is not like most leagues.
Now here is where it gets real salty for the X to choose
Any of these four could win the league and make a nice tournament run:
#4-"Any Port In A Storm"
Paint Valley- Just too many offensive question marks
for the X to pick them higher.
Solid pitching and defense will have them in every game,
if their bats come out poppin and runs are plentiful
Move the Bearcats to #1.
#3 “Red sky at night, sailor’s delight. Red sky in morning, sailor’s warningâ€
Zane Trace- Ok call me crazy or a Unioto Mark
for putting this talented of a team this low
"not as low as the X had Westfall last year and look what they did"
but I need to see how everybody out in Zane Trace land
adapts to the changes from a year ago.
If it's a seamless transition this could be a "Steam-Roller" of a club.
If it takes time for everybody to adjust to each other
Look for Trace to be a major player in the later half of league play and into the tournament,
either way it's clear a storm is on the horizon for SVC foes in Kinnikinick.
#2 "Course set Starboard"
Unioto- Just too hard to place my Tanks
over a team that won it all last year.
The three senior W's will lead the way for the Tanks,
Ward, Warren and Wright.
Juniors Blevins, Jones, Pierce
Sophomore Junk
and five freshmen that had a very good
two year run in the quasi SVC jr. High league.
Over look the Purple and Gold this year and you will regret it.
#1 "Prevailing Wind"
Westfall- I know they lost some key players from last years State Champion team
but they return a solid cast and something tells me
Westfall did not show their entire hand last season.
Like I stated before
Westfall, Unioto, Zane Trace and Paint Valley
are all legitimate contenders for the league title.
I can see Huntington or Piketon working themselves into the mix
if they catch some breaks.
My best advice is to "Button Down the Hatches"
For we are in for one Whale of a ride this year in SVC Softball action.
X
"a rising tide lifts all boats"
"Loose lips sinks ships"
SVC softball translation- You don't hear much pre-season SVC softball chatter,
most coaches have their scrimmage schedule on the down low.
Keeping critical information about their squads and coming season discrete.
With the SVC coming off a historic season
in where we had two great SVC Ships set mooring at the finals of the state tournament
and one of those teams came away with the ultimate achievement in high school sports,
A State Title.
The question is:
Can this years league match the success of last season?
"To be the Man you gotta beat the Man
Wahoooooooooo!" (Ric Flair circa 1988)
And folks the RED-lady's of westfall are the-MAN.
Let's not talk about the fact
that the almighty X picked them
to finish 4th in the SVC last season,
No,
let's focus on the SVC and STATE title
the Pherson Mustangs of Westfall claimed last season.
Folks you might as well get use to the X bragging about the
State Title Westfall won last year.
So much work and dedication goes into such an accomplishment
I for one will never grow tired of talking about it
or hearing Coach Redman tell his
Legendary tales of the tournament trail.
Every team and player in the state should have such goals.
It's no secret the Mustangs took a hit in the graduation department
but interest in the softball program hath never been greater
and the cupboard is far from bare at Westfall.
Westfall returns some very key role players,
probably none with a greater Winning resume than the Fuchs girl.
She has been part of Three SVC titles in three different sports,
countless sectional, district, and regional tournament wins,
but none sweeter than the lone run she scored in the state title game last season.
Paint Valley:
Hard to believe a run like Paint Valley had last year
would be on the the X's pre season pre-view undercard
and in most season by most league standards it would not be.
But last year was not like most seasons
and the SVC is not the standard run of the mill softball league.
Like Westfall the Bearcats of Paintvalley had an amazing tournament run last season
that ended just a few outs shy of a State Title.
But when we talk of hard hits by graduation
nobody is harder hit than the Bearcats this season.
I don't have the number in front of me right now
but I think PV needs to replace around 7 or 8 seniors
from last years final four team.
The one saving grace is the return of the super sophomore Newland.
Her pitching will have PV in every game this year
and if PV can average 3.28 runs a game I look for a return trip to State for them.
The Lady's of Purple Gold
My beloved Shermans!
A runner up finish in a league that put two teams in the State final four is not too shabby.
Did I mention the lady Shermans was 3 for 4 in league action against those two teams last season?
I don't know how many years now the Shermans have defeated
a State final four team during the regular season,
I'm thinking its around 6 years in a row.
The records show we are right on the cusps of our own run to the promise land
and with the returning cast this may just be the year the Tanks get it done.
The Shermans lost only Two to graduation but both were all-league caliber players,
Bre Harvey and Rachel Wright.
Bre was a four year starter in the outfield for the tanks
and was a key part of the Shermans back to back SVC titles.
Rachel was like wise a four year starter
playing centerfield and stints at shortstop her freshman through junior season.
Last year she took over behind the plate to lead the Shermans to a very successful season.
Zane Trace-
Will be the favorite by many to win the league
and of the top four teams returns the most depth from a season ago.
The Pioneers is one of four SVC schools who will have a new coaching staff this season.
Don Kunz comes in from Jackson where he built a very nice program.
Leading the way for the Pioneers is Senior Morgan Geno.
Truly one of the greats to ever lace 'em up in the SVC.
Around Geno returns a solid core of supporting cast
that has many from 180 way talking State Title run.
The question mark for Trace will be how quick they
"the players and coaches"
Adapt to each other.
If it is a seamless transition the Lady Pioneers
could have the league title all but wrapped up at the turn.
But if the learning curve puts them slightly behind
expect to see a four-way dog fight for the SVC crown
going down to the last week of league play.
Huntington-
Takes some substantial losses in both players and coaching from a season ago.
The lack of over-all depth will be the Achilles Heel
in the Lady's of Kelly Green quest for the SVC title.
Huntington does return two players who will be playing at the college level next season,
Depugh and Lytle.
Along with Carrol and Neighbors in the line-up
should put the Huntsmen in every game this season.
How the rest of the roster comes along
will decide how far up in the league standings Huntington finishes.
Piketon-
Has a huge hole to fill in the loss of Dunn.
In my opinion she was the most underrated player in the league the past few years.
I don't know much on what the Streaks return,
I do hear rumblings they have a nice pitcher in the pipeline.
Adena-
Brings in a new coach.
Some solid pieces are in place at Frankfort
and the Warriors was one of the youngest teams in the league last year.
I look for them to improve on last years record.
Southeastern-
Another SVC coaching change from a season ago.
Some talk of the Panthers being contenders this year.
Before the X makes that claim I will need to see who is on the roster
And who is not.
So Here you go the X's nautical narration of how the SVC season will shake out:
#8 "If you can't tie a knot, tie a lot"
Southeastern- Among SVC schools Southeastern is probably 2nd to Westfall
in numbers of girls participating in softball in grades K through 12.
Sooner or later that should have an impact at the varsity level.
#7 "Swabbing the Deck"
Adena- New coach and still a young club,
will be better than last year
but I don't see them getting out of the bottom half of the league standings.
#6 "All Hands on Deck"
Piketon- Scary picking the Streaks here
but I gotta pick somebody 6th and they draw the short straw
based on who they need to replace from a year ago.
#5-"You're gonna need a bigger boat"
Huntington - The talent of Lytle and Depugh
alone would be enough to put Huntington at the top of most leagues
but like I stated earlier the SVC is not like most leagues.
Now here is where it gets real salty for the X to choose
Any of these four could win the league and make a nice tournament run:
#4-"Any Port In A Storm"
Paint Valley- Just too many offensive question marks
for the X to pick them higher.
Solid pitching and defense will have them in every game,
if their bats come out poppin and runs are plentiful
Move the Bearcats to #1.
#3 “Red sky at night, sailor’s delight. Red sky in morning, sailor’s warningâ€
Zane Trace- Ok call me crazy or a Unioto Mark
for putting this talented of a team this low
"not as low as the X had Westfall last year and look what they did"
but I need to see how everybody out in Zane Trace land
adapts to the changes from a year ago.
If it's a seamless transition this could be a "Steam-Roller" of a club.
If it takes time for everybody to adjust to each other
Look for Trace to be a major player in the later half of league play and into the tournament,
either way it's clear a storm is on the horizon for SVC foes in Kinnikinick.
#2 "Course set Starboard"
Unioto- Just too hard to place my Tanks
over a team that won it all last year.
The three senior W's will lead the way for the Tanks,
Ward, Warren and Wright.
Juniors Blevins, Jones, Pierce
Sophomore Junk
and five freshmen that had a very good
two year run in the quasi SVC jr. High league.
Over look the Purple and Gold this year and you will regret it.
#1 "Prevailing Wind"
Westfall- I know they lost some key players from last years State Champion team
but they return a solid cast and something tells me
Westfall did not show their entire hand last season.
Like I stated before
Westfall, Unioto, Zane Trace and Paint Valley
are all legitimate contenders for the league title.
I can see Huntington or Piketon working themselves into the mix
if they catch some breaks.
My best advice is to "Button Down the Hatches"
For we are in for one Whale of a ride this year in SVC Softball action.
X