LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – The Lock Haven University softball team is ready to hit the field and begin the 2012 season, a season which is full of promise for LHU head coach
Kelly Shannon and her Lady Eagles.
Setting the stage for 2012:
Lock Haven has been picked to finish third in the Preseason Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Central Division Poll. The Lady Eagles were 26-14 overall last year and went 10-5 in Central play, making their eighth straight PSAC playoff appearance.
LHU went 1-2 at last year's NCAA Division II Atlantic Region tournament and will look to return to the NCAA playoffs this year.
The Lady Eagles, a mainstay in the playoff picture over the last decade will once again look to contend in 2012.
For Shannon, the goals are not that different than previous years.
“Our goal is to contend for the PSAC title and the NCAA Atlantic Regional title,” said Shannon. “Last year, the team saw how far we could go and we know we can be right there at the end of the season.”
Shannon looks for this year's team to feed off that late 2011 run and she certainly has the talent in the lineup for this year's edition of the Lady Eagles to make another run at a banner season.
Lock Haven returns a ton of experience and talent, particularly in the form of her junior class. The Lady Eagles will rely on that leadership from the first pitch this year.
Captains:
A huge key for Lock Haven is the leadership that it will get from its captains.
Senior
Erin Clary (New Freedom, Pa./Susquehannock) will look to lead with her bat and defense as she anchors the infield at shortstop. She's been through it all, starting with being a part of the Lady Eagles 2009 National Championship run. Her leadership and experience can't be expressed in words and Shannon says it rubs off on the other players.
Junior
Bridgette Clarke (Bloomsburg, Pa./Central Columbia) is coming off a great sophomore season and has stepped up and accepted a major role as a team leader. She provides stability in the infield and consistency at the plate for the Haven.
All starts with D-FENCE:
Lady Eagle's fans are no strangers to the fact that Lock Haven prides itself on their defense.
LHU will use that motto as they also look to set an explosive offensive lineup.
“We pride ourselves in our defense,” said Shannon. “The trick is finding the best way to juggle a strong offensive lineup with that signature defense. We know we will be changing some things in our defensive alignment to get our best offensive lineup on the field and it will be a process.”
Lock Haven has options at the plate and could use up to five different players in the designated player role.
Pitchers:
The Lady Eagles return a pair of talented and experienced players in the circle in the form of junior
Sarah Morse (Dover, N.H./Dover) and sophomore
Nicole Smith (Milton, Pa./Milton).
According to Shannon, both players worked very hard in the offseason on all facets of their game and both are confident after having success in 2011.
Morse was 12-9 with 82 strikeouts and a 2.51 ERA. She looks to improve on her opponent batting average of .286, three shutouts and 17 complete games from a year ago.
Smith had a very successful freshman campaign that earned her PSAC Central Rookie of the Year honors. She went 14-5 with 72 strikeouts while recording a 2.78 ERA. She also earned All-Region and All-PSAC status.
Smith also saw a lot of time in right field and that could very well be the case this year as Shannon wants her bat in the lineup. Last year, Smith hit .328 with four home runs and 23 RBIs. She had a .456 slugging percentage and was 4-for-4 on stolen base attempts.
Freshman Jessica Probst (Harrisburg, Pa./Central Dauphin), a member of the Lady Eagle basketball program, will add depth to Lock Haven's pitching rotation.
Catcher:
Junior
Alicia Cacciotti (Horseheads, N.Y./Horseheads) returns after a solid offensive season in 2011. She was named All-PSAC last year hitting .275 with 14 doubles and five home runs. Cacciotti was also very strong behind the plate for Lock Haven.
Sophomore
Kassandra Atherton (Mount Union, Pa./Mount Union) gives LHU another strong option behind the plate and will push for some time as well.
First Base:
Sophomore
Chelsea Edwards (Horsham, Pa./Hatboro-Horsham) looks to lead the way at first base.
Fellow sophomore
Taylor Magee (Chesapeake, Va./Western Branch) will look for time at first, in the DP role and could also be in the mix for some time behind the plate.
Both Edwards and Magee have good bats and will look to fill spots in the lineup.
Middle Infield:
Lock Haven is in a good predicament as the Lady Eagles easily have four players good enough to start.
Clary and Clarke return to lead the way. Clary was an All-PSAC selection last year at shortstop. Her .339 batting average is the best returning batting average, followed closely by Clarke.
Clary's speed is also a factor as she had 11 doubles and five stolen bases.
Clarke had 13 RBIs last year.
Junior
Nikki Weaknecht (Kutztown, Pa./Kutztown) and newcomer
Sarah Schwalm (Dauphin, Pa./Central Dauphin) are a pair of talents also vying for time.
Weaknecht is athletic and could play anywhere, while Schwalm, a true-freshman, does all the little things right, according to Shannon.
Third Base:
Amanda Fernandez (Cheltenham, Pa./Nazareth Academy) leads the way at third coming off a strong year where she fielded .925.
Erica Pooler (Bellefonte, Pa./Bellefonte) adds depth at third and will look to jump in the lineup in the DP role.
Outfield:
Lock Haven is loaded with talent in the outfield starting with returning centerfielder
Brittany Favazza (Bel Air, Md./C. Milton Wright) and left fielder
Kelsey Mullins (Binghamton, N.Y./Susquehanna Valley) .
Mullins and Favazza are also dangerous once on the base paths as they swiped a combined 26 bases last season.
Junior
Alyssa Smith (Barrington, N.H./St. Thomas Aquinas), senior
Jess Sefter (State College, Pa./State College), and
Hailey Tretick (Round Hill, Va./Loudon Valley), a redshirt-sophomore, will join
Nicole Smith as players, who could see time in right field.
Schedule:
The Lady Eagles begin the 2012 season on Friday (Feb. 24) at noon as they begin play at the three-day Catawba Invitational in Salisbury, N.C. Lock Haven takes on Tiffin at noon on Friday and LHU is set for five games over three days in North Carolina.
On March 9, LHU kicks off its annual Spring Break trip to The Sunshine State. Lock Haven is scheduled for 14 games in Florida from March 9 through March 17.
Lock Haven begins PSAC West Central play on Friday march 23 at No. 7 IUP.
On Friday, March 30, Lock Haven will play its first home game as the Lady Eagles host Clarion at 2:30 p.m.
