A capsule look at the city's high school spring sports teams

Topeka Capital-Journal, The, Mar 28, 2000 by Capital-Journal

SCHEDULE

March --- 28 at SM West; 30 Washburn Rural.

April --- 5 Shawnee Heights; 7 at Wichita Northwest; 10 at Blue Valley Northwest; 11 at Topeka High; 13 Junction City; 17 Highland Park; 19 at Hayden; 24 Lawrence Free State; 27 at Seaman.

May --- 2 Topeka High; 5 at Salina South; 9 Salina Central.

Washburn Rural

Coach --- Lionel Suarez.

Key returnees --- Megan Mohn, Sarah Sneed, Jessica Dorsey, Kelli Goodrich, Kristin Underwood.

Top newcomers --- Kayla Fenton, Calle Weddle.

Outlook --- Mohn, Sneed, Dorsey and Goodrich all received All- Centennial League honors last season, giving the Junior Blues a good core of returning players. Mohn, Sneed and Dorsey earned all-state honors as well. "With the return of a few key players and some promising newcomers, the season could be very successful," Suarez said.

SCHEDULE

March --- 28 Leavenworth; 30 at Topeka West.

April --- 4 at Emporia; 10 Seaman; 12 at Immaculata; 14 Lawrence; 17 Ottawa; 18 Shawnee Heights; 21 at Lawrence Free State; 27 Hayden.

May --- 1 at Shawnee Heights; 2 at Manhattan; 4 Olathe North; 9 Topeka High; 11 at Seaman.

SOFTBALL

Hayden

Coach --- Lee Schmidt.

Key returnees --- Amanda Dinkel, jr., Jeny Garst, jr., Shannon Stadler, sr., Kelly Gartner, sr., Kasey Stadler, sr., Kacie Taggart, jr., Alecia Barron, jr., Erin Sanchez, sr.

Outlook --- The defending Class 4A champ returns several seasoned players. The roster features seven all-city honorees and seven all- league picks. "Look for a lot of leadership and production from returning letter winners," Schmidt said.

SCHEDULE

April --- 4 at Shawnee Heights; 7 Jefferson West; 13 at Miege; 18 Emporia; 19 Highland Park; 25 at Seaman; 28 at Topeka West.

May --- 1 at Hiawatha; 4 Manhattan; 9 Washburn Rural.

Highland Park

Coach --- Vicki Vossler

Key returnees --- Jennifer McCall, Amber Phifer

Top newcomers --- Amy Mitchell, Desi Hunter, Jheri Bermudez.

Outlook --- Vossler, who also serves as Hi Park's girls basketball coach, takes over as head coach. Vossler said the team is shy on varsity experience but boasts a solid group of freshmen that may see first-team action.

SCHEDULE

(All home games at Dornwood)

March --- 30 at Ottawa.

April --- 3 Emporia; 7 at Washburn Rural; 14 Topeka West; 17 at Topeka High; 20 at Hayden; 25 at Junction City.

May --- 2 Blue Valley-Stilwell; 8 Seaman; 11 Shawnee Heights.

Seaman

Coach --- Kevin Hoffmans.

Key returnees --- Kelly Cool, sr., Kelly Hainline, sr., Angie Loomis, sr., Brigitte Perry, sr., Katie Schmidt, sr., Brandi Smith, sr., Ashlea Kramer, jr., Lori Leiker, jr., Shannon Speaker, jr.

Top newcomers --- Karie Lang, jr., Whitney McDaniel, jr., Tara Tinsley, jr., Stephanie Herbster, so.

Outlook --- "After graduating six outstanding seniors from last year's team, several positions are wide open," said Hoffmans, now in his 11th season as coach. "Each player understands that for this team to be successful, they must perform at a high level, day in and day out. Through the leadership of players like first-team 5A All-State Katie Schmidt and pitcher Kelly Hainline, the team is off to a good start."