By Matt Tyson

Contributing Writer

Edmeston is the obvious choice.

Still, nothing is a given in Tri-Valley League softball this season.

Daily Star file photo Two-time Daily Star First Team All-Star Kati Dennis struck out 146 batters and went 12-3 last season for Tri-Valley League champion Edmeston. She also batted .545 last spring, second to shortstop Annamarie Davoulas (.615), who also returns to the Panthers this season.

Led by standout pitcher Kati Dennis and an offense that features the hard-hitting Annamarie Davoulas, among others, the Panthers are looking for a three-peat as T-V champions this season.

Dennis, a senior who earned her second straight Daily Star First Team All-Star honor last spring, is one of seven returning starters for Edmeston.

Dennis was lights-out for the majority of the 2006 season, going 12-3 with 146 strikeouts and 22 walks in 103 innings. She also batted .545 with 42 runs and 31 RBIs for the Panthers, who routed Worcester, 16-1, in the 2006 T-V final.

"Kati Dennis is the best pitcher in the Tri-Valley League and we also have a solid defense behind her," said ninth-year Edmeston coach Brian Burgess, whose 2006 season ended with an 8-6 loss to Davenport in a Section Four Class D quarterfinal. "We also return our 3-4-5 hitters in the lineup from last year and have good team speed. If we stay healthy, we should be considered a strong favorite to win the Tri-Valley League this season."

Shortstop Davoulas and fellow senior April Bartlett return after receiving First Team T-V All-Star accolades a season back.

Davoulas, who opened this season with a 4-for-4, three-RBI effort, and batted .615 with 32 RBIs and three home runs last season. Center fielder Bartlett hit .457 with 29 RBIs and four home runs.[an error occurred while processing this directive]

The Panthers also have pitching depth, which could be crucial in keeping Dennis well-rested for the postseason. Freshman Susanna Johnson and Megan Lawrence should get some innings along the way. Johnson homered in her first varsity at-bat this season, adding another potent hitter to the lineup.

Worcester doesn’t seem ready to give in just yet. Pitching could be the key for the Wolverines, who went 9-2 in the T-V during a 10-8 season in 2006.

"Which pitcher we should throw today is a good problem," Worcester coach Shelly Hilts said. "We are very excited about the potential of this team."

Senior First Team T-V All-Stars Emily Bristol (.435 BA), a shortstop, returns with catcher Amanda McHargue (.462) and pitcher/outfielder Nicole Baker (.508). All three were Daily Star honorable mentions last year.

The Wolverines must deal with two key losses, though. Catcher and 2006 team MVP Amanda Nelson, a Second Team T-V All-Star, graduated, and senior pitcher/outfielder Hilari Head is out for the season with a knee injury.

Schenevus should be strong as all of its players return this season. Heavy-hitting juniors Holli Oberacker and Nicole Dulkis return after successful campaigns in 2006. Oberacker (shortstop/outfielder) batted .475 with 12 RBIs, six triples and two home runs, and Dulkis (catcher/outfielder) hit .489 with 10 RBIs.

Additionally, Marion Murphy (catcher/outfield/shortstop) batted .489 last year with 17 RBIs and 18 stolen bases en route to Daily Star honorable mention honors.

Cherry Valley-Springfield is coming off a 5-8 season _ including a 3-8 mark in the T-V _ but first-year coach Ken Whiteman is looking to develop the talents of his young roster. The Patriots feature seven returning starters but only one senior in outfielder Bethany Mabie, who hit .350 last year.

Other key returners for CV-S are third baseman Michelle Natali and pitcher/outfielder Ashley Jacoby, two of four juniors on the team. Natali batted .333 last year and Jacoby hit .359. Freshmen Morgan Van Alstine and Savannah Crowley are the Patriots’ standouts, batting .537 and .396 last season, respectively. Pitcher/first baseman Van Alstine had 16 RBIs in 2006, when Crowley drove in 20 runs.

Morris looks to improve on its finishes of 7-7 overall and 6-6 in league play. The Mustangs return six seniors, including top players Bobbi Jean Bryden at shortstop, outfielder/infielder Kimmy Collison and pitcher Asia Carroll.

Laurens seems balanced with five returning seniors and some promising newcomers, although the Leopards lost freshman center fielder Samantha Loucks following a basketball injury. Her replacement, sophomore Amy Breuer, has performed admirably.

The Leopards starting infield will remain mostly intact, with seniors Angelina Shultis (third base), Jamie Snyder (second), and 2006 Daily Star honorable mention Caitlin Marble (first) back. Laurens also returns seniors Danielle Webster (right field), and First Team T-V All-Star pitcher Shana Sparaco, a Daily Star honorable mention in 2006.

Milford is a team on the rise, looking to rebound from their sub-.500 record last year. The Wildcats aim to "take it one game at a time and see what happens," according to first-year coach Jim Weir. Junior Chynna Pitlock (third base) and senior Corrine Ketzlick (shortstop) combined for five of six hits for the Wildcats in their 2007 opener. Four resulted in extra bases.

"We’ve got work to do with fielding," Weir said, "and we walked a lot of kids last year, so we need to work on throwing strikes."

Junior pitcher/first baseman Rachel Schultes and sophomore pitcher/infielder Kayla Thorn will share Milford’s pitching duties this season.

Gilbertsville-Mount Upton is very young, so the Raiders will rely on lone senior Brandy Welch at catcher. Ashlea Osborne is one of four juniors for G-MU, which went 6-12 last year.

Franklin, another young team, is book-ended by two seniors and two seventh-graders. Senior catcher Rosie McClenon (.264 BA) is the top returner for the Purple Devils, who went 0-14 overall and 0-8 in the T-V league last season.

Franklin lost senior pitcher Emily Schmitt to a torn ACL and graduated its top hitter, Stephanie Lamphere (.333 BA).