HEADED HOME: WEST BRANCH LADY WARRIORS SOFTBALL PREVIEW

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BELOIT, OH – Head coach Jennifer Woods and the West Branch Lady Warriors are very excited for the upcoming season. The Lady Warriors will be led by Jordan Anderson in the circle as the ace senior who is expected to carry to load. Seniors Destany Blake, Sam Morris, Jaci Thomad, and Madison Rhome will help lead the squad this year. The entire outfield is newcomers and with COVID destroying their season last year there is not much experience in the grass. However, with that being said Coach Woods expects them to find a way and toe that Warrior line. Team goals are always high with the Lady Warriors, as there is a lot of state experience still on the field from just a few years ago. They will look to get back to glory once more this season.

Follow the Lady Warriors here on YSNLive.com!

 

HEADED HOME: WESTERN RESERVE BLUE DEVILS BASEBALL PREVIEW

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BERLIN CENTER, OH – Head coach Ed Anthony is entering his 13th season in charge of the Western Reserve Blue Devils and he couldn’t be more excited about this year group. Nine seniors join his team and that’s the most in the valley returning to any team this year. Coach Anthony is one of those coaches that have the experience and enthusiasm day in and day out which creates a great atmosphere for his players who love to play hard for him. Almost all of the Western Reserve varsity team was able to play summer ball this past year. Coach insists on playing up for non conference games to prepare his team for the state tournament. Key pitchers this year for the Blue Devils will be seniors Nick Niemi and Jake Pappagallo.

To follow the Western Reserve Blue Devils go to YSNLive.com!

 

HEADED HOME: BOARDMAN LADY SPARTANS SOFTBALL PREVIEW

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BOARDMAN, OH – YSN recently had the opportunity to sit down and speak to head coach Fred Mootz of the Boardman Lady Spartans. The Lady Spartans have three seniors and two of them are already committed to play at the next level. Coach Mootz also has four juniors who lettered as freshman, and of course like the rest of Ohio spring sports they missed out on last season due to COVID. Coach reminded us that he knows he has high expectations as this year is the 20th anniversary of 2001 Boardman Lady Spartans state championship team, that being said, he understands its always one game at a time. Defense and pitching will lead the way for Boardman and they expect their bats will heat up as the weather does, right in time for the state tournament.

Catch the Lady Spartans all season long on YSNLive.com!

 

HEADED HOME: NEWTON FALLS TIGERS BASEBALL PREVIEW

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CNEWTON FALLS, OH – Head coach Chad Rankin and his offense look forward to the upcoming season, which is expected to come with success. Backed with players such as seniors Josh Honeycutt (CF, P) and Christian McCabe (SS), Newton Falls is expected to have a deep lineup. 

Of course, Coach Rankin knows the talent level his conference brings. Teams such as Champion and LaBrae will be what stands in Newton Falls way this year.

Underclassmen stepping up is a key Coach Rankin is looking at to unlock the district championship this year. As coach knows this year is different for everybody “Nobody knows what’s going on, and we’re kind of just going out there and playing ball.” Rankin said. 

As the MVAC looks to be a gauntlet, Newton Falls looks to be in the thick of it.

*Contributed by Ty Bartell

 

HEADED HOME: LABRAE VIKINGS BASEBALL PREVIEW

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LEAVITTSBURG, OH – Head coach, Jim Bailey and his Labrae Vikings are gearing up for the return of baseball, in what he is calling a feeling out process. As players such as 4-year letter winner Connor Meyer will hold down the fort for the Vikings. 

As Coach Bailey expects stiff competition from conference rivals Champion and Newton Falls, players such as Lucas Lancaster and Jordan McCartney will be expected to have good seasons to contend in the MVAC. 

As the cancelled 2020 season has left a lot of teams with questions this year. Coach Bailey considers it a feeling out process as “you don’t know who’s progressed talent wise” Bailey said. 

One thing is for certain, Coach Bailey and The Vikings look to be a premier team a top of the MVAC this year.

*Contributed by Ty Bartell

 

HEADED HOME: CANFIELD CARDINALS BASEBALL PREVIEW

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CANFIELD, OH – Head coach Gary Knittle took some time with us and spoke about the talent around Canfield this year. Coach expects good things, but reminded us that theres plenty of competing inside their own dugout. Players are still earning positions and starting roles. Speaking of starting roles the Cardinals have a really good pitching staff. Leading the way is Landon Beidelschies and Nate Shaw as a great 1-2 punch. Two guys committed to Division 1 programs. Nate Shaw is committed to Wright State and Landon Beidelschies is committed to Westpoint. With arms like these they are a coach’s dream. Younger players of note are Ben Slanker and A.J Havrilla.

Catch all your Canfield Baseball right here on YSNLIVE.com!

*Contributed by Billy McCartney

 

HEADED HOME: SALEM QUAKERS BASEBALL PREVIEW

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SALEM, OH – We had the oppportunity to talk to head coach Mike DeBarr this week and he spoke about younger guys stepping up and contributing early. Leaning on Lane Rhodes on the mound this year for the upcoming season. Lane recently committed to our very own Youngstown State University. Coach DeBarr is looking to get better with time and develop his younger players as they gain experience. Salem had an chance to play together in the Valley as a summer team, so coach was around to see his younger players.

YSN is excited to cover the Salem Quakers this year, be on the look out for more coverage!

*Contributed by Billy McCartney

 

HEADED HOME: URSULINE FIGHTING IRISH BASEBALL PREVIEW

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YOUNGSTOWN, OH – The Ursuline Irish are coming off a heavy senior driven class a year ago as head coach, Matt Weymer looks to lead this year’s squad onto the diamond at the end of the month!

Coach Weymer is looking to “re-stack the deck” after losing six starters from a year ago. One key starter returning is Brady Shannon, who recently committed to the University of Central Florida. Coach Weymer will look to lean on Brady in multiple ways this year, whether its playing multiple positions, multiple spots in the batting order, or for leadership throughout the season. Jonah Kirchner is another returner that Coach Weymer is excited about as he will handle a lot of pitching opportunities this season. Two new faces to look out for on the diamond this year will be middle infielder, Luca Ricchiuti, and the first baseman/pitcher Drew Kirila.

The standard at Ursuline is always high and Coach Matt Weymer always expects the most from his team as he is known to set the bar pretty high. For Ursuline, it is all about the tournament, Coach Weymer scheduled certain teams to push these young men, so they can be ready for anything that might be thrown their way during the OHSAA state baseball tournament at the end of the season!

*Contributed by Billy McCartney

 

HEADED HOME: CANFIELD LADY CARDINALS SOFTBALL PREVIEW

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CANFIELD, OH – We spoke to Joe Angelo about returning starters and he is very excited about his 4 seniors taking this team and leading them. Coach Angelo talked about all the girls having a chance to play travel ball and how he and his staff were able to see them throughout the summer. Coach went on to speak about how they expect to hit the ball very well this year and in return hope that will help them win a lot of games. The expectation is high for the Lady Cardinals as they always seem to be.

Stay here with YSNLive.com for all of your coverage of the Lady Cardinals!

*Contributed by Billy McCartney

 

HEADED HOME: SOUTH RANGE RAIDERS BASEBALL PREVIEW

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CANFIELD, OH – The South Range Raiders are led by state champion head coach, Jim Hanek. With only a few years removed from a state championship, he and his staff have a senior driven team that has plenty of experience on the diamond.

The Raiders will look to make a deep run again this year as they gear up for another exciting baseball season. Coach Hanek talked with YSN’s own, Paul Munson, about how disappointing it was to end the season last year due to COVID, the 2019 season that saw the Raiders finish as district runners up to TRI-C, and how the boys are excited to get back to action this year after missing another shot at a certain long tournament run. Coach Hanek has high hopes this year once again to send these seniors out with some hardware.

For all your Raiders updates and content follow us here at YSNLive.com!

*Contributed by Billy McCartney