Reports from other Borgia sports teams have come as the teams continue to practice in preparation for the 2012 fall season.
Soccer
The defending district champion Knights made their preliminary roster announcement late Tuesday night with 17 players making the varsity squad.
Of the 17, 16 were on the varsity roster last season for the district tournament.
The Knights (16-6 last year) fell in the sectional round to eventual Class 2 state champion Priory (27-0).
Borgia graduated only two players from its district championship squad. Graduating were goalkeeper Adam Schmitt and midfielder Alex Severino.
Schmitt went 10-3 in goal with a 0.41 GAA while Severino posted 10 goals and two assists to rank second on the team in scoring.
Both are playing college soccer this fall. Severino is at William Woods while Schmitt is playing at East Central College.
The Knights also lost Justin Graham from the roster. Graham missed last season due to knee surgery. He’s playing this fall for the U.S. Development Academy team and will skip his senior season with the Knights.
The team returns its top scorer, Jake Erwin, who recorded 13 goals and six assists last fall. Also back is Alex Smith, who scored seven goals and added six assists.
Kevin Birk, who led the team in assists last year with nine (also scored three goals), is another returning player.
Jordan Miller scored six goals and five assists last season.
In goal, Kelly Mauntel and Joe Scheuler both return and will try to take over for Schmitt.
Borgia hosts Union to start the season Aug. 23. Junior varsity action starts at 5 p.m.
Softball
Stan Westhoff’s softball squad also lost just two players to graduation, but both were starters.
Hannah Clemons was a four-year varsity standout as a pitcher and hitter. Kim Patke started at second base for the Lady Knights.
“We will have to take care of defense and we will have to manufacture runs this season,” Westhoff said. “We will have to play flawlessly on defense. Hitters will have to be selfless on offense. Anyone might have to sacrifice.”
Westhoff was pleased with the numbers coming out for the team this year. Currently he has 21 players and that number could grow by a couple. Of those players, nine are freshmen.
“Some of the freshmen girls look like softball players,” Westhoff said. “It’s an excellent class.”
With the graduation of Clemons, pitching will be a key spot to fill this season.
He expects Cali Witte and Anna Swoboda to step into the main pitching duties. Freshmen Michaela Mohrhaus and Rachel Boley also could see action if they progress quickly enough, but likely will handle the JV duties.
Westhoff expects Witte and Swoboda to also platoon at third base, which means the Lady Knights need to find a shortstop as well as a second baseman before the season gets under way.
Borgia starts the season Thursday, Aug. 23, at Union. Game time is 4:30 p.m.
Volleyball
Brad Bruns and his staff made cuts Wednesday to bring the program to its final roster.
Bruns indicated there was a lot of good competition for spots and the staff agonized over some of the final roster adjustments necessary to get ready for the season.
Bruns also has been getting up to speed on his new position as athletic director and dean of students.
