The Perryville softball team is primed for a run at a third straight region title. "The potential is there," coach Rusty Moore said. "It's all going to depend on the hitting and filling a few spots. We have a younger team than we're accustomed to having but we have the opportunity and skills to get back there." The Panthers once again have pitching depth. Katelyn Willis, a key member of the two title teams, returns. She is also capable of playing second base or third base when not in the circle. Sophomore Lydia Hill and freshman Emily Phillips will each get a chance to pitch, Moore said. The Rising Sun baseball team is loaded with talent. "Like I told them, they can be as good as they want to be and go as far as they want to go," coach Clyde Van Dyke said. The Tigers boast a strong defense and a potentially dominant pitching staff. "We have to throw strikes and have got to swing the bats better," said Van Dyke. "We're weren't aggressive at the plate last year and if we're not aggressive we're going to be in trouble. This could be their year. The Perryville baseball team is optimistic entering the season. "The expectations are high," coach Jason Gunning said. "We have a lot of seniors and good veteran leadership. Quality leadership and quality players. We were still learning last year but now I think they're ready to take it to the next level." At tonight’s UCBAC Board of Control meeting, two changes were made to the conference bylaws, the league said in a press release.
The first change is the replacement of the automatic movement of teams between divisions. The new bylaw establishes a realignment committee that will make a recommendation to the Board of Control on an annual basis in all sports except football, which will continue to be realigned every two years. The second change is the elimination of the conference championship game in the following sports: field hockey, volleyball, soccer, basketball, lacrosse, softball, baseball and tennis. The Board of Control believes that these changes help the conference to maintain its two primary purposes: first, to provide the most competitive regular season schedule for all teams, and second, to prepare all teams for the post season. These changes will be effective beginning with the Fall 2014 season The Perryville track and field program expects past success will breed future achievement. With the Panthers' boys team winning consecutive state titles while the girls squad has also experienced success, turnout is at an all-time high. Perryville has 104 student-athletes split equally with 52 boys and 52 girls. That will make for some crowded conditions on bus trips, but coach Jake Moore isn't complaining. Capturing a third straight state title will be a difficult task. Of the 10 Perryville boys who scored points in the state meet in an individual event, only one remains – distance runner Adam Thornton. The Perryville girls lacrosse team prefers to see the glass as half full.
The Panthers lost 10 seniors including leading scorer Leah Ports, but return 11 players with varsity experience. The Rising Sun girls lacrosse team is optimistic about improving on last year's 4-9 record. New coach Ryan Crouse spent last season as an assistant with the boys program and has 14 years of lacrosse coaching experience. He will be assisted by former Tiger star Becca Guethler. Crouse is pleased to have two players capable of doing a good job in goal – Kelsey Perkins and Maddie Hurm. "They are interchangeable," he said. "We're really excited about having depth at that position." The Perryville boys lacrosse team expects an experienced team will lead to an improvement over last year's 3-9 mark.
The Panthers return all but five varsity players led by senior middie Kyle Savick, senior defender Cameron Burns, and junior goalie Joey Carter. Junior attackman Tyler Waggoner and freshman defenseman Shaun Vines will be two of Perryville's top newcomers. "We are a youthful, yet experienced group who is planning for a very competitive season," second year coach Brandon Townsend said. "This strong-bonded group of young men have collectively worked hard to ensure this will be the team's best season yet." The Rising Sun boys lacrosse team is relishing the opportunity to compete against some of the state's top programs. The Tigers captured a Susquehanna Division title last spring to earn a promotion to the Chesapeake Division which includes perennial powers Fallston, Patterson Mill, North Harford, and Bel Air. The Rising Sun tennis team will see some new faces this year.
The Tigers will be in the Susquehanna Division after falling out of the Chesapeake. "We're looking forward to playing teams we haven't played before," coach Larry Sickels said. "As a team we definitely want to increase the win total from last year and think we have a good chance of being at or near the top of the Susquehanna Division by the end of the season. As far as individuals are concerned, we want to place as many singles players and doubles teams into regionals as possible." |
Categories
All
Archives
December 2018
|