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Magruder leading St. Clairsville softball

2022 Spring Sports Preview

ST. CLAIRSVILLE – Another softball season at St. Clairsville. Another head coach. For the fifth time in the seven seasons, the Red Devils will take the field with a new leader in the dugout. Rick Magruder begins his first season at St. Clairsville after a very successful tenure with the Wheeling Central Class A state powerhouse program. He takes over for John Jaskowiak who held the position for two years. Rob Gallentine was before Jaskowiak and he took over for Ron Hummell. “I am looking forward to an exciting year. I have two very good assistant coaches in Stephanie Salisbury ...

Gorrell now guiding Shadyside softball team

2022 Spring Sports Preview

By KIM NORTH Times Leader Sports Writer SHADYSIDE -- After 16 seasons and a Division IV Ohio state softball championship in 2015, Shadyside has a new leader in the dugout. Bob Gorrell Jr. takes over the Tigers' helm after Jillian Ongley stepped down from the post after last season. However, the cupboard is far from bare as the new head coach has a plethora of talent returning. "Obviously, losing two key four year starters at key positions will be hard to replace. While we did not lose numbers to graduation we lost quality players," Gorrell said of Kylie Jo Baker and Tory Hendershot. ...

River softball team is rebuilding

2022 Spring Sports Preview

By KIM NORTH Times Leader Sports Writer HANNIBAL -- The River softball team is in a rebuilding mode for 2022. "We lost nine players to graduation or various other reasons from last year, so this will be a rebuilding season for us," veteran head coach Dave Wright said. "We are trying to locate all the pieces of the puzzle to fit the team." Those receiving diplomas included a handful of four-year vets in Elizabeth McConn (Inf.), Katie Lively (P), Katie Rufener (C), Lindsey Huffman (3B) and Sofie Myers (RF), along with three-year regular Aedyn Kraft (2B). Lively earned Division IV ...

Monroe Central softball looking for continued success

2022 Spring Sports Preview

By KIM NORTH Times Leader Sports Writer WOODSFIELD -- Monroe Central's Michael Brock is hoping the success the girls basketball team had this winter will carry over to the softball diamond this spring. The Seminoles advanced to the Division IV regional tournament for the second time in program history, and many of those same performers are among the two dozen players on the softball roster. Of those 24 players, nine are returning letterwinners from a team that was upset in the first round of the sectional tournament. "We are working hard to be better than we were last year. ...

Martins Ferry softball returns strong nucleus from OVAC title team

2022 Spring Sports Preview

By KIM NORTH Times Leader Sports Writer MARTINS FERRY -- Veteran softball coach Jerry Magistro is very excited about what the 2022 season can be for his Martins Ferry squad. The Purple Riders return a dozen letterwinners from a 23-5 team that won the OVAC Class 3A and Buckeye 8 titles. However, a 10-9 loss to West Muskingum in the opening round of the Division III sectional tournament left everyone stunned. "We had a great season last year and hope for a better one this season," Magistro, who is 370-146 in his career at St. John Central (347 wins) and Martins Ferry, said. "We have ...

Harrison Central softball to christen new diamond

2022 Spring Sports Preview

By KIM NORTH Times Leader Sports Writer CADIZ -- Things are looking up for Harrison Central in 2022. The Huskies are coming off a Division III District Tournament appearance and return five quality starters from that team. If that's not enough to be excited about, they will also play their home games on the new state-of-the-art all-turf field on the school campus. The seniors are Jenna Young (1B), Sarah Touville (SS) and Tristin Kovarik (P); and juniors Maddy Butler (3B) and Lizzy Clelland (C). "We have a core nucleus of players returning and some young girls that need to ...