It wasn’t that long ago that Skinner had his team making back-to-back trips to the Division IV regional finals.
“It was tough because I am a competitor,” he said. “The main thing was keeping the girls together game after game. Our numbers have been down the last couple years. I’ve only got 11 players and had 12 last year. But I wouldn’t trade the girls I have because they want to be there.”
The Irish would have had a dozen players again this year, but Madison Sullivan, a three-year starting second baseman and the reigning Ohio Heritage Conference golfer of the year, has been getting treatment for a brain aneurysm since the end of January, according to Skinner. She’s been home for a few weeks and is on the road to recovery.
“She’s coming along very good,” Skinner said. “She’ll be able to graduate. Everything is looking bright for her.”
Senior first-baseman and outfielder Kara Lough batted a team-best.290 a year ago. Senior Mackenzie Cook, who hit .260, will take over at second base.
Junior Bri Ewing (who batted .215 last year) has good speed and will play center field. Sophomores make up the bulk of the team: utility player Laura Williams (.230), outfielders Skyler Patterson (.245) and Traci McConnell (.195), catcher Hannah Taylor (.228) and her twin, Adelaide (.201), who will be the primary pitcher.
“Addie pitched for us last year, but with freshman nerves sometimes, she struggled,” Skinner said. “But she worked really hard in the offseason. She’s been going to (local pitching guru) Pete Cook and taking lessons. From what we’ve watched these last four weeks, she’s improved. We’re expecting her to be a lot better.”
Freshman Karina Escamilla is the shortstop — the first frosh in two decades to start there for the varsity.
“She has great range,” Skinner said. “She’s determined to get to every ball.”
Eight of 11 players will be freshmen or sophomores and the Irish will be challenged with so much youth.
“We’re young, but these kids have shown a lot of heart,” Skinner said.
Tough league: The OHC has been split into two divisions with the additions of Fairbanks and Madison Plains. Catholic Central will be in the North with Triad, West Liberty, Mechanicsburg and Fairbanks.
“West Liberty, the last five or six years, has been winning 25-30 games and going to regionals. Mechanicsburg has had a good program. And Greeneview has upgraded over the last two years,” Skinner said.
“Pitching has improved in the league and that’s why our batting averages were down last year. And playing five freshmen, it’s a big jump from junior high to high school.”
Dedication: Skinner, 65, and Southeastern coach Randy Delaney, 56, both have been at their posts for three decades and are the longest-tenured coaches in the area.
Skinner worked for 33 years at International Harvester before retiring. His last conference crown was in 2002.
“I didn’t know, with the program suffering the last several years, whether or not the school wanted to make a change,” he said. “But they’ve let me stay in place and the kids have responded. It hasn’t been because of a lack of effort. The other teams have been a little better than us. I’ve just enjoyed what I’ve done these last 30 years.”
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