Season Outlook
The return of all eight
starters plus the addition of a highly-regarded freshman pitching-catching
combination should make East Stroudsburg competitive in softball this season.
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At a Glance
Site of Home Games:
Zimbar Field (on campus, Brown Street)
Affiliation: NCAA
Division II, ECAC Division II
Conference: Pennsylvania
State Athletic Conference Eastern Division
1999 Overall Record:
5-31
1999 PSAC East Finish/Record:
7th/4-20
Lettermen Back: 9, Lost:
6
Position Starters Back:
6, Lost: 2
Starting Pitchers Back:
0, Lost: 2
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Coach Janelle Breneman
thinks she has the best talent and depth in her four years at the school.
"We're thinking
about a winning season. The potential is there and if teams take us lightly,
they may be in for a surprise," said Breneman, whose freshman-dominated
1999 team started 0-14 and finished 5-31.
The team's strength
could be its veteran infield alignment of first baseman 'Nifer Shaw, second
baseman Deane Geist, shortstop Tara Greig and third baseman Aishling Stevens.
All are solid defensive
players with middle infielders Geist and Greig both having the quickness to
flag down balls hit into the holes.
"They work well
together and know each other moves. Our defense definitely should be
improved," Breneman said.
Geist was second on the
team in hitting last year with a .310 average while Shaw was close behind her
at .278.
Returning starter Jill
Higgins will be the leader in the outfield from her centerfield position.
Both Amy Buffington, the
team's only senior, and Sarah Kaplan also saw considerable action last year and
are available in right and leftfield, respectively.
Michelle Salerno, last
year's starting catcher, has a shoulder injury and will not play on defense,
but could bat as the team's designated player.
New pitcher Tina Morak
and catcher Erika Lee both played on a 17-5 Abington High School team last
season. Another freshman, infielder Dawn Parrish also is a graduate of
Abington.
Morak has more
experience than the usual freshman pitcher as she plays on a women's Class 'A'
team during the summer, explains Breneman.
"She is a mature
pitcher and is used to pressure," the coach says. "She throws hard
and keeps hitters off-balance with her drop ball and change of speeds."
Lee also is not the
typical freshman, Breneman states.
"Erika has great presence
at the plate and can hit with power or go with a pitch to the opposite
field," the coach says. "She also is an excellent defensive catcher
with a strong arm and a quick release."
Michelle Swoyer, who won
two late-season games last year, will be the team's second pitcher. Freshman
Wendy Witmer will be the back-up catcher.
Another newcomer who may
see immediate action is outfielder Mary Beth Scotch, who played the last two
years at Lackawanna Community College.
Freshmen Tara Buckley
and Casey Dixon also are challenging for a starting spot in the outfield or as
the team's designated player.
Three other freshmen,
Christy Groff, Taryn Heckard and Parrish, the team's lone lefthanded batter,
will be the reserve infielders.
"We're still young
with seven sophomores and eight freshmen, but we’re not approaching this as a
re-building season," emphasizes Breneman. "We expect to challenge
everyone on the schedule and to win our share of games."
Updated 3/13/00