Medomak Valley’s softball team is focused on a goal of returning to the State Class B championship game and finishing the job, and accomplishing what they were unable to do the past two seasons when they settled for Eastern Maine champs and State runners-up.
The Lady Panthers return a strong contingent of seniors, including pitcher Kayla Santheson, who served in a supporting role last season for graduated pitcher Kayla Vannah. Santheson will be backed up by Mallory Conary and freshman Desirea Benner.
Returning seniors include Santheson, Lindsey Ranquist, Jessica Koon, Ericka Christensen, Kasey Benner, Conary, Jennifer Tracy and Vanessa Davis. New to the team will be sophomore Alanna Vose, and freshmen (who will probably see playing time on varsity), D. Benner, Maria Ennamorati, Elise Wallace, Amanda Hendrickson, and Missy Philbrook.
New coach Richard Vannah expects he will keep 11 or 12 girls, and swing players up from JV when they do not have a corresponding game. “I’m going to keep the door wide open for any JV players that are coming along,” Vannah said.
Most of the Panthers’ starting positions have not been nailed down. K. Benner will catch, Conary will anchor the hot spot at third and Davis “will probably play center field,” Vannah said.
Vannah said Vose, Ranquist, Christensen, and Tracy will battle it out for the remaining infield positions. Ranquist (infield or outfield), Koon, Wallace and Philbrook are competing for a starting role in the outfield.
Medomak finished their 2009 campaign with a 12-4 record in the KVAC, were seeded 8th in East B and won the Eastern Maine Class B championship.
Medomak opens at Lincoln Academy on April 23 at 1 p.m.