After finishing with a record of 35-11 in the 2009 season, the Husky softball team is recharged with a vengeance for 2010.
“We are excited for the new season,” said Assistant Coach Susan Kocher. “After losing in the regional tournament last year to a team we could have beat to reach the super-regionals, it makes us want it that much more.”
Both the newcomers and returning nucleus of the team are equally as motivated and eager. Senior outfielder Casey Massimini is optimistic about the team’s chances. “I think we have the talent and depth to achieve a lot of our goals,” she said. “We have a lot of returning players with experience as a Husky and four new players which have meshed well with the returners.”
“The nucleus is back with a strong defensive lineup,” Kocher said.
Offensively, the Huskies have also improved their lineup. Consistency is added to the mix with sophomore catcher Sam Pientack.
“She is a great catcher with depth and an extremely good hitter, which is good because we needed to fill that void with the loss of a top-end of the lineup hitter like Tara Reed,” says Kocher.
Even after losing second team All-American pitcher and shortstop Reed and backup catcher Natalie Zimmerman, the remaining players are confident in their hopes for the future.
“I think it is going to be tough filling in Tara Reed’s spot,” said Pientack. “She was a great player, but I know everyone is willing to step up and give 100 percent.”
Joining the roster this year is left-handed pitcher, freshmen Caitlin Paine. Paine is the first left-handed pitcher in Bloomsburg University softball history. Also on the mound for the Huskies is junior veteran pitcher, Shavaun Fisher. Shavaun brings a lot of wisdom and experience, which can be passed on to the newcomers to the team.
Unfortunately, the Huskies lost pitcher Amanda Whitford due to personal reasons in the off-season. Due to this, the coaches called on field players Nikki Shiko and Danielle Lazorka to step up and assist the pitching staff, something in which they were happy and willing to do.
On the field, with the exception of shortstop, all starting positions are carried over from last season. Senior infielder Mandy Koch too is enthusiastic.
“Our team has a great work ethic and attitude,” Koch said. “We pick each other up when someone needs it. One thing we do need to work on this season is to sustain confidence through the whole game in order to reach our goals.”
The 2010 Husky softball team has high expectations to live up to, especially since this is coaching legend Jan Hutchinson’s final season at Bloomsburg University. As a softball coach, she is the NCAA Division II all-time leader in career wins and has made an NCAA record 27 consecutive trips to the Division II Championships. “This is Coach’s last season,” said Koch. “It would be great to go out with a bang and win Coach and us a National Title!”
“The ultimate goal is obviously to do well in the conference and get to nationals,” Kocher said. “And we hope to do that by taking one game at a time, how it comes.”
In the off-season, the Huskies prepared by working on various aspects of the game, which has been proven evident thus far. They opened their season this past Friday in North Carolina, going 4-0, with all-around support. They swept both Mount Olive College and Chowan University, where Fisher tossed a no hitter and a one-hit shut out. The Huskies will begin their spring break trip to Florida on Saturday, where they hope to have continued success.
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