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

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

SCHEDULE

March --- 29 Blue Valley North.

April --- 4 at Topeka High; 11 Shawnee Heights; 14 at Emporia; 20 Topeka West; 25 Hayden; 27 at Washburn Rural.

May --- 2 KC-Washington; 5 at KC-Turner tournament; 8 at Highland Park.

Shawnee Heights

Coach --- Sherry Lundry.

Key returnees --- Sarah Meissner, Bryanne Albert, Laura Biery.

Top newcomers --- Wendy Kobbeman.

Outlook --- The T-Birds are very young, having graduated nearly the entire infield from a '99 team that placed second in the Centennial League. Seniors Meissner, Albert and Christy Richards will be expected to provide leadership, while All-City first-teamer Biery will bring experience to the outfield.

SCHEDULE

(All home games at Lake Shawnee)

March --- 30 Santa Fe Trail.

April --- 4 Hayden; 11 at Seaman; 14 at Washburn Rural; 19 at Blue Valley Northwest; 25 at Silver Lake.

May --- 2 Topeka High; 5 Emporia; 9 Topeka West; 11 at Hi Park.

Topeka High

Coach --- Joy McGilton.

Key returnees --- Bre Huff, sr., Sammie Koelling, jr., Toisheona Nave, sr.

Top newcomers --- Diane Torrez, so., Holly Bates, fr., Crissy Wakes, fr., Becky Briggs, fr., Jana Horshem, fr.

Outlook --- Troy returns a strong core in Huff, an all-city and all-league shortstop; Koelling, a second-team all-league pick; and Nave, who led the team in slugging percentage last season. "With the addition of some very talented new players, I am very excited and optimistic about the upcoming season," McGilton said.

SCHEDULE

(All home games at Dornwood)

March --- 30 Washburn Rural.

April --- 4 Seaman; 11 Salina Central; 17 Highland Park; 21 at Salina South; 24 at Topeka West; 27 at Emporia.

May --- 2 at Shawnee Heights; 4 Junction City; 9 Manhattan.

Topeka West

Coach --- Lorie Booher

Key returnees --- Kelly Malmstrom, sr., Erin Pierce, jr., Kelly Deever, sr., Mandy Bayless, sr.

Top newcomers --- Jeanette Waldo, so., Brandi Harris, jr.

Outlook --- The Chargers graduated seven seniors from 1999 but return all-city and all-I-70 players in Malmstrom, a shortstop, and Pierce, a pitcher. Deever and Bayless also made all-league and earned second-team all-city honors.

SCHEDULE

(All home games at Dornwood)

April --- 4 at Salina Central; 7 Manhattan; 11 Junction City; 14 Highland Park; 18 at Washburn Rural; 20 at Seaman; 24 Topeka High; 28 Hayden.

May --- 2 Salina South; 9 at Shawnee Heights.

Washburn Rural

Coach --- Brenda Holaday.

Key returnees --- Kristin O'Connor, jr., Shannon Elwell, jr., Mandy Brown, jr., Heather Moore, jr., Whitney Stromgren, so., Sarah Kater, sr.

Top newcomers --- Amanda Carey, fr., Sarah Morse, fr.

Outlook --- With only one senior on the roster, the Junior Blues will be young. However, several returning starters picked up varsity experience last season as Rural finished second in regionals. "It will be exciting to see how this group grows and improves throughout the season," Holaday said.

SCHEDULE

March --- 30 at Topeka High.

April --- 4 at Blue Valley-Stilwell; 7 Highland Park; 14 Shawnee Heights; 18 Topeka West; 20 at Emporia; 27 Seaman.

May --- 2 Blue Valley North; 9 at Hayden; 11 at Manhattan.