By Tom Nader
Publisher and Editor
The high school softball preview for the Crestwood Red Devils and their upcoming 2023 season:
Head Coach: LeRoy Moore, 11th year, 169-66 career record.
Coaching Staff: Eric Davis, Jenna Creque, Jenna Horschler, Jeremy Hunter.
2022 Record: 11-5 overall, 9-1 Chagrin Valley Conference.
Returning Letterwinners (8): Aimee Barnauskas, sr.; Olivia Gullatta, sr.; Bella Hunter, jr.; Mia Gullatta, jr.; Kayleigh Helm, soph.; Maddy Dustman, soph.; Alyssa Hallis, soph.; Erin Hallis, soph.
Letterwinners Lost (2): Mikayla Berquist, Gianna Kalista.
Underclassmen to Watch: Alyssa Hallis, Bella Hunter.
The reigning Chagrin Valley Conference champions have enough talent to compete for a repeat, according to head coach Leroy Moore.
Moore also believes that Berkshire and Wickliffe will be challengers for the title.
“We really don’t have any newcomers, so we all have experience playing with each other,” Moore said.
“(However), we are young, so a lot will depend on how we handle adversity.”
The Red Devils’ infield will be made up of Kayleigh Helm at first base, Mia Gullatta at second, Aimee Barnauskas at shortstop and Maddy Dustman at third base.
From left field to right, the Devils’ lineup will include Erin Hallis, Alyssa Hallis and Kaitlyn Huffman.
Alyssa Hallis batted .407 last season.
Behind the plate will be Olivia Gullatta, who hit for a .364 average last season and had 12 RBI.
Bella Hunter and Mia Gullatta will share the pitching duties this season for Crestwood.
The duo will replace Mikayla Berquist, who was the team’s No. 1 last year and has since graduated.
Berquist pitched 65.2 innings last year, while Hunter, who also hit .370, scored 19 runs and drove in 13, at the plate a year ago, delivered 25 innings.
March 25: vs. Streetsboro (DH)
March 27: vs. Rootstown
March 30: at Howland
April 1: at Dalton (DH)
April 3: vs. Berkshire
April 4: vs. Wickliffe
April 6: at Brookfield
April 8: at Edgewood (DH)
April 11: at Kirtland
April 12: at West Geauga
April 14: vs. Mogadore
April 15: vs. Cuyahoga Heights
April 15: vs. Canton Central Catholic
April 17: vs. Cardinal
April 19: at Berkshire
April 20: at Firestone
April 24: at Wickliffe
April 26: vs. Kirtland
April 29: vs. LaBrae (DH)
May 1: vs. West Geauga
May 3: at Cardinal
May 4: at Kenston
May 6: vs. United
May 8: at Western Reserve Academy
Photo credit: Sheila Mathers