Monroeville, St. Paul among top FC teams

Last season, Crestview won the Firelands Conference title with a 14-0 record and a pair of wins over Monroeville. The Eagles used the fuel of not winning the league championship to make a run to the state championship game for the second year in a row in Akron The softball season starts Saturday when Monroeville entertains Norwalk at Clark Park. Monroeville finished as state runner-up each of the last two years. Last season, the Eagles were 27-4 overall. Monroeville won a regional title, defeating Vienna Mathews before topping Mohawk in a state semifinal. The Eagles came up short against Portsmouth Notre Dame in the Division VII state title game. Monroeville has a new coach this year in Pat Scheid, who has been around the program for a while under previous coach Abe Helmstetter. "I think the team we have this year has a good mix of veteran talent mixed with some very hungry youth," Scheid said. "We will be strong on infield with most of it back from last year. Offensively, we return six from last year's lineup, and pitching will be led by three juniors with two of them seeing time last year." Monroeville has to replace Veanna Helmstetter in the circle. She made 29 appearances for the Eagles, going 23-2 and striking out 166 batters in 141 2/3 innings. Junior Payton Weilnau pitched in 15 games, throwing 36 1/3 innings. She had 68 strikeouts. Junior Taylor Scheid made six appearances, tossing 12 2/3 innings. "We will be younger than expected this year in the outfield because of some injuries, but are feeling more confident every day that the youth will rise up to our expectations," coach Scheid said. "Offensively, just getting some more reps is what we need out of our youth and I think we will fill our voids from last year in time." Taryn Tyler graduated after leading the Eagles in five hitting categories. She topped the team in batting average (.561), runs scored (55), hits (60), runs batted in (55) and doubles (19). Senior Madi Reiber is the top returner for Monroeville at the plate. She hit .429, smacked 42 hits and drove in 52 runs. She belted four home runs for the Eagles and matched Weilnau with five triples apiece. "As far as pitching, just keep grinding and putting in the work like we always do," coach Scheid said. "My overall goal for this unit is to stay healthy, work hard, grow together everyday and put together another successful season." St. Paul went 13-12 overall, finishing 8-6 and in third place in the league. The Flyers won a pair of tournament games before losing to Monroeville in a district title game. St. Paul returns a wealth of talent with six All-FC players back, including junior catcher Ella Kalizewski and senior pitchers Bella Guerra and Taegan Mansfield-Bush. Kalizewski, a first-team league pick, led St. Paul with a .547 batting average, 41 hits, 40 RBI, eight doubles and nine home runs. She was third with 24 runs scored and tied for second with three triples. "We are very excited for this season as we are returning nine lettermen from last year," St. Paul coach Aaron Kalizewski said. "Our team has been putting in a lot of hard work this past offseason and preseason and it's really starting to show." Guerra made 20 appearances in the circle for the Flyers while Mansfield-Bush appeared in 14 games. "Our overall hopes and goals for the season start with having a healthy and injury-free season," coach Kalizewski said. "We hope to build upon the experience we got last season from finishing as district runner-up." Crestview was a district champion last year, going 23-4. The Cougars graduated first-team league picks Chesnie Patton (pitcher), PJ Endicott (catcher) and Kalee Hamman (outfield). New London was 17-10, but must replace first-team selection Madison Rowland at catcher. However, Gracie Thomas (.435, seven doubles, eight home runs, 44 RBI) is one of four FC first team selections back this season. The Wildcats tied Mapleton (11-13 overall) for fourth in the league, both going 7-7. --------------------------Returning All-Firelands Conference selectionsFirst teamCatcher: Ella Kalizewski, St. PaulInfield: Gracie Thomas, New London; Madi Reiber, MonroevilleOutfield: Carlee Crider, Crestview Second teamPitcher: Bella Guerra, St. Paul; Taegan Mansfield-Bush, St. PaulInfield: Ryleigh Mansfield-Bush, St. Paul; Layken Barnhart, Western Reserve; Addison Hess, Mapleton; Pailee Wilson, New London; Ella Sanders, South Central; Bella Hillman, CrestviewOutfield: Kegney Stoll, St. Paul; Mattie Bates, Mapleton; Allison Volz, Crestview Honorable mentionPitcher: Kelsi Clark, MapletonCatcher: Makayla Case, Western ReserveInfield: Olivia Yetter, New London; Ember Phillips, South Central, Payton Preston, St. Paul; Madison Montgomery, PlymouthOutfield: Rachel Fries, Monroeville