Despite graduating four seniors last season, including two important offensive producers, the softball team will try to fill in the holes to have a successful 2005 season. The team already has some offensive goals and is ready to get the season underway.
"Our number one goal is to cut down on our strikeouts," head coach Cheryl Milligan said. "We are known as a power-hitting team, but we need to focus on contact and putting the ball in play."
Junior Laura Spring agreed.
"Last year we looked at too many called third strikes," she said. "That is something we need to change to be more competitive."
The team returns several key offensive producers, including last year's NESCAC player of the year in senior co-captain Katie Smith. She led the league with a .414 average and 23 RBIs. She also ranked in the top five in hits (41), home runs (four), and total bases (61).
Smith, along with senior co-captain Courtney Bongiolatti, will lead the lineup. Bongiolatti had a strong year last year as well. She hit .346 with a NESCAC-high six home runs, 23 RBIs, seven doubles, and 19 runs scored, while racking up 63 total bases. She also stole seven bases.
"Courtney was right behind Katie in terms of her production," said Milligan. "I'm really not worried about those two this year offensively."
Milligan, however, is hoping that the sophomores and juniors can make a larger impact this season.
"We are going to need the middle two classes to step up and produce this year," she said. "It will definitely be a key to our success. The freshmen should be solid."
All five freshmen are expected to be contributors offensively. Milligan expects that freshman Danielle Lopez will be somewhere towards the top of the batting order, while catchers Mara Dodson and Erica Bailey should share catching duties.
The lineup will certainly miss Deana Davidian and Julie Fox this year. Davidian was the team's leadoff hitter and hit .365 last season with a team-high 42 hits, 24 runs scored, eight doubles and seven steals. Fox, now an assistant coach, also helped to bolster the lineup. She totaled three home runs, 16 RBIs, and 33 hits while hitting .340.
"Deana did a lot for us as a leadoff hitter and Julie was a power hitter, so they will be missed," said Milligan. "So far, (sophomore) Alaina Thiel has been hitting leadoff in game situations during practice, but nothing is set in stone as of yet."
The team is ready to start the season, and it will head to California over spring break to play in the Sun West Invitational tournament at Chapman University. It will give the team an opportunity to escape New England and allow the hitters to find their rhythms in some good weather.
"We have been getting up early and working hard in practice," Spring said. "Our freshman class definitely brings some new solid bats to our lineup, so we are all excited to start."
