'Balanced' Strongsville Lady Mustangs to Take the Field

The Lady Mustangs softball team will be heading into their sixth season under the direction of head coach Jeanette Howard. This year's squad will see more seniors than in past years, led by four-year first team All Conference standout Natalie Mariano.

When Natalie takes control behind the dish this year, she will be vying for her third year of All District honors, and trying to repeat as Northeast Ohio's Catcher of the Year.

Other seniors making people notice include shortstop Colleen Mackenzie and first baseman Danielle Kountz, who will both be suiting up for Cuyahoga Community College next year.

While Natalie Mariano is still undecided as to where she will play in the future, pitching ace Emily Kolezynski will be taking her skills to the mound for the purple and white Bluffton Beavers.

An interesting family connection with the team involves sophomore newcomer Nicole Kountz. Nicole, who according to Howard has aggressively stepped up her game, will be starting in the "hot corner." This strong defensive squad will rely on the Kountz sisters at the corners as  older sister Danielle will be starting at first.

Freshman soccer standout Kaitlyn Gairing has been moved up to play with the big girls. Gairing, a gifted athlete, possesses speed to burn and is projected to find herself starting in the varsity lineup in center field.

According to Howard, every team in the conference will be solid this year, with Elyria being the toughest challenge. But Howard is confident in the Mustangs' play.

The ladies have a "very strong defense and a good combination of speed and power at the plate," says Howard. She knows the girls well, and knows they will bring their "A-game" to each contest.

The 2011 Lady Mustang Softball team consists of: seniors Danielle Kountz, co-captain Natalie Mariano, Colleen Mackenzie, co-captain Michelle Murach, and Emily Kolezynski; juniors Lauren Reitz, Kayla Reed, and Kate Mundson; sophomores Nicole Kountz and Nicole Blough; and freshmen Kaitlyn Gairing, Emily Jones, and Sam Ortenzi.

 The Lady Mustangs kick off their season, weather permitting, on Monday, March 28, at home against the Solon Comets. First pitch is scheduled for 4:30 p.m.