Softball 2016 Season Preview

HUNTINGDON, Pa.- For fourth-year head coach Sam Kszepka, the 2016 Juniata Eagles softball team is one of the biggest in terms of roster size since she took over the program in 2013. Seven freshmen join 11 returners from last season.

The Eagles have two different mottos this season. One is T34M, which represents the 34 years of Juniata softball. "It is not only playing for us but for all the years of Juniata softball excellence," said Kszepka. "TNT is one foot on the throat and another on the throttle and finishing strong every game."

Pitching

One of the deepest positions on the team is pitching. Kszepka could hardly contain her excitement with the options she has at her disposal. "Some are starters and some are relievers and some need time to develop and will be innings eaters," Kszepka noted. Kszepka said the team will have a pitcher by committee approach instead of relying on one pitcher all year.

Freshmen Jennifer Carthew (New Paris, Pa./Chestnut Ridge) and Sarah Sotelo (Fairfax, Va./Paul VI Catholic HS) will both see starting time. Maddie Garrick (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Mechanicsburg) is more of a reliever who Kszepka says is one of the team's hardest throwers. Alyssa Fasolo (Altoona, Pa./Altoona Area HS) and Kelsey Doell (Burlington, N.J./Doane Academy) will have roles as inning eaters but can also find themselves seeing some starts down the line.

Sophomore Chrisi Lerchen (Annville, Pa./Annville-Cleona) pitched in a team-high 110 innings last season. She will be fighting for a starting role. Kszepka sees senior Holly Bettinger (Hummelstown, Pa./Lower Dauphin) mixing in the starting role and in middle relief.

Catching

Infield

The Eagles will have one of their most experienced infields this season. A Landmark First Teamer last season, senior Paige Dennison (East Berlin, Pa./Bermudian Springs) hit .387 with a .492 on base percentage and a .651 slugging percentage. Both of those ranked third in the Landmark. She had a team-leading 41 hits with nine doubles, five triples, and three homeruns. Her five triples led the Landmark. She scored 25 runs and had 17 runs batted in. She was also speedy on the base paths with her 16 stolen bases that ranked second in the conference. She will see time at second base. Junior Allie Baney (State College, Pa./State College Area) or Lerchen will also see time depending on pitching rotations.

Bettinger also bolsters the offense. She led the Eagles in homeruns and runs batted in and was second in batting average (.364). She will be at first base. Kszepka says she has an excellent glove, which showed as she sported the second-best fielding percentage on the team last year at .957. Kszepka describes her as a strong and solid player with great leadership qualities. Both Sotelo and Carthew will play there at times.

Sophomore Kerigan Ammerman (Alexandria, Pa./Juniata Valley) played all 36 games last season at shortstop and will see the majority of time. Baney and possibly Ebright may also see playing time there.

At third base, junior Lindsey Kosicki (Patton. Pa./Cambria Heights) will contend with freshman Abby Ebright (Harrisburg, Pa./Central Dauphin East) to man the hot corner. Kszepka praised Ebright for her glove and bat.

Kszepka also touched on the intangibles that Baney and Dennison bring. "They have really taken this team as their own and pushing them to be the best they can be," she said. "Not only on the field but in the weight room, having captains practices, extra cardio, hitting and pitching. They have dedicated the time commitment to be a successful program."

Outfield

Senior Brooke Walls (Mifflinburg, Pa./Mifflinburg) will patrol center field for the Eagles. Dennison will split time between second base and center. Regnault and Sizdahkhani could also be there depending on which player is catching. Kszepka admits that with right and left field, the depth is young and it will depend on what players are pitching and who is at what position. Carthew and Garrick, along with Lerchen, junior Nicole Purcell (Mount Carmel, Pa./Mount Carmel Area), and freshmen Doell and Amy Chen (Philadelphia, Pa/Science Leadership Academy) will all factor into the mix.

Schedule

The Eagles begin their season this Sunday in Clermont, Florida against Mount Ida. "I think Florida is going to put us in a great position to be successful because we have teams we can definitely compete with and should be able to compete with. It still is going to push us as well," stated Kszepka.

Kszepka is very optimistic on this season. "I think that we are going to do some really good things this year and as a coaching staff, we are all very excited," she said. "We are really excited about this year with the depth that we have and the level of commitment that we have from everybody."