Legend has it that somewhere deep in Northwestern Lehigh High School is a lab where they churn out student-athletes. When players graduate, coaches visit the lab, order up a couple of young, talented players and put them on the field.

Softball coach Josh Zimmerman has visited the lab and some of the players that he took out of there are taking the next step toward becoming team leaders on Zimmerman’s squad. He also grabbed a couple over the winter who will be able to step in immediately to help the team.

The players he has found come with a good amount of versatility, which is paying off for him this season.

For instance, Izzy Akelaitis moves from second base to the other side of the infield and becomes the shortstop, teaming with senior Marissa Christman (3 HR, 32 RBI, .452 AVG) to solidify the left side of the infield. Sage Toman moves from center field to take over for departed catcher Olivia Stofflet. Meanwhile, Christman is fine with playing third base, but does have a request.

“I want to pitch; at least an inning,” said Christman with a broad smile. Zimmerman may acquiesce at some point, but there is no way he would consider a permanent or even occasional move off the hot corner.

“We’ll see what happens,” said Zimmerman with a smile.

Christman is more than just a big bat. She plays well defensively at third base for the Tigers and is entering her senior season, her first without Morgan Farthing to her left.

“We’ve been working together, and we communicate very well,” said Chrisman of Akelaitis. “She sees the field well and has good range, so it should work out to make us strong on the left side.”

Last season, Quinn Conrey moved from second base to right field. With Akelaitis going to short, Zimmerman could have moved Conrey back to the infield but considers her to be among the best right fielders in the league and elected to keep her in the outfield because of her defense.

Meanwhile, speedy sophomore Rylee McGinley will be in center field with junior Sage Toman moving behind the plate.

“I was okay with moving out there and I enjoy playing in right field now,” said Conrey. “I’ve built up my confidence a lot defensively and this year I am hoping to build up my offense.”

Peyton Neumoyer saw some time in relief of ace Brynn Balliet last season as a sophomore and posted a 4.55 ERA in nine appearances. The experience was valuable, and she will be looked at to increase her role this season with freshmen Emma Freeman and Lizzie Diehl both in line for some opportunities. Neumoyer started Friday at Tamaqua and pitched three innings before she gave way to Freeman, who got the win in the 13-3 game.

The pitching depth could be an important factor early in the season because if the weather holds, the Lady Tigers 0-0 Colonial, 1-0 overall) could be playing seven games in 10 days.

All the maneuvering was necessary because of the graduation of key players. Farthing (8 HR, 34 RBI, .481 AVG), first baseman Izzy Teprovich (2 HR, 15 RBI, .341 AVG), Stofflet (1 HR, 20 RBI, .423 AVG), and Balliet (12-2, 2.60 ERA/ 5 HR, 20 RBI, .413 ABG) all graduated last spring and left behind some job openings. The Tigers (18-5 last season) reached the finals in both the Colonial League and district playoffs after winning their first league title in 15 years in 2021.

“Those seniors were a successful group of players, but we have some good young players, and the cupboard isn’t bare,” said coach Josh Zimmerman, who enters his 10th season at the helm of the team.

Northwestern hosts Salisbury (0-1, 1-1) Friday and then plays at Southern Lehigh (0-0, 0-0) on Saturday.