PERRYSBURG — After a 25-4 season that saw Perrysburg finish tied for second in the Northern Lakes League with Anthony Wayne (11-3), the Yellow Jackets return an entire starting lineup and more.

Coach Ryan DeMars (256-111), in his 15th season, has 13 letter winners returning.

“We expect to battle for a league championship,” DeMars said. “We split with AW last year and played highly competitive games against Springfield

“I think the NLL, from top to bottom, is the best softball league in the state of Ohio. We have had a team from the NLL in the (state) final four in four of the last five seasons we have played (2018, 2021, 2022, 2023) and in 2019 we had a team in the elite eight (2020 canceled due to COVID).

“Experience will definitely be a strength,” DeMars said. “We return seven of nine starters, including our top five hitters and starting pitcher from last season.”

Seniors returning include pitcher Maison Gerrard (16-3, 1.73 ERA, .473 batting average, 34 RBIs), center fielder Jessica Miller (.512 BA, 7 HR, and a school record 41 RBIs), and left fielder Ella Leonard (.345 BA, 5 HR, 26 RBIs).

Gerrard was second team All-Northern Lakes League and all-district selection last year, Miller was first team All-NLL and second team all-district, and Leonard was third team All-NLL.

Miller is a Tiffin University commit, Leonard is a Cedarville University commit, and returning junior shortstop Hayley Griggs (.546 BA, 10 HR, 40 RBI) is a Florida State University commit after tying the school record by scoring 48 runs.

Griggs was first team All-NLL, first team all-district and third team All-Ohio last year.

Other key returnees include junior third baseman Alyssa Bradford (.320 BA) and three sophomores — second baseman/designated player Morgan Hoverman (.451 BA, .515 OBP, 45 runs, 21 SB), Aly Seuberling (.486 BA) and right fielder Ysenia You (.386 BA).

Hoverman was first team and Bradford was third team All-NLL last year. They are among a plethora of offensive threats and defensive standouts who all bring different attributes to the game.

“Hayley Griggs and Jessica Miller they are both very hard working and had exceptional season last year,” DeMars said. “Morgan Hovernman and Yesenia You are both slappers with speed who could give other teams fits.

“Hayley Griggs has amazing range and a powerful arm. Ella Leonard has incredible range in the outfield. Alyssa Bradford is extremely versatile and could see time at third, first, or catcher.”

In the circle, Gerrard is a fourth-year varsity starter who was first team All-NLL as a freshman and second team as a sophomore and junior.

“She has worked hard this off season to be even better,” DeMars said.

There are a couple areas that DeMars says his team will have to grow up, but experience should help.

“We will have a catcher with very little varsity experience and she will need to learn quickly how to help our pitcher and control the defense,” DeMars said. “We will also need to guard against any type of letdown after a strong season last year leading to high expectations this year.”

Overall, including four years as coach at Sylvania Southview (2006-09), where his teams went 65-48, DeMars has an overall career record of 321-159.

His Perrysburg teams have won three NLL titles (2016, 2017, 2018), three district championships (2012, 2018, 2019), and reached the state final four in 2018.