1. Who will win the SCC title?

Defending league tournament Foran is the likely favorite since the Lions return much of its cast from last season, including junior pitcher Jess Harkness.

But defending Class LL champion Amity, perennial favorites like Cheshire and North Haven and upstarts East Haven, Law and Sheehan all have the talent to capture the league crown.

2. Who will win the other area conferences?
 
Seymour edged Torrington for the Naugatuck Valley League last season. But the Red Raiders might be considered the league favorite with the return of junior pitcher Sydney Matzko. Watertown and Woodland should also contend.

In the Shoreline Conference, Haddam-Killingworth, which lost to Coginchaug in last year’s league final, returns several talented starters. Coginchaug, Hale-Ray, Morgan and North Branford will also be in the mix.

Oxford, led by sophomore pitcher Ashley Guillette, is the defending champion in the South-West Conference. But Masuk, and junior pitcher Tatum Buckley, may have the most talent of any team in the league. Brookfield, Lauralton Hall and Newtown round out what should be an interesting race in this league.

Platt Tech and O’Brien Tech hope to compete with Abbott Tech, Goodwin Tech and Wilcox Tech in the Constitution State Conference race.

3. Can Coginchaug win the state title in Class M?

Coginchaug won the state championship in Class S last season and move up to Class M this year. Coginchaug has won 11 state titles — all in Class S.   

Masuk, a semifinalist in Class LL last year, moves down to L, while Hand moves up to LL from L. Oxford moves down from M and is now the likely favorite to win it all in S.

4. Is pitching really the equalizer?

In 2011, Connecticut adopted a National Federation of State High School Associations rule that moved the pitching mound from 40 feet to 43.

That year, two of the four state champions shut out their opponents and the eight finalists combined to score 21 runs in the four state final games.

Last year, the eight finalists combined for 33 runs with Rocky Hill (Class M) and Coginchaug (Class S) winning by shutout. Many coaches still feel that an elite pitcher can determine how far a team advances.

“You can have a team with a standout pitcher and a JV defense and you can win 16 games,” Law coach Melanie Paolini said. “With high school softball especially, if you have that stud pitcher that’s striking out 12-15 kids a game, and you have them for four years, you’re going to win.”

5. Who is the state’s best player?

Last year, Rocky Hill’s Megan Ruonavaara led the Terriers to the Class M state title and emerged as the Register’s State Player of the Year.

Who will be the best this year? Southington has a pair of candidates in senior catcher Rachel Harvey and junior shortstop Sydney Ferrante or will it be Foran’s Harkness, the reining Register All-Area MVP?

How about Masuk’s Buckley, Oxford’s Guillette or Torrington’s Matzko, a trio of non-seniors? 

Rockville’s Kaitlyn Lajoie, who led the Rams to the Class L title last year and Seymour’s Katie Petroski also make a case, as do Brookfield shortstop Felicia Lennon and Haddam-Killingworth outfielder Taylor Burger.