Softball at a glance

CENTRAL

COACH: Benny Martinez.

2002 RECORD: 11-12.

KEY LOSSES: Shauna Dampier, C; Lindsay Grey, SS; Jenny Clark, P; Jen Adams, OF.

KEY RETURNEES: Brittany Hasty, Jr., OF; Lindsey Herr, Jr., 3B; Liz Wallace, Jr., 1B; Samantha Downing, Sr., OF; Valerie Long, Sr., 2B; Kelly Dunham, Sr., C; Kelly O'Brien, So., OF/DH; Stephanie Owen, Jr., P.

KEY NEWCOMERS: Danielle Brown, Fr., OF; Vanessa Volkes, Sr., OF; Julie Schneidmiller, Jr., SS; Julie Wooster, Jr., 2B/DH; Heather Wooster, So., 1B/DH; Meaghann Helman, So., DH; Dylenna Beech, So., 2B/3B; Jaime Robbins, Jr., C; Katy Miller, So., P.

OUTLOOK: Central faces a rebuilding year after losing four starters from last season's district runner-up and region quarterfinalist but returns an athletic squad that is two-deep at every position. Martinez is asking Owen simply to throw strikes, meaning defense will be a key. Herr and Schneidmiller, a transfer from Hernando Christian Academy, anchor the left side of the infield. Downing has outstanding range in centerfield. Dunham will back up Owen and handle most of the catching. Miller will see mound time in tournaments.

SCHEDULE: February: 21 -- HERNANDO, 6:30 p.m.; 26 -- at Tampa Catholic, 4:30; 28 -- SOUTH SUMTER, 7. March: 3 -- at Leesburg, 6; 6 -- LECANTO, 6:30; 7 -- at Land O'Lakes, 7; 11 -- TAMPA CATHOLIC, 6; 13 -- LEESBURG, 6; 14 -- LAND O'LAKES, 6; 18 -- CRYSTAL RIVER, 6; 19 -- at Springstead, 7; 26 -- at East Ridge, 4:30; 28-29 -- at Spring Fling, TBA. April: 1 -- at Hernando, 6:30; 3 -- at Lecanto, 6; 4 -- EAST RIDGE, 6; 7 -- at Crystal River, 6; 10 -- CITRUS, 6; 1 -- SPRINGSTEAD, 7; 14 -- at South Sumter, 7; 17 -- at Citrus, 6; 29-30 -- District at Springstead, TBA. May: 2 -- District at Springstead, 7.

HERNANDO

COACH: Angie Svagerko.

2002 RECORD: 15-11.

KEY LOSSES: Kimi Olmstead, SS; Christene Dennis, IF/C; Christen Baldwin, P; Ashley Rogers, P/C; Nicole Young, CF; Becky Ellis, C.

KEY RETURNEES: Kristi Langworthy, Sr., C/IF; Carolyn Gant, Sr., P/IF; Scottisha Scrivens, Sr., 3B; Kadie Sharp, Sr., 1B.

KEY NEWCOMERS: Chelsea Marlow, Sr., C/RF; Krystal Rags, Sr., OF; Jamie Perdue, Jr., 1B/OF; Chantel Canaday, Sr., OF/IF; Whitney Massingale, So. OF/P; Sophia Gill, So., OF; Devin Lashley, So., P; Krystle Knott, So., P/OF; Amanda Savoie, Jr., IF; Brittney Naugler, Jr., OF/IF.

OUTLOOK: Graduation took three starters from the squad that fell in the opening round of last year's district tourney, but that was only the beginning of Hernando's losses. Baldwin (.302, five wins) and Young (.378) left the team to take jobs, and Rogers (.383, nine wins) is expecting a baby, leaving holes at pitcher, catcher and centerfield. Gant is slated to pitch, but Svagerko needs her glove in the field. Knott and Lashley should see innings. Langworthy is the likely candidate at catcher, but she, too, is needed in the field. Marlow returns after missing last season because of academic problems. Sharp and Perdue will battle at first base. Gill and Massingale are the front-runners in center.

SCHEDULE: February: 21 -- at Central, 6:30; 25 -- CITRUS, 6:30; 26 -- WEST PORT, 6:30; 28 -- at Dunnellon, 7; March: 4 -- WILLISTON, 6:30; 7 -- at Crystal River, 7; 13 -- PASCO, 6:30; 14 -- at Springstead, 7; 15 -- BISHOP VEROT, 2; 19 -- LAND O'LAKES, 6:30; 20 -- LECANTO, 6:30; 21 -- CRYSTAL RIVER, 6:30; 25 -- at Williston, 7; 26 -- HUDSON, 6:30; April: 1 -- at Central, 6:30; 3 -- at Citrus, 7; 4 -- at Land O'Lakes, 7; 8 -- at Lecanto, 6:30; 10 -- SPRINGSTEAD, 6:30; 11 -- DUNNELLON, 6:30; 15 -- at West Port, 5; 18-19 -- at Ridgewood Invitational, TBA; 21 -- at Mitchell, 6; 24 -- at South Sumter, 7; 30-May 2 -- District at Williston, TBA.

SPRINGSTEAD

COACH: Craig Swartout.

2002 RECORD: 19-7.

KEY LOSS: Vicki Albert, 2B.

KEY RETURNEES: Megan Allen, So., OF; Heather Benson, So., OF; Caitlin DeCristofaro, Sr., C; Stephanie Discepolo, So., 1B; Diana Eckert, Sr., SS; Emily Eicholtz, Sr., P; Ashley Liberatore, So., OF; Vanessa Ziegler, So., 3B.

KEY NEWCOMERS: Linda Rowe, So., OF; Abbey Behensky, Fr., OF.

OUTLOOK: Springstead will miss Albert's defense and senior leadership but returns eight starters from a squad that set a school record for victories and won its first district title and playoff game before losing to eventual state champion Green Cove Springs Clay in a region semifinal. The Eagles should be more aggressive on the basepaths under Swartout, who became the coach after Carmine Rufa accepted a job as an assistant principal. Eicholtz (19-7, 87 Ks, 1.15 ERA) was a third-team all-state selection last season. Liberatore moves from left field to replace Albert at second. Behensky and Rowe will battle for the vacant outfield spot.

SCHEDULE: February: 17 -- at South Sumter, 7 p.m.; 21 -- at East Ridge, 4; 27 -- CRYSTAL RIVER, 7; 28 -- at Land O'Lakes, 7; March: 6 -- HUDSON, 5:30; 7 -- EAST RIDGE, 7; 11 -- LECANTO, 4:30; 14 -- HERNANDO, 7; 18 -- at Dunnellon, 8; 19 -- CENTRAL, 7; 20 -- SOUTH SUMTER, 7; 25 -- at Leesburg, 7; April: 1 -- at Lecanto, 7; 2 -- at Hudson, 6; 4 -- CITRUS, 6; 8 -- LEESBURG, 7; 10 -- at Hernando, 6:30; 11 -- at Central, 7; 15 -- DUNNELLON, 6:30; 16 -- at Crystal River, 7; 18-19 -- at Ridgewood, TBA; 22 -- at Citrus, 6; 29 -- DISTRICT TOURNAMENT, 7; 30 -- DISTRICT TOURNAMENT, 5; May: 2 -- DISTRICT TOURNAMENT, 7.

-- Compiled by Frank Pastor.

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