Women's Softball Season Preview

 

Lisa Baker, with her first year of college coaching experience under her belt, is geared up for round two in 2013. She and assistant coach Cassie Stone are excited about the program’s continuity and their second season working together alongside the returning athletes.

Seniors Amber Grosch, Rebecca Elensky, Katie Pettis, Devan Jonathan and Olivia Battle are expected to give 110% effort to the continued growth in the softball program. Grosch returns after a .391 slap hitter average led to 18 hits allowed her to score 10 runs. Jonathan earned 5 of the team’s wins a year ago while finishing with an 8.60 era after pitching 90 innings and working for 53 strike-outs. Elensky returns as a quick infielder who is hungry to hit this season and Battle will be used primarily as pinch hitter as the season progresses. Pettis has transformed herself into a catcher after roaming the third base line last season.

There are several underclassmen returning with big bats and are expected to produce runs. Sophomore Rachel Collier led the Hawks with .483 average knocking in 12 RBI with one home run. Collier, a 2012 AMCC 3rd Team All-Conference member, will cover the infield defensively. Junior Natalie Whitman made 87 appearances at the plate and scored 19 runs for the Hawks while earning 15 RBIs. Sophomore Kateland Ball carries the most power having hit 8 doubles, one triple and one home run with 19 RBIs. 

Sophomores Marissa Carvalho and Elissa Hall are expected to showcase their talents after waiting in the wings as freshmen.

First year players to join the team are Brittany Hancy, Kaitlyn Layman, Erin Smith, Eliza Stringham, Jaelyn Gotham, Wyann Jackson and Dabrielle Wright.

The Hawks open their season with the traditional Spring Break southern trip in early March. Returning to the Fastpitch Dreams Classic in Myrtle Beach, SC, Hilbert will pick up eight games against mainly east coast teams. The blue and white will host two non-conference games (Houghton and Morrisville State) and sandwiched in the middle is a road game at Wells, before they get a taste of AMCC league play beginning March 30 against Pitt-Greensburg. The Hawks only other non-conference double header is scheduled for April 4 at Elmira College. Five of the nine league games will be on the road, with Penn State Behrend, La Roche, Medaille and Mount Aloysius making the trip to Hamburg this spring.