Another day, more L-L League girls’ softball previews compliments of Phil Glatfelter, who put together these Section 4 caps:

You might say there are some “High” expectations for Pequea Valley’s girls’ softball team.

That’s because the Braves have plenty back from a team that went 16-7 and won the Lancaster-Lebanon League Section 4 title with an 11-5 record last spring.

And another big reason for all the hype is the pitching of Jessica High, who returns for her senior season after striking out more than 200 batters each of the last two seasons.

Annville-Cleona challenged the Braves last year, finishing a game back in the section. But the Little Dutchmen lost five starters.

Lancaster Catholic should be improved, but the Crusaders will have a long way to go after going 4-15 in 2007.

Columbia, Lancaster Mennonite and Lebanon Catholic don’t appear to be strong enough to contend.

So the road appears pretty open for the Braves to repeat as section champs.

Here’s a capsule look at the Section 4 teams in order of predicted finish:

Pequea Valley
COACH: Amy Rill (eighth season).
2007 RECORD: 16-7 overall, 11-5 Section 4 champs.
KEY PLAYERS LOST: Courtney Heagy, Katie Sauder, Terri Sauder.
KEY PLAYERS RETURNING: Joanna Esbenshade, sr., C; Jessica High, sr., P; Tiffani Williams, sr., 2B; Randi Schroeder, sr., 1B; Brittany Esh, jr., OF; Danielle Harsh, jr., OF; Brittney Skiles, jr., SS.
OTHER KEY PLAYERS: Nyrel Shearer, sr., OF; Abby Cosgrove, jr., 1B: Halle Feister, jr. 3B; Cayla Fuller, jr., OF; Ashley Phillips, jr., C; Shelby Sullivan, jr., P-OF; Deanna Weaver, jr., OF; Emily Houck, fr., SS.
OUTLOOK: The rest of the section should be chasing the defending-champion Braves, who have a veteran squad of returing starters. High leads the returnees after notching more than 200 strikeouts each of the past two seasons. “We are looking to continue improving on last year’s success,” Rill said.

Lancaster Catholic
COACH: Terry Klugh (12th season).
2007 RECORD: 4-15 overall, Section 4.
KEY PLAYERS LOST: Laurel Heinley, Emily Quinn.
KEY PLAYERS RETURNING: Brittany Anderson, sr., 3B; Elizabeth Edkin, sr., 2B; Hillary Graham, sr., OF; Megan Lehman, sr., C; Sarith Rivera, sr., CF; Gabrielle Barger, jr., P; Johneida Cano, jr., OF; Bridget Gibbons, jr., OF; Cathryn O’Neal, jr., 1B; Becky Parfitt, jr., SS; Lindsay Kreider, so., P.
OUTLOOK: Barger, a transfer from Hempfield, gives the Crusaders added depth on the mound, and Klugh has plenty of experience back from last season. “The team returns with experience at all positions, and with a hunger to vastly improve on last year’s 4-15 record,” he said.

Annville-Cleona
COACH: Dave Bentz (third season).
2007 RECORD: 11-10 overall, 10-6 Section 4.
KEY PLAYERS LOST: Joanna Heisey, Andie Johnson, Ashten Jones, Meg Sattazahn, Kim Worcester.
KEY PLAYERS RETURNING: Jill Matusiak, sr., INF; Amber Weber-Lugo, sr., OF; Becky Zimmerman, sr., SS; Megan Hartman, jr., OF; Felicia Nelson, jr., P; Cassie Ernst, so., C.
OUTLOOK: Pitching will be the key for the Little Dutchmen, who were runners-up to Pequea Valley last season, falling a game short.

Columbia
COACH: Mike Zercher (sixth season).
2007 RECORD: 3-14 overall, 2-14 Section 4.
KEY PLAYERS LOST: Brittany Graver, Laura Yohe.
KEY PLAYERS RETURNING: Brittany Duke, sr., OF; Jamie Kuhn, sr., 1B; Emily Knighton, jr., P; Adrienne Zercher, jr, OF.
OUTLOOK: Zercher has a young team, but he notes there’s also a lot of potential.

Lebanon Catholic
COACH: Kerry Long (third season).
2007 RECORD: 7-11 overall, 7-9 Section 4.
KEY PLAYERS LOST: Hillary Schrum, Ashley Brightbill, Amy Wengert, Anna Wengert.
KEY PLAYERS RETURNING: Alex Fink, sr., SS; Dasha Hiem, sr., 3B.
OTHER KEY PLAYERS: Michelle Rodriguez, jr., 1B; Eryn Keller, fr., P; Bernie Marko, fr., P; Rachel Klinefelter, fr., P; Emily Kern, fr, P.
OUTLOOK: With a limited number of athletes (14) and four freshman pitchers, it will be a rebuilding year for the Beavers, who finished third behind Pequea Valley and Annville-Cleona last year. “I’ll have a new everything,” Long said. Finishing near .500 would be considered a good season.

Lancaster Mennonite
COACH: Dean Weiant (first season).
2007 RECORD: 1-18 overall, 1-15 Section 4.
KEY PLAYERS LOST: Jillian Burkholder, Justine Burkholder, Natalie Mitrani, Danielle Stoltzfus, Kara Zimmerman.
KEY PLAYERS RETURNING: Samantha Beiler, sr.; Jess Ebersole, sr.; Dorothy Mozloom, sr.; Kaela Landis, jr.; Amie Martin, jr.
OTHER KEY PLAYERS: Jasmine Dorsey, jr., Bria Klase, jr.; Lillian Mozloom, so.; Kaitlin Brubaker, fr.; Tasha Landis, fr.
OUTLOOK: It’s still a young, inexperienced team, so Weiant is just looking for his team to remain focused and improve each game.