Mt. View spring sports previews
Girls track
Coach: Kevin Petrak (4th season)
Last season: 11th in KVAC B, 25th in Class B
Top returners: Hayleigh Kein (Soph., hurdles), Chrissy Larrabee (Soph., distance), Katie Cloutier (Jr., jumps)
Key newcomers: Delaney Kein (Fr., distance), Kiesha Nelson (Jr., sprints), Marissa Cox (Fr., sprints), Heather Perol (Fr., sprints)
Outlook: Hayleigh Kein was second in the high jump at the KVAC B meet last spring and Petrak expects big things from her again. Younger sister Delaney should also give the team a boost in the distance events.
Coach's comment: "I think we'll improve. The points I got at the KVACs last year were from my young members. Delaney is a good little runner. I'm looking for the young girls to give us a good showing. We'll be short in some events, but we'll hold our own."
Boys track
Coach: Kevin Petrak (4th season)
Last season: 7th in KVAC B, 24th in Class B
Top returners: Rob Barnes (Sr., thrower), Jared Hustus (Jr., thrower), Kyle Story (Jr., sprints), Seth London (Soph., sprints), Terran Siladi (Sr., mid-distance), Ethan Stubbs (Jr., distance), Ben Fox (Jr., distance)
Key newcomers: Nate Davis (Sr., sprints)
Outlook: Fox and Stubbs were on the cusp of breaking the five-minute mile mark last season, and Petrak hopes the two will improve this spring. The team features more than 20 athletes, which should help it stay competitive.
Coach's comment: "We'll do about the same as we did last year. We have over 20 guys, so we should be able to fill up most of the events. I expect our returners to do well. I don't have nearly the same number of seniors I had last year, so I took a big hit there. I have a young team but they'll gain experience."
Baseball
Coaches: Bobby Hughes and Casey Holmes (1st season)
Last season: 10-7, reached Eastern B prelims
Top returners: Kiel Lemieux (Sr., 2B-P), Cody Raven (Sr., P-SS-3B), Dylan Keller (Jr., OF-P), Tyler Rednour (Jr., 2B-SS-P), Zach Babin (Jr., C-1B-P)
Key newcomers: Zach Harriman (Sr., OF), Will Mayer (Sr., P-IF), Timmy Alton (Jr., IF), John Anderson (Jr., OF), Tristan Ripley (Jr., C-IF), Marcus Lowe (So., IF), Eric Nealey (So., UT), Adam Higgins (Fr., UT)
Outlook: Although the Mustangs lost Tyler Miles, one of the top pitchers in the conference, to graduation, they still have a trio of strong arms in Raven, Keller and Rednour. Those three should also help pace the offense, along with Lemieux.
Coach's comment: "We preach it's not a rebuilding year with the talent we have," Hughes said.
Softball
Coach: Mike Gagnon (8th season)
Last season: 5-11 in Eastern B
Top returners: P/IF Cassandra St. Clair (Sr.), IF/OF Caroline Steeves (Sr.), C Alonia Horton (Jr.), SS Terri Belcher (Jr.), CF Brianna Moody (So.)
Key newcomers: OF Alexis Bennett (Sr.), UT Niki Abrahamson (Sr.), IF/OF Danielle Ludden (Jr.), OF Sierra Dyer (Jr.), 2B Rachel Andrews (So.), C/3B Amanda Hall (So.), P Channing Murphy (So.), IF Alex Carlton (Fr.), P Hailei Giggey (Fr.), P Leeann Larrabee (Fr.), P Amanda Larrabee (Fr.)
Outlook: The Mustangs thought Murphy would be their No. 1 pitcher, but she dislocated her ankle at the end of basketball season and is working her way back. St. Clair, a capable pitcher and all-around athlete, will start the season as the ace. The offense is improving and looked good in preseason.
Coach's comment: "I'd love to be playoff contenders again. We always want to get back to the tournament."
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