Leading off: Thoughts from the pitcher's mound

Can you smell it yet?

There's nothing quite like the the aroma of freshly cut outfield grass, the brand new leather covering of a baseball or freshly unearthed dirt around the bases.

Not only do these smells arouse the senses but they also signify the start of something filled with new hopes and dreams, a light at the end of the tunnel and the dawn of a new spring.

That's right everyone, baseball and softball seasons are finally upon us once again. So settle in with a pair of shorts, a snazzy Hawaiian t-shirt and an umbrella in your drink for this spring's first "10 to Comprehend", focusing on the area's top hurlers from the mound and the pitcher's circle.

•I don't have to watch a single pitch this season to know that Zane Trace's Morgan Geno is practically unbeatable. I would rather watch Insidious by myself in a locked room within a haunted asylum than step into the batter's box to face her — and trust me, that movie scares the mess out of me. Geno, a senior, will be returning after a junior year in which she led her team to a district final before losing to Wheelersburg, 9-4. Geno now has her anticipated college decision behind her after deciding on playing softball at Ohio University. With that off of her mind, look for her to have a ginormous year in 2015.

•Southeastern junior Justin Dye will be coming off a sophomore season in which he posted an eye-catching 1.18 ERA. Panthers' head coach John Evans told me that he looks for Dye to throw most of the time this year for his team. If that's the case, we may see a surprise team in blue and white. Dye has talent on the mound to be great and the Panthers, collectively, have the talent to support him.

•When Paint Valley's Mikayla Newland is on the mound, there should be a continuous track playing of M.C. Hammer's "U Can't Touch This" in the background. Newland, who went 15-5 during her freshman year in 2014, led her Bearcats to a final four appearance in Division IV. In 2015, she'll be looking for more of the same. If Newland is on, Paint Valley has one of the best weapons in all of southern Ohio in uniform.

•Chillicothe's baseball program will go as far as ace Nick Rinehart will take them this year. After the Cavs lost a boatload of seniors after the end of their 2014 campaign, Rinehart will be called upon to bring leadership and poise back to the bump after gaining much experience last season. If Todd Seymour and company are hoping for any type of tournament run, their senior lefty (Rinehart) will be at the heart of the issue.

•It's possible that Huntington senior Alayna Lytle will be playing this year with the least pressure on herself she's ever experienced. After her first three years at Huntington with her dad, Bud, acting as head coach, Lytle will be expected to once again carry the Huntsmen team. The difference between this year and last is there are no strings attached. There's no question that Huntington will be in close games but can they score enough runs to support their star pitcher? Only time will tell.

•It must be an intimidating sight for a batter to take foot in the box and stare down 6-foot-5 Mason McCloy in the eyes, knowing he's not on your side. The Bearcats' senior — who led the Scioto Valley Conference in strikeouts last season with 52 — will be looked upon to anchor Paint Valley's rotation. After posting a 2.13 ERA as a junior, there's no doubt in my mind he'll get the job done.

• SVC Baseball Player of the Year Watch: Paint Valley's Mason McCloy, Zane Trace's Trey Davis and Unioto's Casey White; in no certain order. McCloy gets this nod for his work on the mound while Davis — the Pioneers' backstop — and White — who hit .442 last season — get the spot thanks to their presence at the plate.

• SVC Softball Player of the Year Watch: Zane Trace's Morgan Geno, Paint Valley's Mikayla Newland and Huntington's Alayna Lytle; in no certain order. If you haven't been reading, all three of these aces get this nod thanks to their play in the pitcher's circle.

• Performance of the Week: Zane Trace's duo of Trey Davis and Alex Wolff — in the one and two holes in their lineup — combined to go 5-7 at the dish with five runs scored and six RBI in a 10-0 win over Eastern Brown.

Derrick Webb is a Gazette sportswriter and can be reached at dwebb@chillicothegazette.com. Follow him on Twitter at @dw1509.

Pre-Season Power Rankings

•Baseball: Adena, Zane Trace, Paint Valley, Southeastern, Unioto, Chillicothe, Piketon, Waverly, Huntington, Westfall

•Softball: Zane Trace, Paint Valley, Westfall, Unioto, Huntington, Chillicothe, Piketon, Waverly, Southeastern, Adena