The Shamrocks clinched their first District 3 softball title with a 4-3 win over Kennard-Dale in a Class 4A final at Millersville University.
With the softball season underway, here’s a team-by-team glance at The Sentinel’s coverage area with players to watch and notes.
MID-PENN COMMONWEALTH
Cedar Cliff Colts
Head coach: Lindsay Aucker
Last year’s record: 4-16
Key returning players: Kylee Heller, sr., OF/SS; Isabelle Keys, sr., OF/P; Maddie Billus, so., 3B/SS.
Key players lost: Keira Price, Jenna Weaver, Caroline Groff, Vivian Cavataio, Olivia Alandar, Ariel Cook.
Top newcomers: Brooke Martin, fr., C/SS/OF; Stella Fleisher, fr., C/SS/OF.
Outlook: The Colts have a mix of senior leadership and promising newcomers that can set a foundation for the program’s growth under Aucker.
People are also reading…
- Academic research removed from U.S. Army War College journals in 'DEI' purge
- Carlisle grad Paul Blackburn's path to PIAA title game as Hershey coach echoes Herd's historic run
- List of 2025 Easter Egg Hunts in Cumberland County
- Big Spring baseball 'stacks the small things together' to stave off Shippensburg
Cumberland Valley Eagles
Head coach: Gregg Williams
Last year’s record: 22-4
Key returning players: Sydney May, sr., P/INF; Annika Shearer, sr., OF; Lana Hartsock, sr., INF; Sophia Ziegler, sr., C/INF; Isabella Kertes, jr., C; Gracie Laur, jr., INF; Maddy Oswald, jr., INF; Emma Stroup, jr., INF.
Key players lost: Maddie Martin, Emma Morgan, Ady Machemer, Graysen Trybulski.
Top newcomers: TBD
Outlook: After capturing division and conference titles and returning to the District 3 championship game, the Eagles sent a decorated senior class off in style. But Cumberland Valley retained a strong core of talented players, including May, an all-state selection and the Commonwealth Division’s player of the year, and should be in the mix again in a competitive division race.
Mechanicsburg Wildcats
Head coach: Gail Hiestand
Last year’s record: 21-7
Key returning players: Jada Lacey, sr., P/CF; Chelsea Heckert, sr., C/3B; Mackinley Giblin, sr., DP/1B; Ellia Chartrand, sr., P/1B; Rylin Magee, so., C/1B; Mia Masser, so., LF; Asha Pratt, so., RF.
Key players lost: Emily Bittner, Sam Rybacki, Bella DeMaio, Emma Rizzutto, Sarah Meyers, Madyson Gladfelter, Kailee Fraker.
Top newcomers: Kenzie Shockey, so., P/2B; Payton Miller, so., 2B; Reaghan Condon, fr., SS; Emmie Kuhn, fr., OF; Jayden Brubaker, fr., INF; Kayla Yoke, fr., P.
Outlook: After securing the program’s first state-tournament victory and reaching the PIAA Class 5A quarterfinals, the Wildcats said goodbye to seven seniors and moved into the Commonwealth Division. With a standard in place, a mix of steady returning players and a strong group of freshmen and sophomores look to maintain the Mechanicsburg momentum.
MID-PENN KEYSTONE
Carlisle Thundering Herd
Head coach: Laura Keim
Last year’s record: 14-7-1
Key returning players: Molly Renninger, sr., SS/P; Alexis Kline, jr., SS/P; Summer Kunza, so., C; Callie Culbertson, sr., OF; Mackenzie Lilley, jr., OF.
Key players lost: Allison Coldren, Taylor Henry,
Top newcomers: Sammie Knisely, fr., OF.
Outlook: After missing the District 3 Class 6A postseason by one spot in 2023, the Thundering Herd cleared the hurdle last spring, hosting their first home playoff game and earning their first home playoff victory. With one of the area’s top returning batteries in Kline and Kunza highlighting an experienced roster, Carlisle has a chance to capitalize on that momentum.
Red Land Patriots
Head coach: Madelyn Yannetti
Last year’s record: 8-12
Key returning players: Rory Achey, sr., UTIL; Karsyn Peifer, sr., 1B; Bella Williams, sr., UTIL; Logan Shettel, so., C; Addie Wagenheim, so., P.
Key players lost: Annika Barbour, Alexis Barker, Payton Myers.
Top newcomers: Abby Snyder, fr., SS
Outlook: Newcomers to the Keystone contingent, the Patriots aim to return to the district tournament after missing the 16-team Class 5A field last spring as the 17th-ranked team. Despite losing key players from last year’s senior class, the Patriots have a strong group of returners, including Wagenheim, a first-team all-Commonwealth selection last year.
MID-PENN COLONIAL
Big Spring Bulldogs
Head coach: Mike Gutshall
Last year’s record: 17-7
Key returning players: Sydney Adler, sr., OF; Izzy Fry, jr., OF; Kendall Boring-Gutshall, so., OF; Victoria Rinaldi, sr., SS; Zoey Zimmerman, jr., P/3B; Davina Raudabaugh, sr., C.
Key players lost: Maeve Hurley, Sophie Wickard.
Top newcomers: Rilee Stewart, jr., P.
Outlook: The Bulldogs clawed their way into last year’s 10-team District 3 Class 4A tournament as the No. 9 seed but made a run to the semifinals and earned a berth in the state tournament. Big Spring’s bats, with an experienced lineup, can slug with just about anyone. How well its pitching develops could determine how far it can go.
Boiling Springs Bubblers
Head coach: Eric Dershem
Last year’s record: 9-11
Key returning players: Delaney Lawyer, sr., P/3B; Gabrielle VonStein, sr., OF; Peyton Lawyer, so., SS/C.
Key players lost: None.
Top newcomers: TBD.
Outlook: The Bubblers built on their five-win campaign in 2023. The next step in Dershem’s third season at the helm is pushing for a playoff berth. With Delaney Lawyer back in the circle and Mid-Penn all-division selections Vonstein and Peyton Lawyer back to bolster the lineup, Boiling Springs could continue its upward trend this spring.
Northern Polar Bears
Head coach: Emily Quatrale
Last year’s record: 17-4
Key returning players: Sammy Magee, sr., P/1B; Jalyn Welch, jr., 3B/P; Hannah Keith, jr., OF; Sabrina Paulin, jr., OF; Izzy Hobby, so., SS; Trinity Artman, so., C.
Key players lost: Tayler Yoder, Emily Randalls.
Top newcomers: TBD.
Outlook: A first-round loss to Shippensburg in the District 3 Class 5A tournament meant a premature end to the season for the 2023 state champions. Despite the loss of key contributors on the left side of their infield in Yoder and Randalls, Northern has most of last year’s lineup intact and looking to write a better ending to the 2025 campaign.
Shippensburg Greyhounds
Head coach: Jarett Worthington
Last year’s record: 14-12
Key returning players: Alexis Kitner, jr., C; Shelby Heberlig, jr., UTIL.; Kalia Soverns, jr., P; Tressa Triplett, so., INF; Anelise Musser, jr., OF; Addy Newton, so., OF; Cora Chamberlin, jr., INF; Katelyn Beidel, sr., OF.
Key players lost: Olivia Lebitz, Riley Mullen, Laney Gilbert, Katara Smith, Kayla Kirby.
Top newcomers: TBD
Outlook: The Greyhounds caught fire in the postseason and made a run to the state quarterfinals. The experience should help a relatively experienced lineup navigate the tough competition in the Colonial Division despite the loss of some key contributors from last season.
West Perry Mustangs
Head coach: Rich Kline
Last year’s record: 2-17
Key returning players: Taylor Lupfer, sr., SS; Marty Morrison, sr., OF; Addie Wiest, so., P; Rylann Kelly, so., C.
Key players lost: Lauren Foster
Top newcomers: Jada Swarner, so., 2B; Mariah Bumenschein, fr., OF.
Outlook: West Perry has plenty of room to grow, but with a new coach and some key returning players, including Lupfer at shortstop, the Mustangs can dig in and look to make strides this spring.
MID-PENN CAPITAL
Camp Hill Lions
Head coach: Tom Bold
Last year’s record: 8-11
Key returning players: Lindsay Oyster, jr., P; Payton Beck, so., C; Izzy Mercer, sr., SS; Lindsay Johnson, jr., OF.
Key players lost: Cassidy Knight, Hayes Branhoff, Kiara Vilanova-Medina
Top newcomers: Madeline Oyster, fr., INF; Kavita Machiraju, fr., UTIL.
Outlook: With key returners through the middle of the field, including Beck, a third-team all-division selection, the Lions have a chance to build on their positives from last year while cutting down on costly defensive mistakes.
East Pennsboro Panthers
Head coach: Sharon Etter
Last year’s record: 12-5
Key returning players: Irys Kline, sr., OF; Chelsea Hoover, jr., SS.
Key players lost: Nalyssa Nerat, Ella Harter.
Top newcomers: TBD.
Outlook: The Panthers’ two-year reign atop the Capital Division ended when East Pennsboro conceded the crown to Trinity last year and saw its season end with a loss to the same Shamrocks in the District 3 Class 4A quarterfinals. Kline and Hoover headline a lineup that could give opposing pitchers fits.
Trinity Shamrocks
Head coach: Bob Sullivan
Last year’s record: 19-5
Key returning players: Aubrie Holtzapple, sr., SS; Landry Murray, sr., P; Bri Topper, jr., P; Bridget Schalk, jr., OF; Zea Sullivan, so., C.
Key players lost: Allie Aschenbrenner, Molly Maney.
Top newcomers: Aevry Robell, jr., INF; Kennedy Flor, fr., UTIL; Gabby Martinez, fr., OF/C; Peyton Lawrence, fr., 2B.
Outlook: For the first time in program history, the Shamrocks enter a season as defending district champions. With a slew of experienced players returning and newcomers who could contribute right away, Trinity could be a tough out once again in 2025.
5 Sentinel-area softball players to watch during the 2025 season
With the 2025 high school softball season underway, here are five local players to keep your eye on.
Carlisle took a major step forward when it won a first-round district playoff game at home last season. Kline was the engine that powered the …
Hitting for both average and power, Kline brings one of the biggest bats to the Capital Division fray. The Boston University commit, and the r…
The Wildcats graduated a group of seven seniors from last year’s team that reached the Mid-Penn championship game and earned Mechanicsburg’s f…
A two-time all-state selection, May has established herself as one of the area’s elite pitchers who can also do damage at the plate. Her swan …
Sullivan’s standout rookie season, which included a .494 batting average, 20 extra base hits, 44 RBIs and 39 runs scored, helped the Shamrocks…
Tim Gross is the sports editor at The Sentinel and cumberlink.com. Email him at tgross@cumberlink.com and follow him on Twitter at: @ByTimGross
