2008 Behrend Lions Softball Season Preview
The softball program followed up the 34-10 NCAA Tournament and AMCC Championship campaign with an impressive 29-16 season. Behrend played for another conference crown, losing in game seven to Pitt-Bradford, 9-7, but advanced to the ECAC Southern Region Tournament for the first time since 1995.
“Our goal for the upcoming season is to play to the fullest of our capabilities, and to outwork and outsmart our opponents,” said head coach Stacy Pondo. “Our ultimate goal is to get into the postseason.” The team returns seven starters and 13 letterwinners from their outstanding 2007 roster. It appears the blue and white is gearing up and ready to challenge for the another conference title.
Fifth-year head coach Stacy Pondo returns to lead an offense that dominated AMCC competition. Behrend’s line-up has been an offensive juggernaut during the past two seasons. The team registered nine hits per game last year for a total of 405 on the season. They also scored 243 runs while positing a .323 average. The blue and white led the league in runs, hits, RBIs, doubles, triples and total bases. It gets even better as Behrend performed in clutch situations with 89 two-out RBIs to go with a .325 clip.
“We have an experienced team and a very strong incoming recruiting class,” Pondo said. “We thrive on the competition created within our team and the challenges that lie ahead of us.”
Behrend will rely on one senior and 11 juniors entering the 2008 schedule. Senior Lauren Lubic (Bridgeville/South Fayette) has been an outfield regular and provides leadership and a good throwing arm to the defense. “Lauren is a great competitor,” said Pondo. “She will set a great example for the team on how to stay focused in pressure situations and be a leader. She carries a .260 career batting average and 30 RBIs into her final season with the team, and started almost 70 games over the last two seasons.
The junior class is loaded. It is headlined by three All-AMCC First-Team players.Pitcher Julie Koman (McKees Rocks/Montour), second baseman Nikki Kaschauer (South Park/South Park), and centerfielder Katie Whitby (Tyrone/Tyrone).
Koman has been lights out on the hill and owned the AMCC. She has led the league in ERA for two consecutive seasons and is rewriting the Behrend Lions softball record book. The 2006 AMCC Player of the Year and Newcomer of the Year went 19-6 in 32 appearances a year ago. Koman’s 1.56 ERA was recorded after throwing 170.2 innings while striking out 176 hitters. She also registered 20 complete games and eight shutouts.
Kaschauer was tabbed the 2007 AMCC Player of the Year after producing one of the greatest single-season efforts in the program’s history. Kaschauer hit .607 in league play with two home runs, 16 RBIs, and posted a .857 slugging percentage. She led the AMCC in hits, RBIs and total bases. Kaschauer, who was named the ECAC Division III Southern Region Player of the Year, finished the season with a .438 average, 11 doubles, 39 RBIs and set a new school-record for hits in a season with 63.
A year after Whitby led the league in slugging percentage (.725) and total bases (95) she followed up with another stellar season. She led the team and the AMCC in triples (10) and runs scored (42). Whitby also led Behrend in stolen bases with 11 and ranked ninth in the league in batting at .417.
Six additional juniors return and
will be integral pieces of the 2008 plans. Infielder Rachelle
Lawrence (Warren Center/Northeast Bradford) added to the offense with a .321
batting average and 25 RBIs. She also chipped in 10 doubles and 21 runs
scored in 44 starts. Allison Babish (Coraopolis/Montour) will again be
roaming the outfield in 2008. She was an every day player in left field a
year ago and put together a .308 batting average, three home runs, and 23
RBIs. Behind the dish, catcher Lindsay Baughman (Warren/Warren) returns
after earning 38 starts last season. Baughman batted .272 with a home run
and 18 RBIs.Third baseman Michelle Zil (Fairview/Fairview) was a steady
reserve playing in 14 games in 2007.
Laura Frischkorn (Beaver Falls/Beaver Falls) was honored with the softball team’s Most Improved Player Award after making 15 appearances on the bump. She registered a 3-3 mark and also claimed a team-high three saves, all in AMCC play. Frischkorn’s ERA was 4.28 in 50.1 innings of work. She will be in the pitching mix this spring but also working to earn reps at first base. Cassie Miksic (Pittsburgh/Seton-La Salle) adds depth to the infield positions. Miksic played in 24 contests last year, batting .190. She does however, have a good eye at the plate tying for the team lead in walks with ten.
Two sophomores are on the squad. Allie Olszowka (Oil City/Oil City) and Kelly Houghton (Jamestown/Jamestown). Olszowka started twenty games in 2007 and contributed a home run and 16 RBIs, while hitting .214. Olszowka also pitched 18.1 innings last season and produced a 3-1 mark with a 4.58 ERA and was selected as the program’s Rookie of the Year. Returning after an injury sidelined her in 2007 will be Houghton. She is a versatile player that has a good glove. She will be competing to be the starter at first base.
“We have a strong class of recruits set to join this year’s squad. We have several that will become forces on the mound and at the plate,” said Pondo. Nine first-year players will suit up for the Behrend Lions in 2008: Brooke Callen (Punxsutawney/Punxsutawney), Michele Garbulinski (Erie/Strong Vincent), Kelsey Mulhollem (Altoona/Altoona), Kacy Magnone (Weirton, WV/Madonna), Beth Papalia (Warren/Warren), Lia Sorce (Glenshaw/Shaler), Alexa Vilardo (Westfield, NY/Westfield Academy), Maddie Wieser (Erie/Collegiate Academy), and Justine Yoder (Conneautville/Linesville).
“It looks to be a promising year for our team,” said Pondo. “We are excited because of the experienced upperclassman and talent in the freshmen class.” The 2008 schedule will begin with a test in Clermont, Florida, during spring training. The blue and white will play ten games in seven days to open the season. “This is an important part of our season and it helps prepare us for the start of conference play,” continued Pondo.
League play starts on March 26 at home when Medaille travels to Erie for a pair. Then four of the next eight games are conference contests. The AMCC Tournament is slated for April 26 and May 2-4. “A key to our team being successful this spring will be how well we communicate with one another,” Pondo said. “We will take each game one at a time and focus our attention on the moment.”