With six starters, including one of the area’s top pitchers returning, Madison has reason to be optimistic heading into the 2025 season.
The Blue Streaks, who finished 10-10 overall and 8-4 in the Chagrin Valley Conference Lake Division, return the bulk of their offense, and this season, they have the speed they were lacking last spring.
“We are really excited about our upcoming season,” said Madison coach David Negin. “We return our top five hitters from last season, and we welcome a couple of new players who add much-needed speed to our batting order. The overall lack of speed last season was lacking. This season, we will have the speed to be much more aggressive offensively.”
With so much talent returning, Madison’s expectations remain high.
“We expect to compete every night,” Negin said. “Our league is tough this season, but we have some key pieces that will allow us to win our fair share of games and be in the hunt.”
Madison does have some areas of concern, but Negin is confident game experience will help those areas turn into strengths.
“Our lack of experience in the outfield is a concern,” he said. “We will be starting two freshmen in the outfield, both who have speed and ability to do well. We will have to be patient with them, but we are hopeful the game will slow down for them, and they can just relax and trust their ability.”
The Blue Streaks will lean on four-year starter Kara Mekulsia to set the tone in the circle.
An Otterbein recruit, Mekulsia was named second-team all-district and is the returning Lake Division Co-Player of the year. Last season, she went 10-7 in the circle with a 2.12 earned run average and struck out 191 batters. She also led the team with a .403 batting average and 21 runs scored with two dingers.
“Kara will, again, bat leadoff for us,” Negin said. “In addition to her pitching prowess, she is a catalyst at the top of the order with a good eye at the plate, as well as possessing speed and power. She is, undoubtedly, one of the top players in the area.”
Senior Adrianna Mussell and freshmen Gianna LaMarco and Callie McGuire also will see time in the circle.
Junior Ally Negin returns behind the dish after earning honorable mention all-district and all-conference honors last season when she batted .361 with a .500 on-base percentage. She led the team with 21 RBI last season and hit a pair of home runs.
“Ally stands out both offensively and defensively,” Coach Negin said. “As our primary catcher, she does a fantastic job calling pitches and controlling the running game. She is a leader behind the plate and does a great job calling pitches. On offense, she did a super job batting third for us. She has true gap power and a knack for getting hits in key situations, leading us in RBI a year ago. She has worked extremely hard this offseason, and I’m confident she will make even a greater impact this year.”
Senior third baseman Tori Semple returns to the lineup after batting .353 with a .492 OBP and 13 RBI last spring. She was an honorable mention all-conference and all-district performer.
“Tori Semple is another all-league returning player,” Negin said. “She is a really good athlete and plays excellent defensively at third base, which is a vital position on the field. She hit well for us last season, and I think will do more of the same in the middle of our order this year.”
Junior Natalie Best is a three-year starter at first base, and senior Addy Behm returns at second after starting at shortstop last season.
“In her third year starting at first base, Natalie brings a powerful bat and great attitude to the field,” Negin said. “Addy is a very versatile player and is extremely coachable. She competes every at bat and got many key hits for us last year in the middle of our lineup. We believe she will add even more this year.”
Senior Zoey Brown will be in left, and freshmen Madison Moore and Hannah Welch will start in center and right, respectively.
“Zoey is our most experienced outfielder coming back and has had perhaps the best preseason of any of our players. She possesses a lot of speed, is a great teammate, and has the bat speed to hit the very best pitching. Based on what we have seen, we are expecting a big year from her,” Negin said. “Hannah comes to us with a lot of softball experience. She is smart and electric running the bases. She has the ability to turn singles into doubles for us.”
Mussell will serve as the team’s DP.
LaMarco will start her high school career at shortstop and will see time in the circle.
“Gianna is a dynamic athlete and a winner,” Negin said. “She proved that on the basketball court this season and will be a difference maker for us on the diamond as well. She will give us another player with speed, strength, and athleticism in the middle of the diamond and at the top of our order. We are really excited to have her.”
Madison will lean on its experience in the circle and behind the plate to keep the Blue Streaks in games.
“Our battery of senior pitcher Kara Kekulsia and junior catcher Ally Negin is one of the better ones in the area,” Coach Negin said. “Kara just keeps getting better, and she has proven to have the ability to overpower opponents. She struck out 191 batters last season, and I think she will do even better in her senior year. Overall, we will have an experienced team in key positions that will produce quality at-bats throughout our order. Furthermore, the players have a fantastic attitude, are extremely coachable, and are great teammates. Those things will matter in close games.”
To find success, the Blue Streaks have to play solid defense and maximize their opportunities at the plate.
“We must make the routine plays on defense, and we need to maximize our base runners on offense,” Negin said. “With Kara, we don’t need to score many runs if we do those things. Running the bases well and executing on offense will be key.”
