LOWELL (3-19-2011) You can't learn much from pre-season softball scrimmages. Even those played in 55-degree sunshine in mid-March against a next door neighbor.

But a few things came through clearly Saturday afternoon when Lowell hosted Crown Point in a four-inning exhibition at the Lowell softball complex. Crown Point, which was the Duneland Athletic Conference (DAC) champion last year, is young and inexperienced at pitcher and catcher. Lowell, which was 18-9 last year and 23-11 the year before, is young everywhere. They have more freshmen on their bench than the admissions office on the first day of registration.

Crown Point got the best of the four extended (10 batters per inning) scrimmage innings, scoring against all but one Lowell pitcher. The Devils were understandably mistake prone defensively and on the bases. Lowell pitchers Leah Fenner, Cassie Carney and Brandi Flaverty were not overwhelmed. CP hurlers Rachel Centanni, Sienna Gyure and Emily Zarate were a little better but they weren't going against six experienced returning Bulldog position players in the Crown Point batting order.

"I thought we did pretty well," said fourth year Crown Point coach Brett Crutchfield. "We got some pretty decent pitching. Rachel and Sienna are the top two right now. They both threw the ball well today. Missed a couple of spots but they're getting used to pitching at the varsity level. That's what we've got to do. Get them as much experience as we can."

Rachel Centenni was the starting pitcher and she picked up five strikeouts in the first 10-batter inning. Lowell had eight first-time starters in the batting order so Saturday's results don't have a lot of significance.

But CP, as expected, looked strong in the field with Lexi Rolff starting as catcher and freshman Amanda Rock opening the game at third base with the six returning starters from last season. Amanda's twin sister Alle Rock was the designated hitter.

"If we played tomorrow, that would be the lineup," said Crutchfield "When Alle is not catching she'll be the DP (designated player). Rachel (Centenni) will probably hit for herself but I've got to get Alle some swings."

If CP played tomorrow, it might not be at home. Crown Point's field is one of several in the region that took an extended frosting over the long winter. It was unplayable Saturday and, with this week's rain it's not certain the field will be ready to go Monday (March 28) for the home opener.

"With frost underneath so deep," Crutchfield said, "it's all coming up now. Right now, I can't get on it. When (CPHS baseball coach Steve) Strayer is having trouble getting his field ready, you know ours is going to take a little longer."

This was the first on field meeting of Crutchfield's Bulldogs and new coach Ginger Britton's Lowell Red Devils. Britton, who graduated from Lowell, was Crutchfield's assistant coach at CP the last four years.

"It was fun," he said. "But it was a little strange. It's a little different with Ginger on the other side. We probably know each other's signs. I hope that she takes some stuff that we did together and puts it in over here. They're young but they'll be Ok. They've got some free swingers and one pitcher stood out."

Lowell hosts Crown Point for a regulation game on Saturday, April 16.

SCRIMMAGE NOTES: Lowell coach Ginger Britton is like the rest of us who watch Lowell softball. With all eight starters graduating, we've got to familiarize herself with all her new girls.

"I only know the ones (Katie Bobos, Mackenzie Kruetz, Ashley Starcevich and Carley Austgen) who played basketball," said Britton, who was Lowell JV basketball coach this past season.

Britton is trying out basketball center Mackenzie Kruetz at shortstop. Kruetz was a catcher in limited play last year, but at 6-foot tall, she's a little tall for that position. Bobos, who played shortstop last year on the JV. moved to third for the scrimmage and made some quality plays.

"Kenzie' has the arm at short," Britton said. "I don't think anyone else we have has her arm. Bobos is hurt. I think she's played third before."

The new Lowell assistant coaches are Joe Swanson, junior varsity coach Robert Dohen and Denise Reese. Lowell has 25 players in the program and 14 are freshmen.

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Revised: April 03, 2011.