Lehigh University Athletics
2015 Lehigh Softball Season Preview
2/24/2015 3:14:00 PM | Softball
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Lehigh softball team enters the 2015 season in a situation the program hasn't faced in more than a decade. For the first time since 2004, the Mountain Hawks enter a new season riding a two-year streak of winning the Patriot League regular season title, but coming up short in the Patriot League Tournament.
Still, this is a talented Lehigh team that reached the 30 win mark for the 14th consecutive season and won a third straight Patriot League regular season crown. The Mountain Hawks return the Patriot League Player of the Year, Pitcher of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year. All seven of Lehigh's All-Patriot League selections are back. With six talented newcomers joining the returning core, Lehigh has the pieces and also the depth to make a run at a return to the top of the league in 2015.
"We have more balance in our team and more team speed than we've had really in the past," explained head coach Fran Troyan, who begins his 20th season. "We're going to be more active on the base paths than we have in the last few years, but I still think that we have some good power as well. The other thing that we have is some real good depth. We've got a bunch of players that we'll be able to use in special situations that we have not been able to do in the past. I would say the depth that we have is better than we have had in the past and I really like the fact that we have more speed to play with than we have in the past. It's a little bit more reminiscent to some of our teams from a number of years ago."
Success in softball often starts in the pitcher's circle and Lehigh returns senior Emily Bausher to lead the staff. Bausher was the league's Pitcher of the Year in 2014 and earned the league's preseason honor for this season. The right-hander battled injuries last season but still managed to go 13-7 with a 2.14 ERA and 105 strikeouts in 118 innings. Bausher has 463 strikeouts in 440 career innings and is also coming off her best season at the plate where she contributed 28 hits, four home runs and 21 RBI.
"We're expecting Emily to be able to pitch in most of our big games," Troyan said. "In order for that to happen she has to be as healthy as she can. Last year she fought through a number of injuries, so we're hoping that her senior year will be injury-free."
Sophomore Christine Campbell will also be given ample opportunities in the circle. Campbell won ten games as a freshman including an early season complete-game shutout of eventual NCAA Tournament participant San Diego State. Freshman Cassie Lajeunesse is the third righty on the pitching staff, while sophomore Vicky Lattanzio, an All-Patriot League outfielder a year ago, may see some innings in the pitcher's circle to give Troyan an option from the left side.
"Christine has showed some strong improvement from last year and is pitching with more confidence and poise," Troyan said. "We're going to need to get some innings from our freshman Cassie Lajuenesse and we're going to look to rely on Vicky Lattanzio to get some innings and give opponents a look from the left hand side."
Offensively, Lehigh is led by junior Morgan Decker, the two-time Patriot League Player of the Year. Decker is a career .414 hitter with 18 home runs and 85 RBI in two seasons but equally impressive are her 69 career walks and .547 on-base percentage. She will be a mainstay at third base and in the middle of Lehigh's batting order.
"Morgan is amazing because she is so patient and very willing to take a walk," Troyan explained. "She is going to get a number of walks this year because just like last year she has a reputation, but unlike maybe last year I feel like we'll be able to surround her with some really outstanding hitters, so we'll be happy if she gets a lot of walks because we have some people that are going to be able to knock some runs in."
On the opposite corner, Lehigh has three dependable options at first base. Senior Cassie Waggy is a returning All-Patriot League performer, while first base is also Lattanzio's natural position. Junior Jessica Calvini wan an all-league outfielder last year who drove in 28 runs but is also considered a strong defensive first baseman.
"We're really blessed with a lot of options at first base," Troyan said. "Cassie Waggy obviously has a lot of experience there, but she's being pushed by Vicky Lattanzio. Because of some of the freshmen in our program Jessica Calvini may be asked to play more right field instead of left field and as an athletic defensive player may see time situationally at first base as well."
Junior second baseman Alexis Watanabe leads Lehigh's middle infielders. The Patriot League's Defensive Player of the Year, Watanabe is also a weapon at the top of the Mountain Hawks' lineup with her speed and ability to handle the bat for the short game and providing some pop. Senior Emma Capetz is competing with freshman Rachel Timberman for time at shortstop, while freshman Lindsay Phillips will provide depth at second base, shortstop and third base.
Lehigh has three catchers competing for time behind the plate. Senior Brandi Hawkins saw her first significant playing time as a junior and is the most experienced member of the group. She will be challenged by freshman Carolyn Wright and junior Carissa Zito, a capable hitter who successfully converted to the catcher position last season.
"I'm really pleased with how the catchers have come along," Troyan said. They're really pushing each other in practice. Brandi has demonstrated some exceptional leadership and with all that and has really taken a team-first attitude. All three catchers will catch at times this season here and competition makes everybody a little bit better so we'll see how the chips fall as we go along and if anybody emerges as a clear cut No. 1 catcher as we go into the season."
Bausher, Hawkins and Decker will serve as captains for the Mountain Hawks in 2015.
Competition will also be the name of the game in the outfield. Freshman Nicole Yozzo emerged in the fall as a player who can be a weapon with her tremendous speed. She will likely be in left field. Sophomore Ashley Cole and freshman Katie Schultz are competing for time in center field, while sophomore MacKenzie Velasquez and Calvini will likely play more right field. Lattanzio and Capetz can also add to the outfield depth if needed.
"Nicole Yozzo has a tremendous amount of speed and shoed a propensity in the fall to get on base a lot," Troyan said. "Its speed we probably haven't had since Rosie Roessel graduated. She's going to make it hard for us not to have her in the lineup from an offensive standpoint. She's going to get a good crack at left field but others will get a chance to play there as well.
"In center field there's a great competition going on right now between Ashley Cole and Katie Schultz, and a great competition at right field between McKenzie Velazquez and Jess Calvini," Troyan continued. "We're not totally sure who is going to play where but we certainly have a lot of options."
Troyan added his thoughts on how the lineup may come together around Decker.
"Cassie Waggy is seeing the ball very well and Vicky Lattanzio has become a very accomplished hitter, Troyan said. "Jess Calvini is hitting with some power, Alexis Watanabe can do the short game and hit with some power, and we feel like some of our freshmen might sneak up and surprise some people too with their speed."
To get ready for the rigors of league play, Lehigh will face another challenging schedule. The Mountain Hawks' season-opening tournament in North Carolina was cancelled due to weather but Lehigh will play three power five conference teams in its new opening weekend tournament in Florida, with a challenging spring break slate awaiting the brown and white as well.
Midweek games with regional rivals Penn, Delaware, Hofstra, Princeton and Villanova among others will get Lehigh ready for the increasingly challenging Patriot League slate.
"The days of knowing that you had a great chance of sweeping a weekend are gone because the rest of the league has done a great job of improving and I feel like we really have improved as well," Troyan said. "From my perspective, it's been much more fun knowing that every weekend is going to be a tough competition in the league. Every weekend is going to be a hard fought weekend and that's going to allow us to be a better team before it's all said and done. Hopefully it's going to make the rest of the league better as well so that whatever representative we have coming from the Patriot League Tournament is going to be well prepared to compete on more of a national level."
There's also an aura of excitement over this season because the Mountain Hawks will begin play in a new softball complex on the Goodman Campus.
The new facility is being constructed west of the grass soccer field at the Ulrich Sports Complex and north of the Cundey Varsity House, which the Mountain Hawks use for their locker room, sports medicine needs and strength training. The new facility will feature the addition of modern stands, a functional press box, larger and enhanced dugouts, a modern cable and netting system and modernized bullpen areas and hitting nets.
As they prepare to open the season the Mountain Hawks are trying not focus on the challenges that lie ahead in the post season, but simply on just improving on a daily basis.
"We are trying not to get too focused on end of season stuff," Troyan said. "That will come and when it comes. In order for us to be able to play well in the Patriot League Tournament, we have to first qualify for the Patriot League Tournament. This particular group has done a great job of taking the approach that we're just going to try to be our best on a daily basis and try to get a little bit better every day and if we do that we'll have a lot of positives as we go through our season."
The Mountain Hawks will open the 2015 season with five games in three days at the Citrus Classic in Orlando, Fla. beginning Friday February 27. Lehigh will open with Omaha (11 a.m.) and Big Ten member Indiana (3:30 p.m.) on Friday. On Saturday, the Mountain Hawks will face another Big Ten opponent in Maryland (1:15 p.m.) before taking on ACC foe and 23rd-ranked Notre Dame. The Mountain Hawks will close out the Citrus Classic against Saint Francis (Pa.) Sunday at 10 a.m.
Still, this is a talented Lehigh team that reached the 30 win mark for the 14th consecutive season and won a third straight Patriot League regular season crown. The Mountain Hawks return the Patriot League Player of the Year, Pitcher of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year. All seven of Lehigh's All-Patriot League selections are back. With six talented newcomers joining the returning core, Lehigh has the pieces and also the depth to make a run at a return to the top of the league in 2015.
"We have more balance in our team and more team speed than we've had really in the past," explained head coach Fran Troyan, who begins his 20th season. "We're going to be more active on the base paths than we have in the last few years, but I still think that we have some good power as well. The other thing that we have is some real good depth. We've got a bunch of players that we'll be able to use in special situations that we have not been able to do in the past. I would say the depth that we have is better than we have had in the past and I really like the fact that we have more speed to play with than we have in the past. It's a little bit more reminiscent to some of our teams from a number of years ago."
Success in softball often starts in the pitcher's circle and Lehigh returns senior Emily Bausher to lead the staff. Bausher was the league's Pitcher of the Year in 2014 and earned the league's preseason honor for this season. The right-hander battled injuries last season but still managed to go 13-7 with a 2.14 ERA and 105 strikeouts in 118 innings. Bausher has 463 strikeouts in 440 career innings and is also coming off her best season at the plate where she contributed 28 hits, four home runs and 21 RBI.
"We're expecting Emily to be able to pitch in most of our big games," Troyan said. "In order for that to happen she has to be as healthy as she can. Last year she fought through a number of injuries, so we're hoping that her senior year will be injury-free."
Sophomore Christine Campbell will also be given ample opportunities in the circle. Campbell won ten games as a freshman including an early season complete-game shutout of eventual NCAA Tournament participant San Diego State. Freshman Cassie Lajeunesse is the third righty on the pitching staff, while sophomore Vicky Lattanzio, an All-Patriot League outfielder a year ago, may see some innings in the pitcher's circle to give Troyan an option from the left side.
"Christine has showed some strong improvement from last year and is pitching with more confidence and poise," Troyan said. "We're going to need to get some innings from our freshman Cassie Lajuenesse and we're going to look to rely on Vicky Lattanzio to get some innings and give opponents a look from the left hand side."
Offensively, Lehigh is led by junior Morgan Decker, the two-time Patriot League Player of the Year. Decker is a career .414 hitter with 18 home runs and 85 RBI in two seasons but equally impressive are her 69 career walks and .547 on-base percentage. She will be a mainstay at third base and in the middle of Lehigh's batting order.
"Morgan is amazing because she is so patient and very willing to take a walk," Troyan explained. "She is going to get a number of walks this year because just like last year she has a reputation, but unlike maybe last year I feel like we'll be able to surround her with some really outstanding hitters, so we'll be happy if she gets a lot of walks because we have some people that are going to be able to knock some runs in."
On the opposite corner, Lehigh has three dependable options at first base. Senior Cassie Waggy is a returning All-Patriot League performer, while first base is also Lattanzio's natural position. Junior Jessica Calvini wan an all-league outfielder last year who drove in 28 runs but is also considered a strong defensive first baseman.
"We're really blessed with a lot of options at first base," Troyan said. "Cassie Waggy obviously has a lot of experience there, but she's being pushed by Vicky Lattanzio. Because of some of the freshmen in our program Jessica Calvini may be asked to play more right field instead of left field and as an athletic defensive player may see time situationally at first base as well."
Junior second baseman Alexis Watanabe leads Lehigh's middle infielders. The Patriot League's Defensive Player of the Year, Watanabe is also a weapon at the top of the Mountain Hawks' lineup with her speed and ability to handle the bat for the short game and providing some pop. Senior Emma Capetz is competing with freshman Rachel Timberman for time at shortstop, while freshman Lindsay Phillips will provide depth at second base, shortstop and third base.
Lehigh has three catchers competing for time behind the plate. Senior Brandi Hawkins saw her first significant playing time as a junior and is the most experienced member of the group. She will be challenged by freshman Carolyn Wright and junior Carissa Zito, a capable hitter who successfully converted to the catcher position last season.
"I'm really pleased with how the catchers have come along," Troyan said. They're really pushing each other in practice. Brandi has demonstrated some exceptional leadership and with all that and has really taken a team-first attitude. All three catchers will catch at times this season here and competition makes everybody a little bit better so we'll see how the chips fall as we go along and if anybody emerges as a clear cut No. 1 catcher as we go into the season."
Bausher, Hawkins and Decker will serve as captains for the Mountain Hawks in 2015.
Competition will also be the name of the game in the outfield. Freshman Nicole Yozzo emerged in the fall as a player who can be a weapon with her tremendous speed. She will likely be in left field. Sophomore Ashley Cole and freshman Katie Schultz are competing for time in center field, while sophomore MacKenzie Velasquez and Calvini will likely play more right field. Lattanzio and Capetz can also add to the outfield depth if needed.
"Nicole Yozzo has a tremendous amount of speed and shoed a propensity in the fall to get on base a lot," Troyan said. "Its speed we probably haven't had since Rosie Roessel graduated. She's going to make it hard for us not to have her in the lineup from an offensive standpoint. She's going to get a good crack at left field but others will get a chance to play there as well.
"In center field there's a great competition going on right now between Ashley Cole and Katie Schultz, and a great competition at right field between McKenzie Velazquez and Jess Calvini," Troyan continued. "We're not totally sure who is going to play where but we certainly have a lot of options."
Troyan added his thoughts on how the lineup may come together around Decker.
"Cassie Waggy is seeing the ball very well and Vicky Lattanzio has become a very accomplished hitter, Troyan said. "Jess Calvini is hitting with some power, Alexis Watanabe can do the short game and hit with some power, and we feel like some of our freshmen might sneak up and surprise some people too with their speed."
To get ready for the rigors of league play, Lehigh will face another challenging schedule. The Mountain Hawks' season-opening tournament in North Carolina was cancelled due to weather but Lehigh will play three power five conference teams in its new opening weekend tournament in Florida, with a challenging spring break slate awaiting the brown and white as well.
Midweek games with regional rivals Penn, Delaware, Hofstra, Princeton and Villanova among others will get Lehigh ready for the increasingly challenging Patriot League slate.
"The days of knowing that you had a great chance of sweeping a weekend are gone because the rest of the league has done a great job of improving and I feel like we really have improved as well," Troyan said. "From my perspective, it's been much more fun knowing that every weekend is going to be a tough competition in the league. Every weekend is going to be a hard fought weekend and that's going to allow us to be a better team before it's all said and done. Hopefully it's going to make the rest of the league better as well so that whatever representative we have coming from the Patriot League Tournament is going to be well prepared to compete on more of a national level."
There's also an aura of excitement over this season because the Mountain Hawks will begin play in a new softball complex on the Goodman Campus.
The new facility is being constructed west of the grass soccer field at the Ulrich Sports Complex and north of the Cundey Varsity House, which the Mountain Hawks use for their locker room, sports medicine needs and strength training. The new facility will feature the addition of modern stands, a functional press box, larger and enhanced dugouts, a modern cable and netting system and modernized bullpen areas and hitting nets.
As they prepare to open the season the Mountain Hawks are trying not focus on the challenges that lie ahead in the post season, but simply on just improving on a daily basis.
"We are trying not to get too focused on end of season stuff," Troyan said. "That will come and when it comes. In order for us to be able to play well in the Patriot League Tournament, we have to first qualify for the Patriot League Tournament. This particular group has done a great job of taking the approach that we're just going to try to be our best on a daily basis and try to get a little bit better every day and if we do that we'll have a lot of positives as we go through our season."
The Mountain Hawks will open the 2015 season with five games in three days at the Citrus Classic in Orlando, Fla. beginning Friday February 27. Lehigh will open with Omaha (11 a.m.) and Big Ten member Indiana (3:30 p.m.) on Friday. On Saturday, the Mountain Hawks will face another Big Ten opponent in Maryland (1:15 p.m.) before taking on ACC foe and 23rd-ranked Notre Dame. The Mountain Hawks will close out the Citrus Classic against Saint Francis (Pa.) Sunday at 10 a.m.
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/ SoftballFriday, March 13
Thursday, February 05
Wednesday, April 30
Thursday, February 06
