Despite its 16-16 performance last year, the softball team is primed for a good performance this season, and pitching could be the needed catalyst. The team has five players who could become staff aces but no one is willing to say who will hold that position.
"Traditionally, we have no leader," Coach Milligan said. "We've just got five pitchers who will show us what they've got and then we'll see who gets the start in important games."
The team will play in the Sun West Tournament in California over spring break.
"If someone does well in California, then once we come back east they'll get the opportunity to start in our three games a week," Milligan said.
Milligan is also pleased with the new corps of freshmen she has coming in. "We have tons of confidence in the freshmen," she said. "Erica Bailey has strong potential and has been hitting her spots. We've also got Heather Kleinberger, who has speed and can be overpowering."
The team is also relying on three veterans to show the freshmen the ropes and mentor them on pitching at this level.
"Both Julia Brenta and Sarah Conroy are due for breakout years," Milligan said. "They're juniors, so they want to make their last two years count."
Brenta and Conroy both had respectable seasons last spring. Brenta was 4-5 in nine appearances, with five complete games. Her 3.93 ERA was second best on the team among starters. Conroy was 2-2 with a 4.64 ERA in seven appearances, with four complete games to her record.
Assisting these veteran juniors is sophomore Lauren Ebstein. As a freshman, Ebstein was 1-1, with two complete games in four appearances.
"She had a season-ending injury early on last year; I think she only pitched six innings," Milligan said. "She's been hitting her spots in practice, and I'd like to see what she can do in a game."
Bailey, who just joined the staff, can already recognize the assortment of arms the team has.
"Our pitching staff is very deep," Bailey said. "We have a good variety of pitchers."
By variety, Bailey means that power pitching is not the only aspect of their respective arsenals.
"We've got some that like to vary the speeds and there are some good drop-ball pitchers here," Bailey said. "I've learned a lot from the older girls."
In addition to honing and tweaking the pitches she already has, Bailey doesn't stop short. "I'm working on incorporating an inside drop into my pitches."
Despite their lack of seniors, everyone is doing well in practice, according to Milligan. The three veterans should be more than enough to carry the load if the freshmen take their time learning the ropes. And, there will be more than enough time for them to do that in the tournament over spring break. It will be effective spring training for the team and will act as a good proving ground.
The team returns to Medford the Tuesday after break with a doubleheader against Springfield. Coach Milligan said the rotation should be set by those games. She said that her top two should be ready by then.
"It's not like baseball; we usually have two pitchers over the three games each week, and the good ones get to start more often."
But the team has five pitchers, so obviously a few will not make the rotation. That just keeps the pressure on for the season. It also provides a pool of ready pitchers if someone gets injured midway through the season.
"I think we have a very good team," Bailey said. "I know we're ready to go."
