Softball 2015: Area teams to watch

Area softball teams to watch for the 2015 season:

ALBURNETT

* Coach: Kevin Johnson (17th year at Alburnett, 477-256; 21st year overall, 533-355)

* 2014 record: 28-13

* 2014 postseason: Placed 5th in Class 2A at the state tournament

* Returning starters (7): P Amber Porter (soph.), P Cassidy Henle (sr.), C Maddie Volesky (jr.), 3B Kassidy Rose (soph.), SS Taylor Huber (jr.), UT Kaylin Moyer (sr.), UT Kayla Hospodarsky (fr.)

BENTON COMMUNITY

* Coach: Eric Stenberg (2nd year, 37-5)

* 2014 record: 37-5

* 2014 postseason: Class 3A regional finalist

* Returning starters (7): Amber Fiser (jr.), Alyssa Wiebel (jr.), Lea Brunssen (jr.), Jaicee Lyons (soph.), Shelby Hulsebus (fr.), Anna Stenberg (soph.), Jessica Heilman (jr.)

CEDAR RAPIDS JEFFERSON

* Coach: Brian Erbe (3rd year at Jefferson, 68-20; 13th year overall, 392-170)

* 2014 record: 35-8

* 2014 postseason: Placed 7th in Class 5A at the state tournament

* Returning starters (7): P Alyssa Olson (sr.), C Maddie Hansen (sr.), 1B Kennedy Dighton (soph.), 2B Avery Guy (soph.), 3B Erin Kuba (jr.), OF Hannah Towns (sr.); UT/DH Tori Brandon (sr.)

CEDAR RAPIDS XAVIER

* Coach: Nikki Gahring (3rd year, 62-19)

* 2014 record: 33-7

* 2014 postseason: Class 4A regional semifinalist

* Returning starters (7): Erin Drahozal (sr.), Hannah Helms (soph.), Steph Wehr (jr.), Cassie Himmelsbach (soph.), Morgan Breitbach (sr.), Jamie Feltes (jr.), Kailee Becker (jr.)

CENTER POINT-URBANA

* Coach: John Olachnovitch (3rd year at CPU, 56-26; 453-232 overall)

* 2014 record: 29-11

* 2014 postseason: Placed 6th in Class 3A at the state tournament

* Returning starters (9): P Samantha Croghan (sr.), C Elizabeth Hearn (sr.), 1B Megan Croghan (soph.), 2B Claire Chandler (soph.), 3B Alyssa Wade (soph.), SS Claire Holtz (soph.), OF Taylor Henderson (soph.), OF Katelyn Banning (soph.), OF Maddie Karr (fr.)

HIGHLAND

* Coach: Carrie Wieland (11th year, 272-101)

* 2014 record: 32-3

* 2014 postseason: Placed 4th in Class 2A at the state tournament

* Returning starters (8): P Katie Springer (sr.), C Courtnee Hahn (sr.), 1B Morgan Craig (sr.), 3B Cheyann Adamson (jr.), SS Bridget Murphy (sr.), OF Kelsey Hora (soph.), OH Katie Chalupa (sr.), DH Bailey Walsh (sr.)

LANSING KEE

* Coach: Elizabeth Hill (5th year, 53-75)

* 2014 record: 34-10

* 2014 postseason: Class 1A state runner-up

* Returning starters (6): P/3B Kendra Cooper (fr.), P/3B Courtney Cooper (soph.), 1B Molly Walleser (sr.), 2B Ellie Cooper (jr.), OF Nicole Vinson (sr.), OF Valerie Meyer (sr.)

MID-PRAIRIE

* Coach: Kara Beatty (2nd year, 27-11)

* 2014 record: 27-11

* 2014 postseason: Placed 5th in Class 3A at the state tournament

* Returning starters (9): P Taylor Kurtz (jr.), C/DH Ali Naylor (jr.), 1B Emma Troyer (jr.), 2B Chelsea Kral (jr.), 3B Amber Kral (jr.), SS Alex Rath (jr.), OF Lexi Duwa (sr.), OF Ashley Sojka (sr.), OF Emily Cayton (jr.)

SOLON

* Coach: Jim White (3rd year at Solon, 80-7; 21st year overall, 889-125)

* 2014 record: 39-3

* 2014 postseason: Class 4A state runner-up

* Returning starters (7): P Emily Ira (sr.), C Monika Bevans (jr.), 2B Sydney Lawson (jr.), 3B Ali Herdliska (sr.), OF Taylor Nearad (sr.), OF Grace McCarty (soph.), DH Jess Heick (soph.)

WEST DELAWARE

* Coach: Tiffany Rave (1st year at West Delaware, 0-0; 5th year overall, 108-48)

* 2014 record: 31-9

* 2014 postseason: Placed 6th in Class 4A at the state tournament

* Returning starters (7): C Ashley Heims (sr.), 1B Bridget Hoffman (jr.), 2B Kristen Wegmann (jr.), 3B Haley Morrison (sr.), OH Marly Boies (sr.), OH Emily Thole (sr.), OH Megan Collins (sr.)

l Comments: (319) 368-8857; jeff.linder@thegazette.com