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Northwestern Wildcats
Baseball
Coach (season): John Light (19th season)
2012 overall record: 14-6
2012 region record (place): 3-5 (tied for third)
2012 playoff results: Lost to Saegertown 5-4 in the District 10 Class AA quarterfinals.
Top players lost: Aaron Morley, Steven Maskrey, Dan Finn, Josh Niedermeyer, Alex Caruana
Top returning players: Nate Noe, Jay Clinger, Grant Panko, Mitch Wright, Sam Yochim, Dylan Bird
Assistant coaches: Bob Soltis, Pat Camp, Dick Sembower, John Light Sr.
Outlook: Northwestern came close to knocking off powerhouse Saegertown in the District 10 Class AA playoffs last spring. The Wildcats are back and looking to take that next step this season. Northwestern will have to replace several talented players in Aaron Morley, Steven Maskrey, Dan Finn, Josh Niedermeyer and Alex Caruana. Morley was voted to the all-region first team at catcher, while Finn is a first-team outfielder and Caruana is a first-team pitcher. Caruana was also voted to the second team at third base. Northwestern lost plenty of leadership and offensive production to graduation and will need to replace both quickly. The Wildcats have some experience back in Nate Noe, Jay Clinger, Grant Panko, Mitch Wright, Sam Yochim and Dylan Bird. Clinger and Noe had breakout sophomore years. Clinger was voted to the all-region first team at second base and Noe to the second team at first base. Panko was voted to the second team at shortstop after a terrific junior season. The Wildcats could also receive big contributions from new players Greg DePalma, Evan Bird and Josiah Friend among others. Northwestern’s region is brutal this season, including Fairview, North East and Mercyhurst Prep. The Wildcats will need to fill in their holes left by graduation quickly in order to compete for a playoff spot and the region title.

Schedule
April
3 Eisenhower PPD
5 at Youngsville PPD
8 at Conneaut W, 15-8
10 Seneca* PPD
13 Girard 1
15 Corry 4
17 at Mercyhurst Prep* 4
19 Fairview* 4
22 Titusville 4
24 North East* 4
26 at Seneca* 4
29 at Franklin 4
May
3 General McLane 4
6 Mercyhurst Prep* 4
8 at Fairview* 4
13 at North East* 4
15 Iroquois 4
*Region 5 games

Softball
Coach (season, record): Al Bricker (10th season, 146-40)
2012 overall record: 11-7
2012 region record (place): 11-7 (fourth)
2012 playoff results: Did not qualify for the District 10 playoffs.
Top players lost: Rylee Shaffer, Megan Alward, Aubrey Potter
Top returning players: Tara Campbell, Cassidy Taylor, Addie Griffey, Brittney Miniaci, Molly Iskula
Assistant coaches: Al Cox, Tony Lorance, Barb Donahue, Dean Campbell, Greg Evans, Brianna Bricker
Outlook: Northwestern had an off year in 2012 by not making the playoffs. The Wildcats were young but gained valuable experience throughout the year. Northwestern will have to replace Rylee Shaffer, Megan Alward and Aubrey Potter, who graduated. The three were big contributors and will be sorely missed by Northwestern. The Wildcats return Tara Campbell, Cassidy Taylor, Addie Griffey, Brittney Miniaci and Molly Iskula. Taylor is returning all-region selection and is part of a strong senior class. The Wildcats have leadership and experience and a nice influx of young talent. The inexperience of the new players could be an obstacle early on but that should be solved in the first month. One key to this season could be the freshman class. The Wildcats’ freshmen could make an immediate impact this season and the faster they come together, the more success Northwestern will have. The Wildcats are in a competitive region, featuring Fairview, Harbor Creek and North East. Northwestern will need to rely on its senior leadership to lead a young team this spring.

Schedule
March
23 East Carteret (N.C.) W, 12-6
23 West Carteret (N.C.) W, 13-10
April
4 General McLane* W, 3-2
5 Villa Maria* L, 2-16 5 innings
9 Fairview* L, 3-4
11 at North East* PPD
13 Conneaut PPD
16 at Seneca* 4
18 Harbor Creek* 4
19 Cambridge Springs 4
23 at Girard* 4
25 at Villa Maria* 4
30 at General McLane* 4
May
2 at Fairview* 4
3 at Iroquois 4
7 North East* 4
9 Seneca* 4
14 at Harbor Creek* 4
16 Girard* 4
*Region 4 games

–Tom Reisenweber

Brittany Miniaci

Brittany Miniaci might be new to varsity softball as a freshman, but she looks like a veteran in the early part of the season.

The designated player has come through with a hit in all four of the Wildcats’ games this season, including a three-hit performance in a 10-1 win over General McLane.

Miniaci had two doubles among those hits and drove in three runs. She followed that up on Tuesday by going 2-for-2 at the plate with three runs scored and two RBIs in an 18-4 win against Seneca.

Miniaci then had two hits in an 11-7 win over Youngsville on Thursday.

Poll results:

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Northwestern Wildcats
Baseball
Coach (season, record): John Light (18th season, 253-91)
2011 overall record: 8-7
2011 region record (place): 3-5 (third)
2011 playoff results: Did not qualify for the District 10 playoffs.
Top players lost: Nick Noe, Josh Paradies
Top returning players: Dan Finn, Josh Niedermeyer, Aaron Morley, Steve Maskrey, Alex Caruana, John Cook, Grant Panko

Schedule
April
2 at Eisenhower 4
4 Mercyhurst Prep 4
9 at Fairview* 4
11 Youngsville 4
13 North East* 4
18 Titusville* 4
20 at Seneca* 4
23 at Iroquois 4
25 Eisenhower 4
27 at Mercyhurst Prep 4
30 Fairview* 4
May
2 at Youngsville 4
5 at Corry 11 a.m.
7 at North East* 4
11 at Titusville* 4
14 Seneca* 4
16 Iroquois 4

Softball
Coach (season, record): Al Bricker (9th season, 135-33)
2011 overall record: 16-5
2011 region record (place): 14-4 (second)
2011 playoff results: Defeated Cambridge Springs 13-3 and lost to Fairview 5-4 in the District 10 playoffs.
Top players lost: Callie Markovich, Anna Liocano, Whitney Snyder, Jordan Thomas, Erin Brockett, Amber Braden
Top returning players: Megan Alward, Cassidy Taylor, Keirsten Biby, Tara Campbell, Aubrey Potter, Rylee Shaffer
Assistant coaches: Al Cox, Tony Lorance, Barb Donahue, Greg Evans, Dean Campbell, Brianna Bricker
Outlook: Northwestern graduated eight seniors and will look to the younger players to lead the way. Megan Alward, Cassidy Taylor, Keirsten Biby, Tara Campbell, Aubrey Potter and Rylee Shaffer are solid hitters returning but Northwestern will have to replace Meghan Bishop on the mound, who was decided not to play. The Wildcats could receive contributions from new players Alex Osborne, Kylee Askins, Molly Iskula, Addie Griffey and Allison Griffey. Replacing solid hitters like Markovich, an all-district selection, won’t be easy, but the Wildcats’ program is in a solid place where it will reload instead of rebuild.

Schedule
March
27 Villa Maria* 4
29 at North East* 4
April
3 General McLane* 4
10 at Seneca* 4
12 Youngsville* 4
14 at Fairview* 11 a.m.
17 Girard* 4
19 at Iroquois* 4
21 Eisenhower* 11 a.m.
24 at Villa Maria* 4
26 North East* 4
28 at General McLane* 11 a.m.
May
1 Seneca* 4
3 at Youngsville* 4
8 Fairview* 4
10 at Girard* 4
15 Iroquois* 4
17 at Eisenhower* 4
*Region games

Later today: Oil City

– Tom Reisenweber