Lehigh University Athletics
Mountain Hawks seek return trip to NCAA Tournament
1/13/2005 12:00:00 AM | Softball
One of the unquestioned strengths of this year’s team comes in the pitcher’s circle, with three all-league performers returning. The staff is led by captain Emily Ling, the 2003 Patriot League Pitcher of the Year. Ling enters the season needing only seven victories to become the all-time wins leader in Lehigh history. During last season’s NCAA Tournament appearance, Ling established a new Lehigh record for career strikeouts, and will only add to that mark this year.
Ling is not the only standout hurler among the bunch. Junior Kate Arico and sophomore Heather Hamasaki compiled some pretty impressive numbers of their own last year. Arico amassed a stellar 13-2 overall record along with a miniscule 1.38 earned run average a season ago. Against league competition, she was even better: Arico was 7-0 with a 1.16 ERA en route to an All-Patriot League First Team selection. Hamasaki made quite an impact in her freshman campaign, winning ten games with a league best 1.18 ERA. An all-league second team selection, Hamasaki finished second in the league (behind Ling) with 156 strikeouts. Not to be forgotten is sophomore Stefanie Forlenza. Though her innings were limited, Forlenza has shown the ability to be effective. Last season she posted a 2-0 record in four starts, while opponents mustered only a .237 batting average against her.
“Like other top Division I programs in the northeast, we play a lot of games in a short period of time,” said head coach Fran Troyan. “Our pitching staff is talented and deep. We need another strong year from all of them.”
Defensively, Lehigh should be strong once again with six position players returning to their customary spots on the field. Last season, the Mountain Hawks led the Patriot League with a .969 fielding percentage. Anchoring the infield are senior captains Kelly Kliewer and Jessica Young. Kliewer is one of the most reliable third basemen in the league. With a strong arm at the hot corner, Kliewer has helped to keep many speedsters off base. Meanwhile Young holds down the right side of the infield at second base. The only Mountain Hawk to start every game in 2004, Young earned all-league honors for the second straight season.
First base is up for grabs with the graduation of four-year starter Liz Gripp. Katherine Wegert, and Kate Arico are competing for time at first base. The shortstop spot is once again in good hands with the return of sophomore Mendy Martin. Martin possesses soft hands and an accurate throwing arm, and is already one of the league’s best defensive shortstops. She led the team in assists (114) last season from the left side of the infield. Newcomers Megan Conrad and Taryn Hanley will compete for time in the infield as will sophomore Stephanie Palmieri.
Behind the plate, junior Mary Wieder is once again poised for another strong season. The 2004 Patriot League Tournament MVP, Wieder played a large role in Lehigh’s tournament championship run. Her textbook block of home plate in extra innings during the championship game saved what would have been the game-winning run. An all-league selection for her play during the regular season, Wieder led the team with a .359 batting average while tying a school record with 15 doubles. Backing up Wieder once again is senior Britt Swanson, who did not commit an error last year in 18 games. Sophomore Lauren Haney can also catch. Last year, Haney was the team’s primary designated player, batting .266 with 20 runs batted in. She made the opposing pitcher work hard, as Haney coaxed more walks than she had strikeouts. Taryn Hanley is expected to be in the catching mix right away as well.
Despite the loss of all-league outfielder Shana Treon to graduation, the Lehigh outfield should be in good shape once again in 2005. Sophomores Whitney Schenbeck and Julie Sterrett bring back starting experience. Schenbeck and Sterrett split time in center field last year, and both proved worthy of increased playing time. Schenbeck started 43 games last year, and showcased her accurate arm on several occasions. She also ranked second on the team with 12 sacrifices at the plate. In addition to patrolling the outfield, Sterrett brings a left-handed bat to the lineup.
Junior Ali Linsk, sophomore Katherine Wegert, and speedy newcomer Kate Marvel will also push for playing time in the outfield. Linsk appeared in 17 games last season, scoring seven runs. Wegert showcased her speed oftentimes as a pinch-runner a season ago, and also played a flawless right field during the NCAA Tournament. Marvel could be primed for the lead-off spot, hitting over .600 and stealing over 30 bases as a high school senior.
With the graduation of Liz Gripp and Shana Treon, we absolutely lost two impact players,” Troyan explains. “We think our three freshmen will do just fine, however. The fact of the matter is, we can play anyone on our roster in the field and feel confident that they will get the job done.”
Lehigh’s 2005 schedule is arguably the most challenging in the program’s history. Lehigh opens the season by playing in the invitation-only NFCA Leadoff Classic. Among the 24 invited teams are perennial national powers LSU,
“Looking at the schedule, there are no ‘easy’ games” Troyan points out. “Every game will be a fight. The team must learn to bring their best every game or it won’t be enough. If the team develops their discipline, we should be in the mix for the Patriot League championship.”
The winner of the 2005 Patriot League tournament will once again get an automatic berth in the NCAA tournament.
Photo (c) 2004, Scott Bruhn.
