TAYLOR MADE: SENIORS COULD HAVE BROUGHT EXCITEMENT TO SOFTBALL SEASON (2020-04-09)

Pennsylvania schools just shut their doors for the remainder of the 2019-20 school year due to Covid-19. New York will not be far behind.

For now, the governor is clinging to an April 29 restart date, which gives the spring athletes a glimmer of hope that they can get back at it. Dr. Robert Zayas, Executive Director of the New York State Public High School Athletic Association has already made it clear the emphasis will be on the regular-season activities and not the postseason.

The one sport in Tioga County which may suffer most of all, at least in my opinion, is softball, which I believe possessed a lot of potential to do well.

Candor, Tioga, Newark Valley and S-VE were the four, five, six and nine seeds, respectively, in the Section IV Class C tournament in 2019. Waverly won its first sectional championship, taking the Class B crown, and Owego was competitive more often than not.

I was really pumped about covering softball this season, because I think this was going to provide the most exciting action of the spring season. Candor, NV and Tioga did not suffer major graduation losses, although the Cardinals were moving up to Class B — a little bit tougher to win than Class C despite the smaller division's competitive nature.

Anyway, without further fanfare, here are some of the Tioga County seniors you would have wanted to keep an eye on.

Candor has all-state shortstop Jennah Kareem, who was also a two-time IAC all-star and the ESPN Ithaca Softball Player of the Year.

The Indians' only other senior is Kailyn Edwards, who like Kareem would be a four-year starter. Candor was expected to be a legitimate threat to capture the IAC Division 1 title this season.

Despite being in Division 3 with perennial powers Waverly and Notre Dame, Newark Valley was looking at challenging for an IAC division and league title. The Cardinals had five seniors that were going to make them one of the better teams around.

NV pitcher Cassidy Hoffmier and catcher Marissa Berghorn might be the best battery in Tioga County. Two-time IAC all-stars, the pair worked hard during the off-season to prepare for their final campaign on the diamond. Hoffmier could be used at second and third base, shortstop and in the outfield if needed.

Third-year player Sarah Mertson worked on her hitting in the off-season and is a power-hitting first baseman who can also play outfield. She is also a solid team leader.

April Simmons, a three-year starter, can play multiple positions and was a solid second baseman in 2019. She is also a dangerous bunter and base stealer.

Jordan Stiffarm, expected to repeat as the starting centerfielder, can cover a lot of ground in the outfield.

Berghorn was a first-team division all-star last season while Hoffmier and Simmons earned honorable mentions.

Owego took some graduation hits last year, but was returning two strong performers in pitcher Taylor Aubel and utility player Emma Stephenson.

While the Indians' success in STAC and Class B was going to rely heavily on Aubel's ability in the circle, she was also a potential threat with her bat and at first base if needed there.

Stephenson could have been a force at the corners, with a glove and arm to make her solid at first or third, or in the outfield.

S-VE lost a couple of seniors off a youthful .500 team, but Sam Deppe and Daisy Vallely were expected back for one more season.

Tioga was virtually unscathed by graduation, but was still somewhat young this season. Senior catcher Michael Webb was an IAC Division 2 all-star last season while second baseman Giovanna Rossi was a strong second baseman.

Waverly got hit hard by graduation last year, especially with the loss of standout pitcher / hitter Wendi Hammond to the NCAA Division I ranks.

Morgan Adams, Riley Hall and Paige Lewis would be the keys to the Wolverines' success this season. Lewis was an IAC Division 3 first-team pick in 2019 and Adams was an honorable mention at shortstop.

Megan Lee, Morgan Lee and Adrianah Clinton, newcomers in 2019, were expected to be contributors in their final seasons as well.