Season Preview: Talented Salisbury squad prepared for '09 campaign
Fresh off the program's 12th straight Capital Athletic Conference (CAC) title the Salisbury University softball team enters 2009 with a veteran-laced squad set on returning to the NCAA tournament. SU welcomes back two All-Americans from last season and looks to build off its 32-7 overall, 11-1 CAC record from last season. The Sea Gulls look even better than a year ago as they have instituted a strong workout plan over the offseason. The results have proven to be very beneficial as the team has shown an increase in not only strength and knowledge but the Sea Gulls have adapted an outstanding work ethic as well.
INFIELD
With hopes of making a run at another 30-plus win season
this year the Salisbury infield will be a key piece to the puzzle.
The group, which is solid both offensively and defensively,
welcomes back its middle infield combination of senior second
baseman Stacey Malarkey and junior shortstop
Kelly Waskewicz. Junior Ali
Ritter will get the nod again at first base while
sophomore Kristin Lord will step in and fill the
void left at third base.
Waskewicz, a two-time All-American selection, garnered her second
straight CAC Player of the Year award last season as she batted
.481, scored 53 runs on 64 hits, with 12 doubles and 17 home runs.
The Louisville Slugger/NFCA All-Atlantic Region shortstop drove in
45 RBIs, stole 16-of-17 bases and had a slugging percentage of
1.000. The Sea Gull standout concluded last season ranked
nationally in the top five in three offensive categories; home runs
per game (0.44, second in the country), runs per game (1.36,
fourth) and slugging percentage (1.000, sixth). The Olney, Md.,
native has already been named a Division III Softball-The
Newsletter Preseason All-American first team selection this year.
"I am very impressed with the way Kelly is always looking to improve," said SU coach Margie Knight, who enters her 13th season at the helm of her Alma Mater. "She realizes she can get better. She has adjusted very well defensively and has a great arm. She is not settled with being where she is at and is always looking to take that next step. Her pitch selection has improved greatly."
Malarkey, a three-time All-CAC selection, is among three captains for Salisbury this season. The Taneytown, Md., product returns for her senior year after leading SU in doubles (15) and was third in both runs (36) and hits (36) as a junior. Malarkey was named to the Louisville Slugger/NFCA All-Atlantic Region team last season.
As SU's everyday first baseman in 2008, Ritter batted .333 with 35 hits, seven doubles and 32 RBIs. She was named CAC Softball Player of the Week on April 28 following a 4-for-6 performance against Gettysburg College. Last season, the Belvidere, N.J., product led the Sea Gulls in putouts (198) and had one of the top fielding percentages (.978) on the team.
Lord will move from the outfield to the other corner infield spot at third base. As Salisbury's starting right fielder last season, Lord batted .390 and was among the team leaders in doubles (nine), hits (30), RBIs (20) and slugging percentage (.610). The Denton, Md., native returns as one of Salisbury's top base stealing threats as she was 10-for-12 on stolen base opportunities a year ago.
"At Salisbury, we have always had fast third basemen and Kristin is exactly that," said Knight. "She has an outstanding glove and is quick in defending bunts. We have wanted to get her more touches on the ball and she is a perfect fit."
OUTFIELD
Salisbury brings back the majority of its outfield from a
year ago. It features three returners that started a combined 88
games last season and a group of promising newcomers.
Senior Meaghan O'Gara will start the season in
left field. She was near perfect in the field last season as she
collected 22 putouts and two assists without making an error.
Offensively, she batted .222 with two doubles and 10 RBIs.
"Meaghan is a special player," said Knight. "She is the kind of player that will always go out and give you 100 percent. She has always been fast but her foot speed has actually gotten better this year. Defensively, she gets rid of the ball really fast and can track down almost anything."
Junior Jen Cahall, a two-time All-CAC honoree, will patrol center field and looks to build on last season's solid campaign. She batted .297 and had 27 hits, seven doubles and one triple last year. Cahall led all outfielders with 48 putouts in ‘08. Knight expects freshman Casey Zaino to be the opening day starter in right field. Zaino, from Pine Hill, N.J., was selected as one of 14 players in New Jersey to be named a 2008 top prospect by Rivals.com. Junior Brittany Lounge (.340, two doubles, one triple, six stolen bases), sophomore Mandy Knight and freshman Kelly Schweizer will add depth to the outfield.
"The entire group can cover a lot of ground," said Knight. "These women are in the best shape of their lives and I am very pleased with where they are at. They are all smart and know what they need to do to make themselves and the team better."
PITCHING
SU welcomes back its No. 1 starter from a year ago in senior
Stacy Davis. The Westminster, Md., product was a
Louisville Slugger/NFCA All-Atlantic Region honoree last season as
she posted an 18-3 record and a stellar 1.14 ERA in 123 innings.
Davis struck out 87 batters and held her opponents to a collective
.215 batting average. She threw a perfect game last season against
Catholic while striking out seven hitters. Davis collected her
second career All-CAC first team distinction a year ago.
Knight is very high on freshman hurler Erika Brittingham. As a senior at Sussex Central High School, Brittingham led the Knights to a 20-1 record and its second state championship in four seasons. The right-hander was a first-team All-State honoree in Delaware and was named the 2008 Gatorade Softball Player of the Year. She will be looked at to start for SU this spring.
Sophomore Kelsey Mills returns to the circle for SU after being injured most of last season. Mills was 1-0 last season and posted a 1.53 ERA while striking out 13 batters in just over 18 innings. The Frederick, Md., native posted the Sea Gulls only save last season.
"They all bring something different to the table," said Knight. "Stacy does an excellent job hitting her spots and has shown an increase in her speed. Erika gets a lot of movement on the ball and mixes up her pitches well. Kelsey is the hardest thrower of the bunch as she has been clocked up to 63 miles per hour. They are going to do great things."
CATCHING
In what seems to be a consistent trend for Salisbury, the Sea Gulls
will once again be very solid behind the plate. Junior
Lauren Brenneman returns and will be the battery
mate for the Sea Gulls pitching staff. The two-time All-CAC first
team member led the Sea Gulls to their 13th conference championship
in 14 years. She led the team in RBIs (47) and triples (four) while
she was second on the team in batting average (.419). She has
already been named a Division III Softball-The Newsletter Preseason
All-American second team selection this year.
"She's got it all," said Knight. "We are really comfortable with her behind the plate. Lauren is tough, quick, and works hard. She's a smart woman who calls a great game."
The Gulls have depth at the position as two players from last season are back in junior Amanda DeMoine and sophomore Taylor Webb. DeMoine batted .300 with two doubles and five RBIs while Webb posted a .333 on-base percentage and drove in one run.
SCHEDULE
The Sea Gulls will play one of the most demanding
schedules in Division III this season. The slate features contests
against three nationally ranked teams in No. 7 DePauw University,
No. 8 Lynchburg College and No. 21 Ithaca College according to the
National Fastpitch Coaches Association preseason poll.
SU will begin its season on March 6 when the Sea Gulls travel to Virginia Beach, Va., to participate in the Virginia Wesleyan College Beach Blast tournament. On Sunday, March 8, Salisbury will play a neutral site doubleheader against Lynchburg.
Salisbury returns home for over two weeks as it will host the Sea Gull Invitational at Henry Parker Athletic Complex on March 13-14 before hosting DePauw and Plattsburgh State on March 15. The Gulls host another tournament on March 20-21 before they embark on their Capital Athletic Conference schedule. The CAC tournament will be held from April 14-19. SU closes out its regular-season schedule against Washington (Md.) College on April 25 as the Sea Gulls face former SU All-American pitcher Lacey Lister who is now in her first season directing the Shorewomen program. The NCAA tournament will begin the first week of May.
"Our destiny is in our hands," said Knight. "The schedule this season is tough and that is what we want. We are going to know early on where we stand, especially after our first home tournament. I think a lot of people are looking at us as an underdog and I love it."
SUMMARY
Salisbury has all the makings to do great things in 2009. The Sea
Gulls have an outstanding lineup that boasts two preseason
All-Americans, a solid defense and a returning ace in the circle.
The squad has proven to come into the season quicker, stronger and
smarter.
"This team is going to surprise some people as we have worked very hard in the offseason to get where we are now," said Knight.
