Lehigh University Athletics
Season Preview: Defending champion Mountain Hawks gearing up for another title run
2/23/2016 12:43:00 PM | Softball
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Lehigh softball team will begin it's 2016 campaign as the reigning Patriot League champions, a crown the team earned after finishing 40-9 and 16-2 within league play last season. The Mountain Hawks won their third straight regular season league title before capturing their 13th tournament crown at the new Leadership Park. Lehigh went on to the NCAA Tournament where the Mountain Hawks hung tough with SEC power Texas A&M in two games, while blanking Central Arkansas for the program's first NCAA win in six years.
A strong and talented class of seniors has graduated, but with four pre-season All-League honorees on the roster and four talented freshmen joining the fray, the Mountain Hawks have the tools to challenge for another league championship in 2016.
"One of our main objectives is to be careful not to put unrealistic expectations on ourselves," 21st-year head coach Fran Troyan said. "Last year was one where anything that could go right, did go right. We ended up having a tremendous year, but this is a brand new season. We have a bunch of the same players but it's a brand new team."
Success in softball often begins in the pitcher's circle and despite graduating one of the Patriot League's all-time great hurlers in Emily Bausher the Mountain Hawks should be strong in the circle with the pre-season Pitcher of the Year junior Christine Campbell and freshman Emily Sorem from Portland, Ore. Campbell was a first-team All-Patriot League selection last season, finishing second to Bausher in ERA (1.63) in the league. Sorem was last year's Gatorade Player of the Year for the state of Oregon and pitched to a 0.78 ERA with 953 strikeouts in her high school career. Junior left-hander Vicky Lattanzio could also see a heightened role in the circle, while sophomore Cassie Lajeunesse completes Lehigh's pitching staff.
Senior infielders Alexis Watanabe and Morgan Decker joined sophomore outfielder Nicole Yozzo as preseason all-league honorees, and are expected to lead the Mountain Hawk offense in 2016. Decker, a two-time Patriot League Player of the Year has been the Mountain Hawks' premier run producer with a .387 career batting average and 22 home runs. The third baseman begins the season just three home runs shy of the school record. Watanabe led the Patriot League and ranked ninth nationally with a .460 batting average and will feature at second base and near the top of Lehigh's batting order. Yozzo earned Patriot League Rookie of the Year honors last season and look to set the table for the likes of Watanabe and Decker at the top of the lineup.
"I feel like in terms of talent level, we have some very talented players," Troyan said. "We have strong pitching overall, our catching is outstanding, our defense is good and team speed is good. We have some table setters at the top of the lineup with some good speed and we have some good power."
Senior catcher Carissa Zito will look to build on the chemistry she established with Campbell last season, while sharing time with sophomore Carolyn Wright behind the plate. Freshman Brianna Gerhardt could see some action behind the plate as well as in a utility role where she will compete for time at shortstop. Sophomores Rachel Timberman and Lindsay Phillips will also help fill in for three-time all-league performer Emma Capetz at shortstop while backing up at second and third.
Two-time all-league player Jessica Calvini moves to first base full time for the Mountain Hawks. Last season, the Mamaroneck, N.Y., native started in right field but saw time at first as well. She will be backed up freshman Jennifer Stoll, who could see some time in the outfield as well. Stoll hails from Wanaque, N.J., where she hit .542 over her career at Lakeland Regional High School and set a new school record with 154 career hits.
Lattanzio will likely see a lot of time at the designated player spot. As a rookie in 2014, Lattanzio started 44 of 47 games en route to first team All-Patriot League honors. Last season, the Fishkill, N.Y. product hit .291 with 20 RBI and three home runs. Lajeunesse can also provide some left-handed pop off the bench.
Lehigh has five capable outfielders who all figure to see time in the field. Yozzo is a returning starter in left field, while senior all-league performer MacKenzie Velasquez has started in both center and right field in her career. Sophomore Katie Schultz figures to see more time in center field, where she saw action as a defensive replacement in the latter half of last season. Speedy freshman Ashley Quidolit and junior Ashley Cole will also be in the outfield mix.
The Mountain Hawks will be tested in four early-season tournaments, beginning with the UNCG Invitational in Greensboro, N.C. Lehigh will also play in the Winthrop Invitational and Spring Break tournaments in Florida hosted by UCF and USF. The early season schedule features SEC member and Super Regional participant Kentucky as well as a trio of Big Ten schools (Purdue, Rutgers, and Northwestern). The tournaments leading up to league play are necessary indicators to see where his team can improve come league competition.
"We have an incredibly challenging preseason," Troyan said. "We're not going to caught up early in the year with wins and losses but we have a pretty good idea on what we need to work on going in to the season but once we play excellent teams, they have a tendency to show you what you really need to work on. They'll expose any weaknesses that you have."
The Mountain Hawks certainly have talent and depth heading into the 2016 season. Troyan's recipe for a successful season is a simple one.
"Our season will be a success in 2016 if we stay healthy and if we play to our ability level," Troyan said.
Lehigh will open the 2016 season at the UNCG Invitational beginning Friday, February 26. The Mountain Hawks will open with games against Youngstown State (11 a.m.) and Iona (1:30 p.m.) on Friday before facing the Penguins again on Saturday. Lehigh will also play UNC-Greensboro twice, once Saturday evening and second time on Sunday afternoon.
With contributions from Michael Reiner '16
A strong and talented class of seniors has graduated, but with four pre-season All-League honorees on the roster and four talented freshmen joining the fray, the Mountain Hawks have the tools to challenge for another league championship in 2016.
"One of our main objectives is to be careful not to put unrealistic expectations on ourselves," 21st-year head coach Fran Troyan said. "Last year was one where anything that could go right, did go right. We ended up having a tremendous year, but this is a brand new season. We have a bunch of the same players but it's a brand new team."
Success in softball often begins in the pitcher's circle and despite graduating one of the Patriot League's all-time great hurlers in Emily Bausher the Mountain Hawks should be strong in the circle with the pre-season Pitcher of the Year junior Christine Campbell and freshman Emily Sorem from Portland, Ore. Campbell was a first-team All-Patriot League selection last season, finishing second to Bausher in ERA (1.63) in the league. Sorem was last year's Gatorade Player of the Year for the state of Oregon and pitched to a 0.78 ERA with 953 strikeouts in her high school career. Junior left-hander Vicky Lattanzio could also see a heightened role in the circle, while sophomore Cassie Lajeunesse completes Lehigh's pitching staff.
Senior infielders Alexis Watanabe and Morgan Decker joined sophomore outfielder Nicole Yozzo as preseason all-league honorees, and are expected to lead the Mountain Hawk offense in 2016. Decker, a two-time Patriot League Player of the Year has been the Mountain Hawks' premier run producer with a .387 career batting average and 22 home runs. The third baseman begins the season just three home runs shy of the school record. Watanabe led the Patriot League and ranked ninth nationally with a .460 batting average and will feature at second base and near the top of Lehigh's batting order. Yozzo earned Patriot League Rookie of the Year honors last season and look to set the table for the likes of Watanabe and Decker at the top of the lineup.
"I feel like in terms of talent level, we have some very talented players," Troyan said. "We have strong pitching overall, our catching is outstanding, our defense is good and team speed is good. We have some table setters at the top of the lineup with some good speed and we have some good power."
Senior catcher Carissa Zito will look to build on the chemistry she established with Campbell last season, while sharing time with sophomore Carolyn Wright behind the plate. Freshman Brianna Gerhardt could see some action behind the plate as well as in a utility role where she will compete for time at shortstop. Sophomores Rachel Timberman and Lindsay Phillips will also help fill in for three-time all-league performer Emma Capetz at shortstop while backing up at second and third.
Two-time all-league player Jessica Calvini moves to first base full time for the Mountain Hawks. Last season, the Mamaroneck, N.Y., native started in right field but saw time at first as well. She will be backed up freshman Jennifer Stoll, who could see some time in the outfield as well. Stoll hails from Wanaque, N.J., where she hit .542 over her career at Lakeland Regional High School and set a new school record with 154 career hits.
Lattanzio will likely see a lot of time at the designated player spot. As a rookie in 2014, Lattanzio started 44 of 47 games en route to first team All-Patriot League honors. Last season, the Fishkill, N.Y. product hit .291 with 20 RBI and three home runs. Lajeunesse can also provide some left-handed pop off the bench.
Lehigh has five capable outfielders who all figure to see time in the field. Yozzo is a returning starter in left field, while senior all-league performer MacKenzie Velasquez has started in both center and right field in her career. Sophomore Katie Schultz figures to see more time in center field, where she saw action as a defensive replacement in the latter half of last season. Speedy freshman Ashley Quidolit and junior Ashley Cole will also be in the outfield mix.
The Mountain Hawks will be tested in four early-season tournaments, beginning with the UNCG Invitational in Greensboro, N.C. Lehigh will also play in the Winthrop Invitational and Spring Break tournaments in Florida hosted by UCF and USF. The early season schedule features SEC member and Super Regional participant Kentucky as well as a trio of Big Ten schools (Purdue, Rutgers, and Northwestern). The tournaments leading up to league play are necessary indicators to see where his team can improve come league competition.
"We have an incredibly challenging preseason," Troyan said. "We're not going to caught up early in the year with wins and losses but we have a pretty good idea on what we need to work on going in to the season but once we play excellent teams, they have a tendency to show you what you really need to work on. They'll expose any weaknesses that you have."
The Mountain Hawks certainly have talent and depth heading into the 2016 season. Troyan's recipe for a successful season is a simple one.
"Our season will be a success in 2016 if we stay healthy and if we play to our ability level," Troyan said.
Lehigh will open the 2016 season at the UNCG Invitational beginning Friday, February 26. The Mountain Hawks will open with games against Youngstown State (11 a.m.) and Iona (1:30 p.m.) on Friday before facing the Penguins again on Saturday. Lehigh will also play UNC-Greensboro twice, once Saturday evening and second time on Sunday afternoon.
With contributions from Michael Reiner '16
Players Mentioned
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OF
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IF/OF
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IF
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/ SoftballMHT EP 12 - Softball
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2026 Lehigh Softball Season Preview
Thursday, February 05
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Wednesday, April 30
2025 Season Preview: Softball
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