This L-L League girls’ softball Section 3 capsule was prepared by Phil Glatfelter for your reading pleasure:

What can be we expect from this year’s Lancaster-Lebanon League girls’ softball Section 3 race?

Based on past experience, quite a lot.

Section 3 teams have won back-to-back league titles, as well as two straight District 3 Triple-A crowns.

Two years ago, Donegal won the district title on its way to a state crown.

Last season, Lampeter-Strasburg captured the district championship and reached the second round of States.

So, expect similar things from those two again this year, right?

Well, perhaps, but what has made the section one of the best divisions anywhere in the state is its depth.

And this year, it’s safe to mention Manheim Central in the same breath with the two traditional titans.

The Barons have pitching stars Jenna Proffitt and Janelle Fair back in the fold. Proffitt has already accepted a scholarship to pitch for Indiana, Pa.

And since L-S ace Courtney Eckman and Donegal hurler Sami Houseal — both New Era All-Stars last season — have graduated, it could be Central that wins the league’s arms race.

“Manheim Central, Donegal and Lebanon have outstanding teams with solid pitchers, and Northern Lebanon and Elco have also improved,” said L-S Tim Shoff, who was the New Era Coach of the Year last spring.

Lebanon can also be added to the mix because of Caitlin Paine, who had a 1.21 ERA and 216 strikeouts last season. She tossed a two-hitter with 15 strikeouts Tuesday in a 1-0 win over Manheim Township.

Fair, meanwhile, struck out 17 and allowed three hits — all solo home runs — in Central’s 15-3 rout over Penn Manor.

So no matter how you slice it, the outlook in Section 3 is for some great softball.

“I’d have to pick L-S because they’re the defending champs,” Central coach Jack Witmeyer said. “But we have two things you need: pitching and catching.”

Here is a brief look at the L-L Section 3 softball teams in order of predicted finish:

Lampeter-Strasburg
COACH: Tim Shoff (eighth season; reigning New Era Coach of the Year).
2007 RECORD: 25-2 overall, 15-1 Section 3 champs, District 3 Triple-A champ.
KEY PLAYERS LOST: Courtney Eckman (New Era All-Star), Erika Fry (New Era All-Star), Monica Hershey,. Melanie Martin, Katie Snyder.
KEY PLAYERS RETURNING: Ashley Lehman, sr., 3B; Lauren McHale, sr., SS; Katie Lynch, jr., C; Lauren Weiant, jr., LF.
OTHER KEY PLAYERS: Andrea Barr, sr., P; Sarah Bianci, sr., RF; Abbi Mentzer, sr., 1B; Denise Villega, sr., CF.
OUTLOOK: It will be a hard act to follow: 25-2, L-L Section 3 and league titles, District 3 title and a win in the first round of States. New Era player of the year, pitcher Courtney Eckman, is gone, as is outfielder Erika Fry, another New Era All-Star. But Shoff is confident as the Pioneers look for their third straight L-L championship. “I’m expecting good things from our team,” he said. “Many players are expected to step up.” Top returnees include Lehman (.500 batting average), McHale (.434, 21 RBIs) and Lynch (.438, 29 RBIs). “The early season should prove vital to our success, both with pitching and hitting,” Shoff said.

Manheim Central
COACH: Jack Witmeyer (10th season).
2007 RECORD: 16-5 overall, 12-4 Section 3.
KEY PLAYERS LOST: Kelsey Martin, Katie McMichaels, Inessa Rodriguez, Mary Stoner, Liz Hess.
KEY PLAYERS RETURNING: Jenna Proffitt, sr., P-1B; Janelle Fair, jr., P-1B; Kayla Cook, jr., C; Katie Baldonieri, sr., 2B.
OTHER KEY PLAYERS: Samantha Ginder, fr., SS; Heidi Myer, sr., OF; Caitlin Hollinger, jr., OF; Ashley Houser, jr., OF.
OUTLOOK: The expectations are high for the Barons. “We’re planning to win the section, that’s our goal,” Witmeyer said. “We want to go a lot farther than last year.” Even with five starters gone from last season — a disappointing season, Witmeyer said, despite a 16-5 mark. With Proffitt and Fair, that’s certainly possible. After navigating a rough Section 3 — “It’s one of the best sections in the district and state,” said Witmeyer — the postseason could seem like a breeze.

Donegal
COACH: Tom Hartman (fourth season).
2007 RECORD: 21-6 overall, 14-2 Section 3.
KEY PLAYERS LOST: Brielle Edgell, Sami Houseal (New Era All-Star).
KEY PLAYERS RETURNING: Jen Swarr, 3B, sr.; Whitney Breneman, jr., 2B (New Era All-Star); Taylor Hatt, jr., C; Nicky Hess, jr., CF (New Era All-Star); Abby Hoover, jr., P; Kaitlyn Houseal, jr., 1B; Morgan Kibler, jr., SS.
OUTLOOK: It’s hard to think, but it might have been a “down” year for the Indians in 2007, despite finishing 21-6 and advancing to States after losing to L-S in the District 3 final. That’s because they were the PIAA Triple-A champs the year before. Also hard to imagine is the fact that five starters from that team are returning this year — and only Swarr is a senior among those. Breneman and Hess were New Era All-Stars. But a key loss was Houseal, who pitched the Indians to 48 victories the last two seasons, and replacing her will be key. “We need to be committed and we need to stay healthy,” Hartman said. “We’ll be a solid club if the pitching holds up.”

Lebanon
COACH: Bob Norman (14th season).
2007 RECORD: 10-9 overall, 8-8 Section 3.
KEY PLAYERS LOST: Charlotte Crater, Ellen Dreibelbis, Alyssa Hauck, Abbey Leibig, Sara Lenton, Megan Snook.
KEY PLAYERS RETURNING: Amber Geist, jr. C; Caitlin Paine, jr., P.
OUTLOOK: There were a lot of players lost, and not a lot of key ones returning. But the two who are back will help make the Cedars contenders. “We need to replace seven starters, but hope that the younger players develop fast,” Norman said. “We expect to be competitive with Caitlin Paine on the mound and Amber Geist catching.” Paine had a 1.21 ERA and 216 strikeouts last year, and chipped in with a .474 batting average and four home runs. Geist, her batterymate, threw out 13 runners last year.

Northern Lebanon
COACH: Paul Stoltz (third season).
2007 RECORD: 11-9 overall, 9-7 Section 3.
KEY PLAYERS LOST: None.
KEY PLAYERS RETURNING: Meghan Boyer, sr., 2B; Sam Dresch, sr., C; Niki Cassel, sr., P; Andrea Lingle, sr., SS; Jamie Hess, sr., 3B; Kristie Showers, jr., RF; Liz Houser, so., CF.
OUTLOOK: Stoltz is looking for his team to contend, and there are plenty of players back from last year to help reach that end. The Vikings finished above .500 in the tough section, but the competition level has hardly declined.

Elco
COACH: Dennis Morgan (sixth season).
2007 RECORD: 4-15 overall, 4-12 Section 3.
KEY PLAYERS LOST: Ashley Gruber, Amy Kapp, Susan Sites.
KEY PLAYERS RETURNING: Kelsey Bomba, sr., OF; Erin Shaffer, sr., INF; Grace West, sr., INF; Kelsey Moll, jr, C.
OUTLOOK: The Raiders could be improved, but it might not show in the tough Section 3. Morgan says he has a young team, and hoping to reach the .500 level.