East Lake

At a glance

Coach: Kristie Delk

Class: 6A, District 5

Last season: 21-7

Key players: INF/C Maddie Bostak, Jr.; INF Emily Boylan, Jr.; INF Sophia Cannon, Jr.; INF Kayla Christensen, Jr.; P Lucy Mondok, Fr. 

Schedule

Tues. at Boca Ciega, 4

Thurs. Vs. Palm Harbor University, 7

Feb. 28 vs. Largo, 7

Mar. 3 vs. Apopka, 3:20 (Montverde Tournament)

Mar. 4 Montverde Tournament

Mar. 8 vs. Hernando, 7

Mar. 9 vs. Hollins, 7

Mar. 22 vs. Clearwater, 7

Mar. 24 vs. Alonso, 3 (PHU Tournament)

Mar. 24 vs. Auburndale, 7 (PHU Tournament)

Mar. 25 PHU Tournament

Mar. 31 vs. Lecanto (Leopard Slam)

Mar. 31 at Wiregrass Ranch (Leopard Slam)

Apr. 4 at Mitchell, 7

Apr. 6 at Countryside, 7

Apr. 11 vs. Dunedin, 7

Apr. 13 vs. Seminole, 7

Apr. 18 vs. Tarpon Springs, 7

Apr. 20 at Palm Harbor University, 4

Outlook

The Eagles have to replace a few holes in the lineup. 

Among the biggest tasks is finding a replacement for Emma Ream, who went 17-5 last season and had 173 strikeouts in 151 ⅓ innings. 

No other pitcher on last year’s roster threw more than 3 ⅔ innings. 

The top two on the staff are Lucy Mondok and Emily Boylan. Mondok, a freshman, reminds East Lake coach of former ace Tori Brennan. 

On offense, the Eagles lost two of their top three hitters. Cassidy Patterson (.434 average) graduated, and Jalyn Sharkey (.544, six homers, 40 RBIs) transferred to Wharton but is not playing high school softball this season. 

Still, Delk has a solid nucleus led by a quartet of juniors – Boylan, Maddie Bostak, Sophia Cannon and Kayla Christensen.

Chistensen, a Georgia Southern commit, hit .444 last season, the best among those returning. Bostak was tops in RBIs with 24.   

There is just one senior, and the freshmen class is promising, which bodes well for the future. 

The Eagles are playing in three tournaments – Montverde, PHU Invitational and the Leopard Slam – to prepare for a new district that includes Land O’ Lakes, Mitchell and Sickles, all playoff teams from a year ago.