Prep softball capsules

Adams Central

 Class: B

 Nickname: Patriots

 Conference: Lou-Platte

 Coach: Denise Schuck

 Key returnees: Bekah Martin, RF, Jr.; Katie Bonifas, P/SS, Sr.; Brittany Meyer, 1B; Sr.; Abbie Schuyler, C, Sr.; Alyssa Karp, CF, Sr.; Emily Keenan, RF, Jr.; Brittany McWhirter, 2B, Sr.; Katie Kathman, P, Sr.

Aug. -- 28, Thayer Central/Blue Hill; 30, at Holdrege Tournament.

Sept. -- 4, Cozad/Minden; 9, Blue HIll; 13, at Hastings Tournament; 16, St. Paul; 18, Hastings; 20, at Northwest Tournament; 23, Northwest; 27, at Thayer Central; 29, Fillmore Central; 30, at High Plains.

Oct. -- 2, Southern Valley; 7, at High Plains Triangular with Cross County.

Aurora

 Class: B

 Nickname: Huskies

 Conference: Central

 Coach: Lisa Kasek

 Key returnees: Tess Moyer, CF, Jr.; Jenny Pickering, P/2B, Sr.; Ashton Henderson, SS, Sr.; Sami Vincent, P, Sr.; Kaylee Freese, 3B, Jr.; Abby Griffith, C, Sr.; Ali Titus, P, Sr.; Becka Snider, C/RF, Sr.

Aug. -- 28, Holdrege; 30, at Seward Invite.

Sept. -- 2, at Centennial; 4, at York; 6, at Fairbury Invite; 9, at Hastings; 11, High Plains; 13, at Lexington/Cozad Invite; 16, Northwest; 18, at Central City, 20, at Northwest Invite; 23, at David City; 25, at Columbus Lakeview; 29, Hastings.

Oct. -- 2, Minden; 4, Conference Tournament at Central City; 6, Fillmore Central.

Boone Central/Cedar Rapids

 Class: C

 Nickname: Cardinals

 Conference: Mid-States

 Coach: Brandon Detlefsen

 Key returnees: Paige Kolm, P/IF, Sr.; Missy Zoucha, P/IF, Sr.; Calen Choyeski, IF, Sr.; Emily Wells, C, Sr.; Marissa Koch, OF, Jr.; Savannah Baker, IF, Jr.; Chancee Nolan, IF, Sr.; Kenzie Pelster, IF, Jr.; Paige Seier, OF, Jr.; Lindsay Temme, IF, Jr.

 COACHSPEAK: "We are looking for this year to be a breakout season for this program. We have many tools in place to have a great season."

Aug. -- 28, Schuyler/Cross County; 30, at Fillmore Central Tournament.

Sept. -- 2, David City; 4, North Bend Central; 6, Boone Central Tournament; 9, at O'Neill Triangular; 13, at Columbus Lakeview Tournament; 18, at Wisner-Pilger; 20, at Northwest Tournament; 22, Madison/West Point Central Catholic; 23, at Battle Creek Triangular; 25, High Plains; 30, at Cross County Triangular.

Oct. -- 2, St. Paul.

Central City

 Class: C

 Nickname: Bison

 Conference: Central

 Coach: Bobby Kelley

 Key returnees: Kate Rickson, P, Sr.; Jessica Jensen, C, Sr.; Morgan Beck, SS, Jr.; Jessie Jensen, 1B, Jr.; Lindsey Anderson, 3B, Jr.

 COACHSPEAK: "With so many girls returning with experience we have a positive outlook on our season. As a team we have set goals for the entire season but we realize in order to reach these goals we can only focus on one day at a time."

Aug. -- 28, at Seward; 30, at Wisner-Pilger Tournament.

Sept. -- 2, at Madison; 4, St. Paul; 9, at Milford; 11, Holdrege; 13, Cross County; 16, Fillmore Central; 18, Aurora; 20, at Northwest Tournament; 22, at Blue Hill; 23, at Schuyler; 27, Central City Tournament; 39, at Twin River; 30, at St. Paul Triangular.

Oct. --2, at High Plains, 4, Central Conference Tournament.

Grand Island Sr. High

 Class: A

 Nickname: Islanders

 Conference: Heartland Athletic

 Coach: K.C. Hehnke

 Key returnees: Mackenzie Tomlin, C/OF, Jr.; Emily Mierau, CF, Jr.; Mikayla Welsh, C/3B/OF, Sr.; Ashley Casarez, 2B/OF, Sr.; Alissa Christensen, SS, Sr.; Sara Petska, 3B/P, Sr.; Steph Schwieger, OF, Sr.; Taryn Trosper, P, So.; Rachel Weakland, 1B/OF, Sr.

 COACHSPEAK: "We played in the state tournament last year but we are looking for our first winning season with a return to the state tournament as a competitor."

Aug. -- 28, Hastings; 30, at Lincoln Public Schools Invite.

Sept. -- 2, Norfolk; 4, at Lincoln Northeast; 6, HAC Tournament at Lincoln; 9, at North Platte; 11, at Lincoln East; 13, at Columbus Invite; 16, Lincoln Southeast; 18, at Columbus; 19-20, at Omaha Westside Invite; 23, at Lincoln Southwest; 25, Fremont; 27, at Lincoln Southeast Invite; 30, at Kearney.

Oct. -- 4, Lincoln High; 6, at Lincoln North Star; 8 and 10, Districts.



G.I. Northwest

 Class: B

 Nickname: Vikings

 Conference: Central

 Coach: Mike Witt

 Key returnees: Kelly Olsufka, C/IF/OF, Sr.; Hallie Casto, C, Sr.; Taryn Shotkoski, OF, Sr.; Whitney Hedges, IF, Jr.; Kelsey Scherer, IF/P, Jr.; Erica Hughes, C/IF, Jr.; Chelsea Glause, C/IF/P, Jr.; Jessica Helmer, IF/OF, Jr.; Amanda Swenson, OF, Jr.

 COACHSPEAK: "We need our young team to become hardened by fire very quickly and mature as players by the time championship play starts. Patience and perseverance will be essential to our success."

Aug. -- 28, at Lexington.

Sept. -- 2, at Minden; 4, Hastings; 6, at Fairbury Tournament; 8, at York; 9, High Plains; 13, at Cozad/Lexington Tournament; 16, at Aurora; 18, Cozad; 20, Northwest Tournament; 23, at Adams Central; 25, at Holdrege; 27, at Crete Tournament; 30, at Columbus Lakeview.

Oct. -- 2, at Gothenburg; 4, Conference Tournament at Central City; 9-10, Districts at Hastings.

Hastings

 Class: B

 Nickname: Tigers

 Conference: GNAC

 Coach: Ashley Speak

 Key returnees: Alex Price, SS, Jr.; Laura Sheppard, P, Sr.; Hilary Ham, IF, Sr.; Mariah Walker, P, Jr.

 COACHSPEAK: "With no returning starters, we are looking to have our seniors step up and the underclassmen to follow."

Aug. -- 28, at Grand Island; 30, at Holdrege Tournament.

Sept. -- 2, York; 4, at Northwest; 9, Aurora; 13, Hastings Quad; 16, at McCook; 18, at Adams Central; 20, Hastings Invite; 22, Minden; 25, Centennial; 29, at Aurora.

Oct. -- 2, Lexington, 4, GNAC at McCook; 8 and 10, Districts.

St. Paul

 Class: C

 Nickname: Wildcats

 Conference: Lou-Platte

 Coach: Mick Klein

 Key returnees: Rachelle Smydra, 3B, Sr.; Alex Gouldie, 1B, Sr.; Haylee Fenton, 1B, Sr.; Kelby Feeney, P, Jr.; Rebecca Masat, CF/C, Jr.; Maresa Seward, 1B/OF, Jr.; Dakota Sombke, OF, Jr.

COACHSPEAK: "The 2008 theme is ’Play with heart.' The team's success will depend on the willingness of every player to play seven innings of every game."

Aug. -- 28, Minden; 30, Gothenburg/Blue Hill.

Sept. -- 2, at Twin River; 4, at Central City; 9, at Southern Valley; 11, Blue Hill; 16, at Adams Central; 18, at Lexington; 22, Fillmore Central; 25, Twin River; 27, at Gothenburg Tournament; 30, Central City/York.

Oct. --2, at Boone Central; 6, O'Neill.

Twin River

 Class: C

 Nickname: Titans

 Conference: Central Eight

 Coach: Ranae VanDriel

 Key returnees: Alyse Andreasen, OF, Jr.; Tanya Snyder, C, Jr.; Kirsten Wilcox, P/2B, Jr.; Courtney Cave, 1B, Sr.; Kayla Mohr, SS, Sr.; Brittany Preister, OF, Sr.; Tiffany Hagerbaumer, 3B, Sr.; Chelsea Jones, P/1B, Sr.; Kelsey Chirry, OF, So.

 COACHSPEAK: "Bringing back all my team from last year with seven good freshmen, we're looking at having a good season w ith them all."

Aug. -- 28, at Wayne; 30, at Fillmore Central Tournament.

Sept. -- 2, St. Paul; 4, at Madison; 9, Cross County; 11, at Nebraska Lutheran Triangular; 13, at Columbus Lakeview Tournament; 18, High Plains; 20, at David City Tournament; 23, at O'Neill; 25, at St. Paul; 26, at Schuyler Triangular; 29, Central City; 30, at Cross County Triangular.

Oct. --2, at Friend; 7, North Bend.