Central Ohio OCC

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Ready to start the talk!
Predictions,rumors,teams to watch for?
 
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Gahanna Lincoln only lost 2 starters off their D1 State Runner Up team..If they find pitching will be tough again
 
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FOR THE CARDINAL DIVISION

I thought I would start with last year's predictions, and also post last year's results for the Cardinal Division.

Sideliner's predictions:
Westerville Central, Westerville North, and Dublin Scioto at the top, with Central being the team to beat.

Olentangy and Marysville as the spoilers.

Olentangy Liberty rebuilding.

Westerville South and Dublin Jerome bringing up the rear.

THE ACTUAL FINISH

11-3 - Westerville North
11-3 - Marysville
9-5 - Westerville Central
9-5 - Olentangy
7-7 - Westerville South
6-8 - Olentangy Liberty
2-12 - Dublin Scioto
1-13 - Dublin Jerome

So, I got North right, and Central finished tied for second but did not win out per my prediction. Marysville played more than the spoiler - they repeated at the top again. For the last three years, the Cardinal has had co-champions, and Marysville has held a slot each year (with North, Liberty, and South in consecutive years).

Olentangy did play the spoiler role - they beat both North and Marysville. South improved on their finish last year. Liberty did enter a rebuilding period. My big miss - Scioto did not improve per my prediction.

I will update the post over the weekend with my Way-Early predictions, but I am going to give Westerville North a nod for the top spot now, based on bringing nine seniors and a total of 12 letter-winners to the party, plus a strong incoming freshman class to top off the tank by adding depth and speed.
 
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Ohio Division
-Groveport,no Emma
-Gahanna,only lost 2(2 vital palyers!)-regrouping at the pitcher spot?
-Lancaster,hear good things.May be a team to watch for?New coach I think?
-Pick Central,Drees retires and Ennix takes over.Inkrott and a freshman pitcher?
-Pick North,new coach.7 returners.Schedule starts with Central Crossing,Ready and Bloom!
-Grove City,think they dont lose much and loaded with club layers?

Too early too call a favored?
 
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Lucas - you shouldn't send notes at 3 am! But I think you are fairly close.

Grove City would be a strong favorite - lots coming back
Gahanna a close second - strong program
Pick Central - pitching back, most girls are back
Pick North - lots of talent and speed to burn - pitching will tell the tale
Lancaster - Sr pitcher is back - nice catchers - surprise club along with Pick North
 
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Lucas - you shouldn't send notes at 3 am! But I think you are fairly close.

Grove City would be a strong favorite - lots coming back
Gahanna a close second - strong program
Pick Central - pitching back, most girls are back
Pick North - lots of talent and speed to burn - pitching will tell the tale
Lancaster - Sr pitcher is back - nice catchers - surprise club along with Pick North


Pick Central no winter ball? Not thinking thats good, love Carrie, but Drees will be missed, cant just show up for the games, need the work behind the scences...
 
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Pick Central no winter ball? Not thinking thats good, love Carrie, but Drees will be missed, cant just show up for the games, need the work behind the scences...

Both Pick schools are doing conditioning and Alan helps doing open gym still.Both schools have a large number of travel kids so they are working and wont fall behind.Both schools dealing with new coaches at many levels/levies?Winter ball is nice to have though.
 
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How nice is it to have AT running your open gyms?! Did the board approve a new coach at North with the initials, CL? I assume they did. Pick. North Summer League was really the first time I got to see Murph's DD pitch. CL will be tickled to have her for three years.
 
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Hopefully she and a senior will hold down the fort. My dd would rather be at shortstop since that is where she plays for the Lasers but clearly after this year, she will be in the circle.

Can't wait to meet new coach - I think the initials are SL
 
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Lancaster's pitching/catching is pretty solid. Hopefully the new coach emphasizes on hitting unlike the previous coaches in the past. You can have all the defense but the offense has to be there and not with just a couple. New coach has over 20 yrs experience so it will be interesting.
 
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[FONT=&quot]EYES WIDE SHUT [/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]SIDELINER?S FEARLESS PREDICTIONS FOR 2012 OCC CARDINAL DIVISION SOFTBALL RACE[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]It is way before pre-season, but with a few days off, I pulled out last year?s scorebook and pre-season newspaper articles on the teams, and bumped that up against post-season honors and finishes. Then I started to do a bit of analyzing on how the 2012 season might shape up.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]I will post my historical analysis first, then cap it off with predictions and reasoning.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]There are MANY unknowns ? especially what freshman talent might be joining any school team. It is possible that some players from last year may not return, either by opting out of playing, injury, or simply moving. So, I made my calculations based on what I ?think I know? from last year?s finish and potential returnees. If you know something that I don?t know then feel free to share ? or don?t share. I didn?t write this as anything other than a way to amuse myself and look forward to next spring with a bit more analysis than the standard ?they should be tough? statements. So take this in the spirit it was written, a guess based on evidence from last year and not a statement of fact. I didn?t talk to any coaches or players, just myself (which is a sign that I need to retire).[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]I attempted to list all returning players who had OCC honors? many of these players also received All-Metro recognition. SM means Special Mention and HM means Honorable Mention.

[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]ANALYSIS[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]WESTERVILLE NORTH[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]With nine seniors and a total of 12 returning players from last year?s varsity, North has a seasoned squad. The addition of a bumper crop of freshman (more than a dozen) and large group of JV returnees from last year gives North the depth and bench strength it has lacked in years past. Only two starters graduated in 2011. Alli Rowland (1st team OCC) returns to the circle and will likely throw to fellow 1st team OCC selection Tory Speakman. Lilly Gresh (1st team OCC) anchors a group with three other girls who also received OCC honors in 2011 (Lisa Simmons ? 2nd team, Sami Dustman - SM, Victoria Schaffer - HM). The Warriors had five girls hit for over .300 average last spring. The team has to stay healthy, and win the close games to climb to the top again.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]2011 FINISH ? 11-3 (tie 1st)[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]
[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]MARYSVILLE[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]The Monarchs will be a threat to win their fourth straight OCC Cardinal title, and will have to beat Westerville North to accomplish that feat. Two of their three conference losses last year were to the Warriors. Marysville had a small graduating class last year ? only three regular varsity players departed. The pitching duties will likely default to sophomore Cori Long (HM-OCC) who will throw to senior Olivia Kriel (SM- OCC). Senior OF Kacie Sepeda (1st team OCC) will lead the hitting attack, and with the exception of third base the entire infield returns. This is a very experienced team that has the potential to repeat.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]2011 FINISH ? 11-3 (tie 1st)[/FONT]


[FONT=&quot]OLENTANGY[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Only three starters graduated from Olentangy?s roster last spring, and the Braves return an experienced squad for the 2012 campaign. The catcher?s spot will be the key replacement piece ? senior Haleigh Breuer (1st team OCC) will lead the pitching staff and the 2011 infield starters 1B Dani Bigham, SS Amanda Wojta, 3B Megan Biedelman (SM ? OCC), and DP/P Hailey Wilson (HM - OCC) return. The Braves have consistently played the role of spoiler by splitting their series with both Westerville North and Marysville last year, beating both teams late in the season to add drama to the finish.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]2011 FINISH ? 9-5 (tie 3rd)[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]
[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]WESTERVILLE CENTRAL[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]The Warhawks will have to reload after being hit hard by graduation. Sophomore Paige McMenemy (2nd team OCC) will probably own the circle, and Central will be using new players in most positions. Three other players with varsity innings, junior CF Perry Wallinger (HM OCC) and seniors Meredith Bury (3B) and Andy Lowe (C) return. Central graduated six seniors in 2011.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]2011 FINISH ? 9-5 (tie 3rd)[/FONT]


[FONT=&quot]WESTERVILLE SOUTH[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Six seniors, including the starting pitcher, graduated last year, and South will have to continue to find ways to put puzzle pieces together. Two OCC selections, 1st team Erica Aiello (SS) and 2nd team Lindsay Gerhart (OF) return. Chelsea Raker (P/3P) is a legitimate power hitter. Leah Ross may also see time at pitcher, joining a group of nine total returning varsity players.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]2011 FINISH ? 7-7 (5th)[/FONT]


[FONT=&quot]OLENTANGY LIBERTY[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]The Patriots will be looking to replace the top third of their batting order this year, but return some pitching depth with sophomores Katie Flanagan and Hannah Worth. Also back is 1B Sarah Drosos (2nd team OCC), 3B Aoife Duffy, OF Ashley Kelley, and SS Madison Kadlic. Liberty had powered to a conference co-championship in 2010, but has finished in the middle of the pack in surrounding years (6th in 2011, 5th in 2009). Six seniors did graduate, with most having significant playing time. Expect to see experienced players in new positions and new players on the field as the varsity restocks the shelves.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]2011 FINISH ? 6-8 (6th)[/FONT]


[FONT=&quot]DUBLIN SCIOTO[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Scioto did not field a JV team last year and only graduated a few seniors. The undergraduate crop got plenty of playing time last season, and can return with a more optimistic take on 2012. Mackenzie Nelson (2nd team OCC) and Paige Heasley (HM OCC) will again likely alternate pitching and 1st base duties, and Katie Pezzot will catch. Allie Willman got innings at shortstop and OF Katie Devantier occupied a top lineup spot in the batting order. Third base and an outfield spot vacated by two seniors will see new faces. Scioto has not been able to put together a strong showing the last few years excepting a 5-9 finish in 2010. This year?s experienced squad could finally be the ticket to the top half of the conference standings.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]2011 FINISH ? 2-12 (7th)[/FONT]


[FONT=&quot]DUBLIN JEROME[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]New coach Jim Muessig takes over the Dublin Jerome squad that has not been able to convert experience into wins over the last three years. Kelsey Ciminillo will own the circle again with the exception of 2nd base all Jerome starters were underclassman last season. (My scorebook shows that players rotated positions so I won?t name positions.) The program had also fielded a JV team last year after having low numbers in 2010. The Celtics squad will not lack for players with field time ? they just have to find consistency in fielding and hitting to boost their finish in the conference.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]2011 FINISH ? 1-13 (8th)[/FONT]
 
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Great Job Mark, I would like to add that Liberty might be a little stronger than 6 - 8, with a Freshman Pitcher coming in. This girl is as good as it gets. She will be tough to beat.
 
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EYES WIDE SHUT

[FONT=&quot]SIDELINER?S FEARLESS PREDICTIONS FOR 2012 OCC CARDINAL DIVISION SOFTBALL RACE[/FONT]

Part 2 ? Picking the Winners
I think the OCC Cardinal race in 2012 could be the most competitive in years. There are several teams that have a legitimate shot at winning the title outright, and the spoiler list is bigger than it has been in the past. As noted before, I can?t factor in a few things: freshmen (or others) that are joining the club, players from last year that don?t return or can?t play, and those intangibles such as chemistry (and senioritis).
When I turned on the crystal ball, I programmed in the following subjective criteria.
Pitching Strength: what is the track record of the ace on the staff? Veterans with significant varsity wins got more points. Younger pitchers received a slight discount.
Pitching Depth: if a team is going to throw more than one pitcher for league games, what is the experience of that second player? A few squads have shown a consistent commitment to rotating pitchers, so that could come into play late in the season.
Returning starters: the more returning starters the higher I ranked the team.
OCC Honors Players: not just a returning player, but an OCC Honors player means recognized expertise.
Team Experience: How has the team reacted to the title chase in the past? I think teams that think they can win are more likely to win.

MY PREDICTIONS
1. Westerville North. Depth, OCC honors, and team experience make them my narrow favorite. They have to win the close games and continue their performance of at least splitting the series with Marysville.

2. Marysville. The difference in my scoring system was one point. Marysville continues to be a softball powerhouse and could easily add a fourth consecutive OCC title to their awards. The difference I saw was six OCC Honors players at North vs. three at Marysville.

3. Olentangy. Just one point below Marysville, Olentangy has finished in the middle of the conference standings the last three years, but has never won. They often play the spoiler by beating top teams. I think the same thing will apply this year.

4. Dublin Scioto. (Yes, again.) I picked Scioto to improve last year, and they did not. But all of the pieces are in place, including the broadest pitching duo in the conference. We will just have to see if their hitting and fielding can keep up.

THE REST
I ended up scoring Westerville South, Olentangy Liberty, and Dublin Jerome equal in points, but when you look at the track record Jerome has never been successful, despite some close games. The new coach there may turn that around. I will give Westerville South a slight nod over Olentangy Liberty because the coach there has always been able to get the best out of the players on the field. I do think that Liberty has better pitching and that could carry them up. Word is that there is an incoming freshman pitcher that can add that depth. Time will tell. I see Westerville Central going through a rebuilding year given the loss of so many starters.
 
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Part 3 is you profiling the Capital Conference!

Hayes is returning a veteran group that is coming off a perfect season in 2011. Is Bradley the main competition again? Will any of the other schools be a factor?

After the spring stories come out in March, I might tweak my thoughts a bit, but for now I am done prognosticating. Besides, you are the only one reading it anyway!
 
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Actually looks pretty good sideliner. I hope out here in Marysville we can continue to be at the top each year. Only lost 2 starters and the younger players are excited for the year to get started. Looking forward to a competitive year.
 
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Great job Sideliner. One small correction - Marysville has already won four OCC titles in a row, as my daughter got a patch each year she played. So this year would be at least 5th.
 

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