There was a point in the preseason that Kayla Merrill wasn’t sure what her status might be by the time softball season arrived.

The Telstar sophomore pitcher had surgery in the offseason to remove a cyst on her wrist. Her recovery started to interfere with her preseason workouts for softball season.

“I was wondering if I was going to get back for the beginning of the season,” said Merrill. “I was very happy that I was able to.”

Merrill’s recovery doesn’t appear to be slowing her down now. She was superb in Wednesday’s nine-inning 6-3 win over previously unbeaten Jay. Merrill scattered five hits and struck out nine.

“That did slow me down, and it took a lot of my strength out of my arm,” she said of the surgery that took place just after basketball season ended. “I just had to keep working on that.”

Merrill has started working on her pitches and has even introduced a curveball to her repertoire. She looks in prime form now, but she still may improve as the season progresses and her wrist gets stronger.

“I missed out on six weeks to be able to get stronger, but I’ll be working on it through the entire season,” she said.

Merrill gives the Rebels the unique luxury of having two aces. Between Merrill and Candace Hall, Telstar has two top-level pitching talents. Hall, a senior, has been one of the top hurlers in the MVC the last few years. Right now, the two pitchers are being rotated regularly. It’s a situation Coach Jim Lunney had a few years ago when Jillian Kimball and Jessie Farrington helped hurl the Rebels to the state title.

“I’m trying to rotate them, and I’m very pleased,” said Lunney. “Candace doesn’t walk many, and Kayla only walked two (against Jay). She had a great game. She was masterful early on, and she was strong at the end.”

Uphill battle

Hitters just might find getting hits off Fryeburg pitcher Hannah Hill even more difficult this year. The Raiders pitcher, who was the Gatorade Player of the Year last spring, says she may be even better than last year.

Thus far, the proof is in the Raider’s unbeaten record and Hill’s dominance on the mound. She pitched four one-hitters and one two-hitter in Fryeburg’s 5-0 start. Hill has also averaged nearly 14 strikeouts per game.

“I feel stronger this year, and I’m a little more confident in my pitches,” she said.

Hill worked diligently in the offseason and was aided by a trip to Tampa, Fla., with Frozen Ropes. There, she trained with Kaci Clark, the former UCLA star and renowned pitching instructor.

“That was an experience, to learn from her,” said Hill. “I’m still learning. That’s the cool thing. I still have things to learn and tips I can pick up.”

Hill has already committed to Seton Hall on a scholarship. She went 19-1 last year, including the Class B state championship win. She struck out 276 batters and had an earned run average of 0.26.

Battle of unbeaten

The undefeated Oxford Hills Vikings get to put their start on the line against another favorite in the KVAC South this afternoon. Oxford Hills hosts Cony in a key Eastern A showdown. The Vikings then travel to Brewer Monday to face another team expected to compete in the regional tournament.

After beating Edward Little Monday, the Vikings have had the week off to prepare for its two biggest tests of the season. Cony is ranked first in Eastern A while the Vikings, now 6-0, are ranked second. Brewer is fifth.

“It’s good we have a little break so we can focus on those two teams,” said coach Cindy Goddard. “We’re actually near the halfway point, and we’ve played everyone that we’re going to play twice except Cony.”

The Vikings returned much of last year’s team and are a more seasoned group this year. That has shown as the team started the year undefeated.

“We started off strong, and I knew we were going to because we have a lot of returning people,” said catcher Mindy Rugg. “We know what we’re expecting now. I think we’re a lot more comfortable as a team out there and as a team, we’re a lot closer than we have been in the past.”