Spring Sports Preview: Century, Liberty and South Carroll Players Return to Softball

Carroll County has a rich tradition in softball and this year will be no different.

Century

Jay Seaborg welcomes back 12 players from last year including Alyssa Dixon, Mary Hartman, Christa Giannaccini, Megan Beane, Stephanie Whealton and Katie Pugh.

The Knights were 16-7 last year and were runner-up in the 2A West Region.

Seaborg is in his fourth year at Century and ninth year coaching high school softball. He has coached fast pitch for 20 years.

"We expect to be one of the top teams in the area," said Seaborg.

The projected starters for the Knights are Dixon, Beane, Hartman, Whealton, Giannaccini, Pugh, Amanda Pruitt, Sam Straitz, Jenn Straitz, and Alaiana Frierman.

"We have five seniors and seven juniors (five with previous varsity experience) along with two sophomores who played varsity as freshmen so this is the most veteran team I've coached," said Seaborg.

Asked what goals the Knights have this Spring, Seaborg said ``We want to get out of the Region and to the Championship Round of the playoffs.’’

"North Carroll has been in the finals two years in a row and is the returning 2A champions. Westminster is the defending county champion. Those are the teams to beat," said Seaborg about the county competition.

Liberty

The Lions were 10-9 overall and 8-6 in the county last year.

Coach Chris Szocik will be counting on sophomore pitcher Mackenzie Thompson to lead the Lions this year. She had 175 strikeouts last year to go with a 1.74 ERA.

Other players to watch are sophomore Sammy Bost and freshman Becca Oneto.

Liberty has only three seniors on the roster. Kara Chopper, Samantha Trail and Kelly Wallace.

South Carroll

Cavalier coach Matt Cannistraci has only one senior on his squad this year.

"We are a young team with only one senior for sure starting in the line up. Six of the 9 starters are returning letter men. So we are young but have experience. This years team are hard workers and are all sold on the idea of team and obtaining our goals," said Cannistraci, who is entering his fourth year coaching the Cavaliers.

South Carroll was 9-11 last year.

Returning for South Carroll is Kaitlyn Griffith, third base; Stacie Maring, outfield; Jackie Schissler, outfield; Summer Crosswhite, shortstop; Lauren Stricker, catcher and Karli Burriss, pitcher/third base.

The top newcomers are Kristen Griffith, a freshman pitcher and third base and sophomore Kayla Holston, a pitcher and outfielder.

The projected starters for the Cavaliers are Kristen Griffith, pitcher; Stricker, catcher; Renee Curtis, first base; Lauren Dixon, second base; Crosswhite, shortstop; Kaitlyn Griffith, third base; Maring, leftfield, Jackie Schissler, centerfield; Karen Suckling rightfield, and Holston, designated player .

"Our goals are to win county and regional titles and compete for a state title," said Cannistraci.

Cannistraci says Westminster is the team to beat in the county.