The Elmwood softball team made a deep tournament run last season, and its top hitter and pitcher are among seven returning players back.

The Royals and Eastwood have dominated league play in recent years.

Elmwood won three of the final four Suburban Lakes League titles (Eastwood won the SLL title in 2009). Eastwood then won the first Northern Buckeye Conference title in 2012; Elmwood captured the 2013 crown.

Eastwood reached the Division III state semifinals in 2013. Elmwood reached the state final four in 2008 and lost in the semifinals, and Genoa did the same in 2006.

Elmwood (24-5, 12-2 NBC last season) reached the Division III regional final last year.

Senior shortstop Rebecca Harvey, who batted .483 (8 HR, 47 RBI) is back after earning All-Ohio first-team honors.

Senior pitcher Miranda Benschoter (24-5) struck out 213 batters in 174 innings and finished with a 2.01 ERA. She hit .453.

“Coming off the 2014 season, going to regional finals was a great thing for the Elmwood program,” coach Matt Hoiles said. “We were able to do some things in the tournament last year that should give us a lot of confidence coming into this season.”

Hoiles, entering his 16th season, has a 326-117 record with the Royals.

Senior second baseman Olivia Myers, a three-year starter, hit .381 with 27 RBI. Senior right fielder Kristi Reiser batted .338 with 14 RBI.

Senior center fielder Jasmine Marsh finished with a .347 average, while junior catcher Lindsay George had a .384 average with 37 RBI.

Top newcomers include: senior Molly Robinson (1B), sophomores Paige Marsh (P/​OF), Jayla Kenard (LF), Savannah Harvey (UTL), Kendra Stewart (UTL), and freshmen Mattison Hillard (3B) and Allison Drees (RF).

Eastwood (27-2, 13-1) has had plenty of success under coach Joe Wyant, who enters his eighth season with a 283-139 career record.

The Eagles, with four starters back, should be solid in the infield.

Five letter winners return, including three players who earned All-NBC second team honors. Junior shortstop Mackenzie Albright batted .404. Senior second baseman Krista Jennings had a .402 average, while senior first baseman Morgan Getz batted .374.

Senior outfielder Caitlan Clay, who finished with a .250 average, also is back. Wyant’s top two pitching prospects are senior Riley Patterson and sophomore Macey Fix.

“We want to be competitive and have a chance to win the NBC and also play well in the tournament,” Wyant said.

Lake (11-18, 4-10) has seven starters for coach Dave Rymers, who enters his eighth season.

“We have a group that is hungry and motivated for success,” Rymers said. “It is a very talented team that understands how to play the game. We are strong defensively, especially up the middle.”

Senior center fielder Allie Kontak, a four-year starter, earned All-NBC first team honors after batting .333. Sophomore pitcher Sydnee Behlmer earned all-league second team honors. Behlmer had a .402 batting average with 28 RBI. She also had 126 strikeouts in 141 innings to take second team honors.

The other returning starters are: sophomore shortstop Megan Williams (.330, 12 RBI), junior second baseman Emma Materni (.303, 11 RBI), sophomore outfielder Rebekah Swartz, senior designated hitter Peyton Marchetto, (.263), and junior outfielder Jessie Densic (12 RBI).

Rossford (20-7, 11-3) will be led by good defense and pitching until the younger players adjust to varsity pitching, according to coach Tom Kralovic.

“The girls will play hard until the final out. There is no quit in these players,” he said.

Senior Hannah Gauthier (P/​1B) batted .319 and scored 24 runs. Gauthier also went 9-3 with a 3.14 ERA.

Senior shortstop Maggie Leahy (.360 with 24 RBI) also is back along with senior third baseman Kirsten Keller (.391 and 28 RBI), senior left fielder Jessica Kulczak (.349, 23 RBI), and senior center fielder Claire Verbosky (.293 and 20 runs).

“Our league has some very good pitching returning this year,” Kralovic said. “It’s going to be a battle every game this year. We need to come together as a team and learn to pick each other up.”

Otsego (14-15, 6-8) will have experience with eight returning letter winners.

Coach Daniel Sheperd, who has a 151-114 record entering his 12th season, has four starters back.

Senior pitcher Kylie Asmus had 120 strikeouts in 128 innings. The other top returners are senior first baseman Paige Ireland, senior third baseman Kimberlin Norman, and sophomore catcher Emma Perry.

Sheperd said the Knights have a very strong freshmen class to back up the seasoned core.

“We will need our senior players to step up and be leaders for our young players,” he said. “There are young players that are capable of making an impact. Over the last couple seasons our hitting has improved. We will have to continue to improve in that area.”

Genoa (11-4, 4-10) begins the season under new coach Michelle Hamilton, who inherits five starters.

The Comets’ strengths should be pitching and hitting, Hamilton said. But lack of experience is a concern with two freshmen and two first-year players.

The returning starters are: junior third baseman/​first baseman Haley Gerke (.485), sophomore catcher Emily Edwards (.478), sophomore center fielder Erica Smith (.375), senior pitcher Lea Theisen (.293), and junior shortstop Haley Pickard (.267).

“We are a relatively young team but have an outstanding pitcher,”Hamilton said.

Fostoria (6-20, 0-14) will be counting on good team speed and a strong, veteran infield.

Coach Clayton Moore has six returning starters, led by senior Erica Moore (P/​IF/​OF), who batted .400 with 11 RBI.

The other returning starters include seniors Jada Hampton (IF), Alexus Smith (C ), Kaitlyn Gonyer (IF), and sophomore Lexie Fretz (IF).

“We're looking to win twice as many games as the previous year and compete in the middle to upper part of the league,” Moore said.

Woodmore (14-8, 8-6) also has a new coach with Tasha Floro, who has six returning starters.

The letter winners are: senior catcher Hana Zollinger (.468), senior first baseman Kari Kruse, senior third baseman Natalie Davis, junior infielder Emily Paul, sophomore utility Morgan Witt, and sophomore infielder Marena Hartford.

But Woodmore lost the NBC pitcher of the year, Madeline Phillips.

Floro said she hopes that new players — junior second baseman Courtney Hefflilnger, sophomore outfielder Madi Kleinhans, and freshman outfielder Alex Moreno — will step up.

First Published April 16, 2015, 4:24 a.m.