Softball Set to Continue its Tradition of Excellence

In 2012, the Elms College softball team will look to continue its long standing tradition of excellence under 26^th-year head coach Cheryl Condon.

Coach Condon's squad returns 11 players from the 2011 team that finished 22-15 and earned a berth in the program's second Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Championship tournament. Since joining the New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) for the 2009 season, Elms has finished 14-2 in league play in three consecutive seasons and earned a spot in the conference tournament title game.

Three seniors dot the Blazers' lineup in 2012 including infielders Amanda Alvarado (Springfield, Mass.) and Jen Killion (Cambridge, Mass.), as well as pitcher Courtney Hampton (Westfield, Mass.). Last season, Hampton posted a record of 10-7 in the circle and tossed 68 strikeouts in 114.0 innings of work. Alvarado and Killion, used primarily as pinch-runners in clutch situations, each stole a pair of bases last season.

Three juniors return to the diamond led by catcher Sarah Buckley (Wilbraham, Mass.) – a 2011 Second Team All-NECC selection who hit .388 in 16 league games and registered a 1.000 fielding percentage. She is joined by outfielder Leah Spring (South Hadley, Mass.) and infielder Alexandra Bonavita (Agawam, Mass.). Spring started all 37 games last season, while Bonavita appeared in 29 games and contributed 14 hits and nine RBI.

Five sophomores and seven freshmen complete the rest of the Elms lineup. Here is a glimpse of how the rest of the roster breaks down by position:

Infielders

The Blazers' infield will enjoy tremendous depth as sophomore first baseman Ally Witaszek (Feeding Hills, Mass.), who started all 37 games in 2011, is joined by fellow first baseman and classmate Hayley Zisk (Baldwinville, Mass.) as well as second-year infielders Abby Capone (Fitchburg, Mass.) and Caitlee Carrier (Charlestown, Mass.).

Newcomers Gina DiGiovanni (Springfield, Mass.) and Gianna Gonyea (East Longmeadow, Mass.) will vie for playing time in the infield as well.

Outfielders

Sophomore Kellie McLaughlin (Pittsfield, Mass.) played 10 games in the outfield in her debut season and will lead a pair of freshmen, Katie Cruz (Shrewsbury, Mass.) and Ashley Reid (Enfield, Conn.) who will compete for playing time in the outfield.

Pitchers

A pair of freshman will follow in the footsteps of Hampton in the pitcher's circle as Elizabeth Patient (Leicester, Mass.) and Alyson Santerre (Thompson, Conn.) will look to gain valuable pitching experience in their first collegiate action. Santerre may also see action at first base throughout the season.

Catchers

Buckley returns for her second full season behind the dish and will be backed up by Gonyea and freshman Rachel Beery (Springfield, Mass.).

Schedule

The Blazers will play eight games beginning on Sat. March 10 and ending on Wednesday, March 14.

Elms begins Gene Cusic Classic action with a single game against Geneva College on March 10 with the game to be played at 9:00 a.m. The Blazers will then take on Northland College at 11:00 a.m. Saturday's games mark Elms' first meetings with each of the respective teams.

Sunday's action features a 9:00 a.m. game against North Park University and an 11:00 a.m. tilt against Mount Mary College. Elms is 2-4 against North Park since 1999 and suffered a 5-3 setback in 2010 in the last meeting between the sides. The Blazers will take on Mount Mary for the first time ever in the nightcap.

Two of Elms' final four games of the Cusic Classic will be against opponents it has seen before. The Blazers will face Nichols College at 9:00 a.m. on March 13 and St. Lawrence University at 11:00 a.m. on March 14. The Bison are 20-1 against Elms since 1986, while the Blazers own a 3-0 advantage over the Saints since 2005.

Elms will meet Finlandia University for the first time at 11:00 a.m. on March 13, and will then play Richard Stockton College at 9:00 a.m. on March 14.

The Blazers return to Massachusetts for a non-league double-header against Johnson State College on March 18 in its 2012 home opener at Cheryl R. Condon Field. Games are set for 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. Elms will play 18 regular season conference games as Regis College joins the league for the first time this season.

Wrap Up

Since joining the NECC for the 2009 season, Elms has enjoyed 17 or more wins in each of its first three seasons and will look to make its fourth straight appearance in the NECC Championship tournament title game. For Coach Condon and the Blazers, experience and depth will play a pivotal role in Elms' return to the NECC championship game.