LUCKEY – Eastwood’s softball team has plenty of new faces this season.
But the Eagles aren’t planning on rebuilding.
Instead, their goals remain the same – win the Northern Buckeye Conference championship and go as far as
they can in the state tournament.
Last season, Eastwood finished 29-4 overall, advanced to the Division III state semifinals and finished
second in the NBC with an 11-3 record.
The Eagles return seven letterwinners, including three of their starting infielders and their starting
catcher.
They earned a regional championship last season with an 11-6 victory over Magnolia Sandy Valley. But
Eastwood, ranked sixth in the final state coaches poll, lost 11-1 in five innings to top-ranked
Bloom-Carroll in the state semifinals.
Bloom-Carroll went onto win the state championship.
The Eagles moved up to Division II this season.
"Last season definitely gave us more experience and more confidence," said senior catcher Anna
Rahrig. "Hopefully, we can transfer that over to this year. It’s a totally different team, but the
expectations haven’t changed."
The Eagles are 1-0 this season, posting a 5-1 victory Monday over Wauseon.
"We have a big target on our back after last year," said senior Cassidy Rolf, who is slated to
play third base once she recovers from a shoulder injury. She’s currently playing first base.
"We have a lot of confidence and we expect to win," Rolf added. "We know it wont be easy
and we know we have to go out play well every game. We can’t take anyone lightly."
Eastwood is 53-8 overall and 23-5 in the NBC last two seasons. The Eagles won the NBC in 2012.
Even though the Eagles are battling poor weather and playing conditions like all spring sports teams,
Eastwood coach Joe Wyant is pleased with his team so far.
"We’re right where we should be for this time of year," said Wyant, who is in his seventh
season. "We’re playing solid and that’s the team we’re going to be.
"They have a desire win and they’re competitive," Wyant added "The players who are back
understand that when you play well, good things can happen."
One of Eastwood’s biggest challenges is replacing pitcher Whitney Foster, who was 24-4 with one save and
a 1.71 earned-run average last season. She struck out 136 in 176 innings.
Taking over for Foster is Sam Shirling. The senior was 5-0 with a 1.79 ERA last season.
"Sam’s our No. 1 pitcher and I’m hoping she gets better and more confident every time out,"
Wyant said. "She’s a competitor and has worked as hard as any girl trying to pitch in the offseason
with lifting weights as I’ve ever coached. She stays in the strike zone and makes the other team put the
ball in play.
Shirling pitched a four-hitter with eight strikeouts against Wauseon.
"I’ve caught her since we were little and she’s always throwing strikes," Rahrig said. "We
have a lot of confidence in her and she trusts us to make the plays behind her."
Rolf and sophomore shortstop Mackenzie Albright figure to lead the Eagle offense.
Rolf batted .417 last season. She also had 39 runs, 39 RBI, nine doubles and six home runs. Albright hit
.318 with 44 runs, 16 RBI and eight extra-base hits.
The Eagles graduated the NBC’s offensive player of the year, Alena Gabel, who hit .412 with 39 RBI.
"We’re going to be all right offensively," Wyant said. "We’re on track to be pretty solid
all the way through the lineup."
The other returnee on defense is junior Krista Jennings, who is moving from left field to second base.
The Eagles have three new outfielders.
"We have a nice infield," Wyant said. "The outfielders are getting better with
experience."
Eastwood’s first two NBC games are against Elmwood April 14 and Rossford April 16. Rossford was third in
the conference last season 10-4.