Serving Lucas, Ottawa, Sandusky and Wood Counties
The Lake softball team had arguably its best season in program history last year, and despite graduating several key seniors, 19th-year head coach Dave Rymers expects to build off last year.
“We graduated seven seniors from last year's team, seniors that had played a lot of softball, that had been experienced,” Rymers said. “But we return a nucleus that got some playing time last year, and we're going to replace those seniors with a handful of girls that are hungry for their opportunity to play varsity softball.
“I'm excited for them to get that opportunity. I'm excited for the group that we had come in and play some meaningful varsity reps for us. They’re excited about it. I'm excited about it for them. We're looking forward to it.”
The Flyers went 25-4 last year, including a 12-2 record in NBC play while sharing the league title with Eastwood. They advanced to the regional semifinal for the first time since 1991 before falling to Lexington. It was the first time in program history they both won a league title and advanced to regionals, and the 25 wins was their most ever.
"We finished 25-4, good for the most wins in school history, won our first league title in 30 years and the first district championship in 34 years," Rymers said following the season. "It speaks to the dedication, hard work, and teamwork these players (invested) every day."
That team, however, graduated its top pitcher as well as starters at catcher, second base, shortstop, and in the outfield. Kali Bedford, who threw 154 of the team’s 180 innings last year, is one of them. Diem Isbell (shortstop) and Sarah Patrick (second base) were both four-year varsity players. And Ellie Rymers was a Second Team All-NBC outfielder.
Reigning NBC offensive player of the year Parker Dart, who was the team’s No. 2 pitcher last year while also playing first base as a freshman, will move into the top pitching role this year. Rymers said she has improved this offseason, in particular from a mental standpoint.
“Coming in as a freshman, I think she looked around and kind of saw where we were at in terms of positional value, and I think she understood what her role was. And where we utilized her, she didn't have to come in and be a No. 1 pitcher,” Rymers said. “I think this year her mentality has changed a little bit where she understands now with the roster built the way it is that she is going to have to be depended on to throw more innings.”
Rymers said he’s also had a similar conversation with Sailor Lindell and Myah Wypyhoski, who will combine with Dart to form a sophomore trio in the circle.
“We have three sophomore arms that I really like,” Rymers said. “They're all a little bit different, but they're all competitors.”
Wypyhoski was the team’s starting centerfielder last year while also seeing time in the flex role, so she has some varsity innings, but not at pitcher. Lindell threw three varsity innings but saw considerable action in the circle for the JV team.
Dart started four games in the circle while seeing time in relief in five others, but she pitched just a total of 30 innings.
“They've all been pitchers,” Rymers said. “It's not like we're trying to convert any of them, but they’re also softball players that can play other positions. Rather than just going with one arm, we're going to have a bit of a staff this year, which sometimes is not as common in softball.”
Dart’s value isn’t just in the circle. The lefty had a breakout rookie campaign offensively, hitting .532 with 12 doubles, 10 home runs, 39 RBIs, and 36 runs. She broke Lake’s single-season home run record and was named Second Team All-Ohio. In the team’s preseason opener against Perrysburg this year, she went 4-for-4 with three doubles and a home run.
Lindell will play first base when Dart is pitching, and she’ll also have a spot in the middle of the lineup with Dart.
Norah Demory, who transferred in from Rossford prior to last season, is also back after a big year at third base that saw her named First Team All-NBC as a sophomore.
Sophia Gruetter, who had a big year as a Second Team All-NBC designated player, returns for her senior season.
Caity Extine, a catcher and infielder who also transferred in from Rossford prior to last season, returns for her junior campaign.
Sophia Rudey, a junior, will likely see the majority of time at catcher. Extine and Gruetter will also see innings there.
The combination of Jada Jerew, who began her high school career at Genoa, and Maddie Ankney will likely see time in the middle infield, as well as in the outfield.
Extine and Jerew were both Honorable Mention All-NBC selections a year ago, and Extine did so despite being limited to playing only the first half of the season due to transfer rules.
“I think she's a tremendous catcher,” Rymers said of Extine. “She's a smart ball player and gives us some flexibility in that we have a lot of spots for her. I'm just happy we get her for a full season this year.”
Wypyhoski is back for her second year in centerfield when she’s not pitching.
“Myah is a really, really tremendous center fielder,” Rymers said. “I think one of the strengths that we have is that we have a bunch of players that can play multiple positions. We're just trying to figure out which lineup is the best for us on any given day.”
Some of the players returning may not have seen a lot of action last year, but they all lettered for a varsity group last year that did things the Lake softball program either hadn’t done before or hadn’t done in a long time.
“They have some experience to lean back on,” Rymers said. “They're now kind of in more of a leadership role where (they know) what we did a year ago, and (they know) what we need to do this year to both maintain and to take another step past where we were. They're fantastic teammates. It's part of the reason I love coming to the field every day — their energy and their excitement to get better and compete every single day.”
After carrying 16 players on the varsity roster last year, Rymers expects to have around 10 this year, including junior outfielder Kennedy Falkenberg.
