ATWATER, OH – Head coach Brenda Flarida had some key returners coming back from 2019. Coach talked to us about the lack of varsity experience her team has this season and is also counting her blessings with the good weather north east Ohio has been so far this early March. The Lady Vikings have been outside plenty and also have a few scrimmages under their belt this spring. Coach has been going over a lot of situation softball in practice, since the lack of experience. We also spoke about how the girls should enjoy and have fun this season. Its a kids game and the Lady Vikings will not only be prepared this season but have fun too.
LEAVITTSBURG, OH – After her 2020 season was taken away, LaBrae softball coach Demetra Noble is looking to build on past seasons and be competitive within their league. She said that a tough non-conference schedule should help prep them for a very competitive league, with teams like Champion and Newton Falls.
Noble said she has returning lettermen such as Seniors Desi Allen, Aryana Hartman, as well as Junior Alaydren Beck looking to carry the load of the team. She also said that we should keep an eye out for underclassmen Jessica Morris, Grace Barnhart, and Kennedy Sanderson looking to make a big impact this year.
Talking about the impact of missing last year, Noble said that she expects the team to take a while to get adjusted, but expects to be fine in the long run. She expressed concerts with the sophomores, who lost their freshman year, but expects big things from what she called a loaded class.
When asked about her goals and expectations, Noble first expressed that they play in a tough league, with the perennial state-finalist Champion Flashes, as well as teams on the rise such as Newton Falls and Brookfield. That being said, she expects the time to be ready come time for league play. She said she stacked her non-conference schedule with teams such as Ursuline, Howland, and Boardman to help prepare them for their tough conference schedule.
The Lady Vikings open their season on March 27th in Austintown. They begin league play on April 5th with Champion.
