YAIAA softball season ends with a bright future

Although the 2012 YAIAA softball season came to an official end with Dallastown's 9-3 loss to St. Hubert in the opening round of the PIAA tournament on Tuesday, the league's future in the sport is indeed very bright.

Consider the fact that the Wildcats and league tournament champion Central York return nearly everybody. Both teams lose only one senior, a fact that surprised media from around District 3 when we discussed the teams, which finished second and fourth respectively in the district.

Wildcats 1B/3B Emily Ackerman, and Panthers CF Courtney Hastings are the only players that graduate. Both return talented batteries: Dallastown pitcher Kelsey Collins (junior) and catcher Sam Hartman (sophomore); Central pitcher Taylor Rohrbaugh (sophomore) and catcher Ally Dziwis (sophomore).

Plus, both teams' lead-off hitters this season, (Haylee Anders, Dallastown and Kayla Resh, Central) were freshmen and Wildcats coach Jeff Deardorff told me he has a couple of pretty good players coming up.

Of course, all of Division I softball is filled with young talent. For example, the 2012 YAIAA All-Star teams, which will be published June 16, Division I has one senior on the first team and another on the second.

Safe to say, next season should be a great one.