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Sports

Zumwalt East Softball Squad Trying to Excel Despite Loss of Talented Seniors

After losing 10 seniors from the 2010 District championship team, the Lady Lions are hoping to not have a drop off this season.

Although the  Lady Lion softball team has a history that stretches back just four years, a tradition already seems to be brewing. 

“Our program this year says ‘tradition doesn’t graduate,’” Lady Lion head coach Steve Loutzenhiser said. “We’ve averaged 20 wins a season for the last three years. On top of that, the level of sportsmanship we display is going to continue. That’s not something that’s going to end because we graduated a lot of our premier players. 

Loutzenhiser has been with the program since the beginning. He was an assistant coach for two years before taking over as head coach last year. The Lady Lions finished the 2010 campaign with a 21-8 mark and also won a district championship. 

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Fort Zumwalt East lost 10 seniors to graduation last year, with seven of the 10 earning college scholarships. 

“We are lacking in the experience area,” Loutzenhiser said. “But something we’ve lacked in the last couple of years is competition. Right now, we have a lot of people who want to make the starting lineup. It’s something that we have going for us right now.” 

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The Lady Lions have five seniors this year: Anna Bowden, Amy Vickery, Alisha Albregts, Angie Meyer, and Jessica Bailey. All five played varsity last season. 

Bowden will play catcher this year Loutzenhiser said. She had the game winning hit in the district championship last year and also earned all-conference and all-region honors. Loutzenhiser said she “was as hard nosed player as I would ever want to coach.” 

Vickery, Albregts, and Meyer had sporadic playing time as juniors, said Loutzenhiser. He also said the three were used to the level of success experienced last year. 

Junior Nikki Taylor will be the Lady Lions’ No. 1 pitcher this season. She played outfield and saw limited time as a pitcher last year. Taylor established herself as an offensive weapon in 2010 by hitting .412. She also earned all-region honors.  

“She (Taylor) has the potential to be a very dominant pitcher in the area this year,” Loutzenhiser said. “We didn’t need to use her a lot last year because we had another senior and it was her time to shine, but Nikki has two years to develop and without a doubt she will be a collegiate softball player within a couple of years.” 

Meyer and junior Janie Kohlfield will most likely see some time on the mound and will also play in the outfield. Juniors Kristin Mikel, Jenny Hampton, and Raechal Starke and Vickery are all competing for time at first base.  All are also capable of playing in the outfield. 

Meyer will play second base when not pitching. Junior Jessica Martin is also competing for time at second base. Sophomore Carol Ann Weiler, who Loutzenhiser calls “one of the premier players in the program” will play shortstop and catcher. Loutzenhiser also said she’ll hit high in the lineup. Junior Charlotte King will play third base. Baily and Albregts and juniors Stacy Ronchetto and Katie Worland will also play outfield this fall.

Loutzenhiser said the Lady Lions graduated their top hitters last year, but he has faith in the current lineup to produce hits. 

“We have some really talented girls who played junior varsity last year who can make some racket,” he said. “I don’t think we’ll have the power we had last year but we’re going to have 20 people who can hit for average.” 

Loutzenhiser feels his team should be able to compete for a Gateway Athletic North Conference title this fall. 

“ was incredible last year, but they got hit hard with graduation, too,” he said. “They are a very storied program and will be one of our biggest rivals and toughest competition. Fort Zumwalt North was tough last year and Washington has played us well the last few years. Everyone will be tough. We’ll have a mark on our back because we’ve been successful for three years.” 

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