Mar 26, 2003 By Kevin Harrison For The 3 min read

CONNELLSVILLE – The Geibel Catholic softball team enters the 2003 season with thoughts of contending for the Section 6-A title. The Lady Gators finished tied for second last year with California with a 6-4 mark in the section and 8-7 overall,

However, coach Bill Gardner has everything in place to make a run at the section title except one thing – pitching.

“Defense will be more experienced this year, but developing pitchers will be the key to our success this season,” he said.

Graduation took starting pitchers Ashley Gardner and Laura Campbell, and Emily Pennington and Kari Gessner are working to fill that void.

“Developing some consistent pitchers is my main concern this spring. We’ve got to find ways to improve on the mound,” Gardner said.

Gardner wants his pitching to give his defense a chance to make plays behind them. Looking to his lineup, he feels he can match-up with anybody in the section.

When not pitching, Pennington will catch.

The rest of the defense shows Lauren Fenyar at first, Lori Moncheck at second, Kristin Hozak at shortstop and Annie Kozel at third.

In the outfield, Katy Andyjohn will be in center, and Abbe Renze, Julie Cummings and Jessica Zemiska will split time in right and left.

While trying to develop his staff, Gardner thinks getting outside earlier this year will be a big benefit to his team.

“Having the good weather so far will allow us to get some needed games in this spring,” Gardner said. “In the past, with us and other teams, a bad spring can cause games to get backed up, forcing the kids to play every day; it’s tough. Sometimes they need a little rest in between games.”

In the section, Gardner expects several teams to compete with his Lady Gators for the title.

He says that California should be strong again; Beth-Center will be tough and Monessen should be improved.

“My pitching must hold up for us to have a chance this season,” Gardner said.

“It will be the most important position on the field this year. If we don’t have a chance to make plays behind them, everything could go downhill.”

Geibel Catholic’s schedule shows home games against Uniontown today, against West Greene Monday, Bentworth (April 4), Frazier (April 11), Laurel Highlands (April 15), Mapletown (April 17), Beth-Center (April 28), Monessen (April 30) and California (May 7).

The Lady Gators will travel to Waynesburg Central (March 27), Jefferson-Morgan (April 2), Beth-Center (April 7), Monessen (April 9), California (April 14), West Greene (April 23), Bentworth (April 25), Frazier (May 2) and Mapletown (May 7).