Mission Softball: Return To The NECC Championship
The Elms College softball program has a long history of success and tradition and in 2011, this edition of the Blazers has the tools necessary to make its own mark.
On the brink of winning the New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) Championship in 2010, Elms returns 13 players from last season's 20-17 squad including the reigning NECC Rookie of the Year, Sarah Buckley (Wilbraham, Mass.).
Among the returners taking the diamond for two-time NECC Coach of the Year and five-time North Atlantic Conference (NAC) Coach of the Year Cheryl R. Condon (now in her 25th season at the helm), are 2010 All-NECC First-Team selection Jenna Lipscomb (Cambridge, Mass.), and All-NECC second teamers Courtney Hampton (Westfield, Mass.) and Marlene DiRaimo (Cranston, R.I.).
With a talented corps of experienced players poised to make a run at the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Championship, Elms welcomes in seven newcomers to round out its squad of 20 players. The roster breaks down to a pair of seniors, six juniors, five sophomores, and seven freshmen.
At the beginning of each season, the Blazers travel south to compete against many of the nation's top Division III programs in the Gene Cusic Classic in Fort Myers, Fla. Elms will play an eight-game slate in Florida beginning on Saturday, March 4 before returning to Chicopee, Mass. with its home opener set for March 19 – a doubleheader against Johnson State College.
The following is a positional glance at the 2011 Blazers:
PITCHERS
Elms will draw upon the experience and leadership of its pitchers this season as junior right-handed hurler Hampton and senior righty Destinee Meeker (Bantam, Conn.) will serve as the team's captains.
Hampton had a stellar sophomore season, posting a 14-7 record with a 4.59 earned run average (ERA).
Meeker was 4-0 in seven appearances in the circle with a 4.23 ERA. At the dish, Meeker delivered 17 hits and drove in 18 runs, helping the Blazers hit .313 as a team.
INFIELDERS
In addition to the return of all-conference shortstop Lipscomb, junior second basemen Amanda Alvarado (Springfield, Mass.) and Jennifer Killion (Cambridge, Mass.) will help anchor the middle infield for Elms this season.
Sophomore Alexandra Bonavita (Agawam, Mass.) and freshman Abigail Capone (Fitchburg, Mass.) will look to help bolster the right side of the Blazers infield, while freshman Tracey Aloisio (Monson, Mass.) will gain valuable experience playing behind Lipscomb.
Elms is younger at the corners as sophomore Rachel Butt (Agawam, Mass.) returns to third base this season looking to build off a successful freshman campaign. Butt fielded the position at a .980 clip and registered a .291 batting average to help the Blazer reach the NECC title game.
Freshman Caitlee Carrier (Charlestown, Mass.) will also see time at third base, while freshman Allyson Witaszek (Feeding Hills, Mass.) will start at first base this season.
OUTFIELDERS
Elms is deepest in the outfield heading into the 2011 campaign, led by DiRaimo who hit .356 last season on the strength of 37 hits, eight of which were for extra bases. Senior Alison McBride (East Providence, R.I.) also provided a stellar contribution hitting .344 in 17 games.
Fellow junior Kaylyn Conroy (Pittsfield, Mass.) and sophomores Leah Spring (South Hadley, Mass.) and Jessica Cockshaw (Palmer, Mass.) combined will provide solid experience patrolling the Blazers' outfield.
First-year players Isaira Caraballo (Springfield, Mass.) and Kellie McLaughlin (Pittsfield, Mass.) round out the outfield unit.
CATCHERS
Buckley, who primarily played first base last season, will assume the catching duties for Elms this season, returning to her natural position on the field. As a freshman, Buckley hit .377 with a team-high 40 hits, five triples, a .491 slugging percentage, 14 walks and was 4 for 6 in stolen base attempts.
She will be backed up by freshman Hayley Zisk (Baldwinville, Mass.).
Question and Answer with head coach Cheryl R. Condon
Q.) Talk about the depth of this squad heading into the 2011 season?
A.) We have a squad of 13 returners and seven newcomers, and each of those newcomers come from successful programs so they know what it takes to be successful. There is a good mix of players who have made the conference postseason and newcomers who have also experienced success, so depth wise I think we'll be fine.
Q.) Which newcomers will play an immediate role in the success of the team?
A.) Ally Witaszek will play an immediate role at first base. It's funny because I recruited her as an outfielder but has since made the move to first. Abigail Capone at second base will also play an immediate role. The rest of the newcomers will get some good innings throughout the season but those two will get going right off the bat.
Q.) Heading into the season, what phase of the game are you looking to improve upon from last season?
A.) The first stat that sticks out is that in our 37-game season, we left 235 runners on base. We know that we are positioning ourselves for success but we're not finishing so we have to cut that number down significantly. This year we've been much more focused on our situational hitting to try and cut down that stat and that will help us be more successful.
Q.) What is one accomplishment you'd like to see during the spring break trip to Fort Myers, Fla.?
A.) I'd like for us not to keep making the same mistakes and that we made the necessary adjustments after each inning. Softball is a game of adjustments and I think if we keep moving in a direction where we are playing five innings strong, to six innings strong, to seven innings strong so that we are staying mentally tough it will be beneficial.
Q.) What will this team bring to the table in 2011 that other teams have not in the past? What makes this team unique?
A.) I think that right now we are all on the same page. We have a real focus and reason to come together and that starts with last year and losing in the NECC championship. With the automatic qualifier in place for this year, the goal of earning that keeps us on the same page. We are also unique in that we have the 13 returners being the backbone of this team, the mentors of this team and the strength of this team – something we haven't had in awhile.
Q.) What is one challenge that the team needs to overcome this year in order to be productive?
A.) The challenge is to finish games. Last year we hit .313 on offense and fielded at a .957 percentage but we left the door open for teams and we were the ones not closing the games out and you can't do that if you want to be successful. You can't leave that many people on base so we're not getting it done offensively when we need to. We left a lot of runners at third and you just can't do that. Situational hitting has been the big focus for us heading into the season, along with finishing and closing the door because we know we can create the opportunities we just need to see them through.
