Lehigh University Athletics
Troyan welcomes five in softball class of 2013
7/10/2009 10:00:00 AM | Softball
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BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Lehigh head coach Fran Troyan has announced the addition of five student-athletes who will join the Mountain Hawks softball program in the fall. Fresh off their second appearance in a regional final in the last four years, the Mountain Hawks welcome five newcomers to a program that has captured the last 11 Patriot League regular season championships and five of the last six tournament crowns. Lehigh lost five seniors to graduation, but Troyan is excited to have this new group of five on board for the coming season.
“We’ve brought in a strong class of softball players who are strong students as well,” explained Troyan. “We feel like this class is going to mesh very quickly and fit in extremely well with the returning players we have in the program.”
The first of the five to commit to the Brown and White is Rosie Roessel from Fairport High School in New York. A speedy outfielder who can play the infield as well, Roessel was a second team All-State selection, and plays her club softball for TC Tremors Gold.
“We were looking to increase our team speed,” said Troyan. “With Rosie we feel like we’re bringing in one of the better athletes on the east coast. She has tremendous speed and will be able to increase our speed in the outfield right away.”
A power-hitting catcher, Liz Lucas was an honorable mention All-State performer from Ralston Valley High School in Westminster, Colorado. Lucas comes from the Colorado Stars Gold program, which also produced rising Lehigh junior Carly Potock.
“We wanted to strengthen our catching position while also looking to bring in a bat that would provide us with some RBI potential,” said Troyan. “We feel like Liz has the ability to catch for us right away and hit for power as well.”
The graduation of four-time Patriot League Pitcher of the Year Lisa Sweeney leaves a void on the Mountain Hawks pitching staff, a void Troyan hopes to fill with the addition of Rebecca Bliss, a tall-right hander from San Pasqual High School in Escondido, California. An imposing figure in the circle at 6-foot-2, Bliss was named Pitcher of the Year in the Avocado League and was a first-team All-League selection as well. A two-sport athlete who also starred on the basketball court, Bliss plays her club softball for the San Diego Breakers Gold.
Troyan offers his thoughts on Bliss, “During the recruiting process, we were looking for a pitcher who was not afraid to compete from day one. Rebecca comes from a strong summer program and has played against the top competition in the country and we’re confident she will be able to come in and compete right away.”
A second recruit from the northeast, Kristen Mitchell hails from Rehoboth, Massachusetts and played her high school softball at Bay View in Rhode Island. A three-time All-State selection, Mitchell batted .411 with 17 runs scored and 15 RBI as a senior shortstop. Mitchell plays her summer ball for the Rhode Island Thunder Gold and should be able to help the Mountain Hawks in the infield or the outfield.
“Kristen is another outstanding athlete who can play multiple positions,” explained Troyan. “She comes from the Rhode Island Thunder Gold, which is one of the top programs in the northeast. We feel like she has been trained quite well and should hit the ground running.
Rounding out the class of 2013 is Jacqui Kennelly, an infielder from Deer Valley High School in Glendale, Arizona. Kennelly was selected to play in the Arizona Coaches Association All-Star Game at the 5A level, and plays her summer ball for the Arizona L’il Saints Gold.
“Jacqui is more of a pure infielder,” noted Troyan. “She will be able to give us flexibility because she can play second base, shortstop and third base and is versatile enough to catch if needed.”
The Mountain Hawks return 12 players from last year’s Patriot League Championship squad, including five All-League selections.
Lehigh Softball Class of 2013
|
Name |
Pos. |
Hometown/High School |
College |
|
Rebecca Bliss |
RHP |
Escondido, Calif./San Pascual |
Arts and Sciences |
|
Jacqui Kennelly |
IF |
Glendale, Ariz./Deer Valley |
Engineering |
|
Liz Lucas |
C |
Westminster, Colo./Ralston Valley |
Engineering |
|
Kristen Mitchell |
OF/IF |
Rehoboth, Mass./Bay View (R.I.) |
Business |
|
Rosie Roessel |
OF/IF |
Fairport, N.Y./Fairport |
Arts and Sciences |
