Serving Lucas, Ottawa, Sandusky and Wood Counties
Coach: Troy Susor, fourth year
Last year: 14-11 (8-5 NBC)
Key returning players: Emersen Bickel (Sr., SS); Maddie Bronowski (Sr., C); Makayla Magrum (Jr., P); Mya Colvin (Jr., CF)
Picked to finish sixth in the Northern Buckeye Conference, Genoa is hoping to prove people wrong and compete with the best the league has to offer.
This year’s team will have to overcome the graduation of Second Team All-NBC pitcher Kaylin Shields, who is now competing for NCAA Division II Wheeling University, and Honorable Mention All-NBC selection Courtney Chapinski.
Some key player for the Comets this year include shortstop Emersen Bickel (.356, 4 HR), catcher Maddie Bronowski (.320, 2 HR) and pitcher Makayla Magrum (.289).
"Emersen is the generator of our squad," Genoa coach Troy Susor said. "She is our shortstop, has a strong arm, is fast and hits the ball on a line."
Bickel is heading to the University of Michigan-Dearborn after her senior season.
Centerfielder Mya Colvin leads off and is followed by Bickel, Bronowski and Magrum. Leftfielder Rilee Popovich hits fifth, third baseman Aaliyah Davis is the No. 6 hitter, second baseman Kylie Pennington bats seventh, followed by rightfielder Vedah Burdge and first baseman Izzy West.
Alina Kegerize, Izzy Britt and Jaylin Smith will also see action.
It's a young team, but Bickel and Bronowski are seniors and Magrum and Colvin are juniors.
"I have a very young team and my lineup and batting order is not totally set yet as I am continuing to experiment," Susor said of his team, which has four returning upperclassmen that are starting.
Magrum is in line to be the No. 1 starter, but Susor notes that West and Bickel are vying for time in the circle.
Maumee, now in its second season in the conference, was picked to win the NBC, followed by Lake, Otsego, Oak Harbor, Eastwood, Genoa, Rossford and Fostoria.
The Rockets won the league last season.
Needless to say, if Eastwood is picked to finish fifth in the conference, it's a safe assumption that the NBC is stacked from top to bottom.
"I feel as though Lake is the team to beat," Susor said, "with Otsego and Maumee right there with them."
As for now, Susor just wants to keep it simple.
"Our goals are to continue to grow as a team, challenge the contenders of our league and finish with a winning record," he said.
