Anne Arundel County softball previews

Public schools

Annapolis Panthers

1998 record: 2-16

Coach: Joy Eskuchen

Top players: Dawn McMaston, Sr., C; Sharie Neptune, Sr., SS; Juli Smith, Sr., 2B; Mindy Alexander, So., P.

Outlook: Eskuchen, a math teacher at Annapolis who played softball at UMBC, takes over as coach and is starting from scratch. "The kids are learning the basic fundamentals. Right now, we want to function as a team and have strong team moral." Neptune will move from first to short. McMaster will catch after playing first last season, and Smith is a returnee at second base. Alexander will handle most of the pitching.

Arundel Wildcats

1998 record: 14-7

Coach: Paul Yannuzzi

Top players: Soraya Grace, Sr., P; Breanna Kitchen, Sr., C; Emily Walther, Jr., 3B; Ashley Hines, Sr. OF; Alexis Viera, So. SS; Becky Carlson, Sr., 1B; Valerie McDowell, Sr., 2B; Sarah Polger, Sr., OF.

Outlook: Eight starters are back, led by Grace and Kitchen, both four-year starters. Yannuzzi expects vast infield improvement this year. McDowell will spark the top of the order, with Kitchen, Viera and Carlson the big run producers in the middle of a deep lineup. Kitchen hit .368 last season with 19 RBIs as a first-team All-County selection. In the pitching-rich county, Yannuzzi knows the Wildcats will have to manufacture runs at times. Opposing teams will have to do the same against them, with Grace, always around the plate with a mix of pitches, and Kitchen the area's top battery. "Both know what they are doing," the coach said.

Broadneck Bruins

1998 record: 6-12

Coach: Jim Ware

Top players: Suzie Shuttleworth, Sr., P; Jamie Hughes, Sr., OF; Bryn Weller, Jr., C; Katie Henschel, Jr., OF; Afton Solis, Sr., 1B/DH; Chrissie Seeley, Sr., 1B/DH; Megan Atkinson, Jr., OF.

Outlook: Ware sees improvement and more wins this season. Shuttleworth is a good starting point in her fourth varsity season on the mound. "She's working real hard and has improved her change-up. She has great control, always a good drop and a reasonable curve," said Ware. The Bruins spent plenty of time in batting cages during the off-season, so more runs should come. Weller, who hit .430 last spring with 35 stolen bases, will lead off. Atkinson is a scrappy hitter, with Shuttleworth the key in the middle of the lineup.

Chesapeake Cougars

1998 record: 13-7

Coach: Dennis Thiele

Top players: Lauren Gontkof, Sr., LF; Michelle Cappe, Sr., CF; Meredith Pirone, Sr., 2B; Jen Browning, Sr., OF; Kareem Falcon, Sr., C; Katie Nelson, So., P; Erin Taylor, Jr., P; Kristen Bishoff, Jr., 3B; Kristen Bland, Sr., 1B; Justine Wagner, Jr., 1B.

Outlook: A heart-breaking 4-3 loss in extra innings against eventual state champ Glen Burnie ended the Cougars' season in the region semifinals last spring. All but one starter return, though, so the Cougars look primed to run at a state title. Thiele, who stepped down during the off-season only to return after his replacement, Lin Sullivan, decided not to take over, likes his team's chances. "This looks like our best shot in a long time," he said. Gontkof, a first-team All-County outfielder who hit .461 with 19 runs scored and 11 RBIs, leads an attack that Thiele says has good bats one through nine and off the bench. Pitching is a question, but Nelson and Taylor got valuable experience last season. Junior Lindsay Ries takes over at shortstop.

Glen Burnie Gophers

1998 record: 18-4

Coach: Bob Broccolino

Top players: Jamie Dotson, Sr., OF; Michelle Schultheis, Sr., OF; Denise Schultheis, So., OF/P; Tiffany Jordan, Jr., 1B/P; Kristen Shacklock, Jr., SS/P; Erin Thomas, Jr., OF; Christina Bounelis, So., 3B; Casey Whelan, Jr., 1B; Tina Willis, Fr., P/OF.

Outlook: No county team hit harder by graduation (six starters gone) than the Gophers, who won their third state title and were last spring's No. 1-ranked team. Broccolino is restocking from a 13-3 JV. "We're very optimistic, but also realistic," he said. "There are five or six teams in the county with just about everyone back." Denise Schultheis, Jordan and Whelan provide speed at the top of the lineup. Bounelis and Willis are line-drive hitters in the middle. The biggest concern is pitching, and Broccolino has five young pitchers to work with.

Meade Mustangs

1998 record: 3-12

Coach: Bill Henderson

Top players: Andrea Misher, Sr., SS/CF; 3B/OF; Jennifer Beitzell, Jr., P; Charlene Hatcher, Jr., OF; Christina Stewart, So., 1B; Amanda Pinkham, Jr., C/OF; Kristen Clutz, Jr., 2B; Traci Welch, So., C/IF.

Outlook: Seven regulars are already familiar with Henderson's system, giving the second-year coach hope for a few more wins. The priority is this, Henderson said: "We have to get rid of that one bad inning." Beitzell provides the Mustangs with pitching experience, and junior Selena Stevens will get some innings. Misher provides experience, stability and versatility. Stewart, Pinkham and Stevens provide good bats.

North County Knights

1998 record: 13-7

Coach: Brian Love