COUNCIL ROCK NORTH SOFTBALL PREVIEW
Coach: Susan Yee (6th Year)
Assistant coaches: Farryl Groder (6th Year), Jessica Donello (3nd Year), Maddie Decker (2st Year), Rachel Lorance (1st Year), Tom Gearhardt (1st Year)
Last year’s record: 5-5 SOL, 13-9 overall (Lost in 2nd Round of Districts to undefeated District 1 Champion Downingtown West)
Notable losses:
Taylor Gearhart – 1st Team All-Conference Shortstop (NFCA #19 Kutztown University)
Molly Sheehy – 1st Team All-Conference 1st Base
Evie Passanante
Key returners:
Sierra Klein (Senior – SS / UTL)
Haley Edelman (Junior – OF)
Zoe Hardy (Junior – Catcher / 3rd Base)
Payton Helsman (Junior – Catcher / 1B)
Zoe Hornstein (Junior – CF / UTL)
Lucy Mills (Junior – Pitcher)
Kayla Ripper (Junior – OF / MI)
Olivia Schlindwein (Junior – Pitcher / DP)
Chelsea Seiler (Junior – 2B / SS)
Katie Wilkoski (Junior – 1st Base / 3rd Base)
Others to watch:
Alison Bodick (Freshman – 3B / 1B / OF)
Mia Kiskurno (Freshman – Pitcher / DP)
Strengths: “This year’s roster is very deep. We have 12 players who could all potentially see significant playing time this year, including three solid pitchers who are able to work off of one another to keep teams off balance, and keep their arms healthy throughout an intense high school season. For the second year in a row, we return the majority of our starters, which should hopefully bode well for a group, that despite only having one senior, has a lot of experience playing together. “
Question marks: “Despite only graduating two starters from the 2024 team, the 2025 team has huge shoes to fill if we want to continue building on the successes of last season. Taylor Gearhart and Molly Sheehy were both key fixtures in the lineup for four years, along with serving as two-year captains, and both earning first team all-conference nods in their respective positions. Additionally, we graduated our go-to pinch hitter in Evie Passanante which is a key weapon to lose. Returning the core of the team a year wiser and stronger should allow the girls to continue their year over year improvement, but they will face increased challenges this year in the form of an enhanced non-league slate comprising opponents who amassed a combined record of 120-36, five league championships, two district championships, and a state championship during the 2024 season. Will that schedule help the team to rise to the occasion and enter the playoffs battle tested and ready for the tournament, or will it prove to be too much of a challenge and hurt our playoff chances?”
Outlook: “Last year’s team really rounded into shape during the second half of the season, evolving to the point of playing toe-to-toe with state semifinalist CR South and District One champion Downingtown West. Nipping at the heels and coming up empty has really served to motivate the girls through the offseason to try and make the improvements needed to get over the hump and take the team to the next level. We have a solid group that is capable of having a different player step up on any given day and hope to use that depth to both challenge and support one another in order to grow and continue making strides from season to season and finish a little further than we did in 2024.”
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