GALION — Head coach of the Northmor Lady Golden Knights softball team, Russ Montgomery, is a busy man.
Montgomery, fresh off of a bowling season that saw his Lady Knights finishing eighth at the state bowling tournament now sets his sights on the upcoming softball season.
“Winning the tough Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference Blue Division is the main goal for the team,” states Montgomery. He continues, “If the underclassmen continue to step it up, we should be in a good position to do just that.”
Northmor finished last season with a 14-9 overall record and were in third place in the MOAC Blue. The Lady Knights will be returning numerous players with varsity experience from prior years.
Among those returning is catcher Lydia Farley. Farley, a senior, will be playing her fourth season at the varsity level this season for Montgomery’s Knights and was second-team all-conference in 2016. Farley will be joined by four players that will be entering their third varsity season in 2017.
Seniors Shelbey Lilly and Andrea Weis and juniors Cristianna Boggs and Kelsie Fike will also take the field for the black and gold this spring.
Lilly will spend most of her time on the mound pitching and Weis is an outfielder for the Knights. Boggs, a returning all-conference and all-district team member, also plays the outfield for Northmor and Fike is predominately an utility infielder.
The experience doesn’t stop there for the Northmor squad as they will also dress three players entering their second year at the varsity level. Infielders Lindsey Wiseman (senior) and Aly Blunk (sophomore) are back for their second season and are joined by Lily Tate (sophomore), who earned first-team all-conference and all-Central District honors as a freshman a season ago.
Northmor’s team is rounded out by a junior, three sophomores and three freshmen. Junior Alee Ivy, sophomores Maggie Singer, Tashia Bolton and Jessica McIe and freshmen Michalea Zeger, Anna Detwiler and Briana Bennett will also suit up for Montgomery and the Lady Golden Knights this season.
“Defense has been the strength of this team in the past and looks really good in the preseason,” says Montgomery. “We are starting the season with a setback or two but should be fully healthy by the end of April, just in time to start making an important tournament run…we’ll have to stay focused and play our best,” the coach finishes.
The Lady Knights season will officially kick-off on Sat. March 25 with a home double header against the Crestline Lady Bulldogs. Centerburg will be the MOAC Blue opener for Northmor on Wed. March 29 at Centerburg.
