Lehigh University Athletics
Mountain Hawks eagerly working towards next weekend's season-opener
2/16/2018 12:18:00 PM | Softball
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – With the start of the 2018 season now one week away, the Lehigh softball team is eager to hit the dirt and take on an opponent in a different uniform. The defending Patriot League champions have been hard at work for nearly four weeks, and while most of the country opened the season last weekend or this weekend, the Mountain Hawks have made the most of their practice time and are looking forward to next weekend's trip to Florida.
"With a month of practice, we've had plenty of time to get ready," Lehigh head coach Fran Troyan said.
"Historically, getting ready to play outside on dirt is always a challenge but I feel like the team has used Rauch Fieldhouse and our ability to get a little bit on to Banko Field in a way that's helped them to get ready to play. There comes a point in time where you just have to play and it's not until you play that you know what you have to work on. The teams we're playing in the first tournament will expose any weaknesses that we have so that we can shape our practices and our workouts.
For the most part, typical January/February weather has forced Lehigh's preparations inside Rauch Fieldhouse but the occasional warm, dry day has allowed the Mountain Hawks to enjoy several workouts on the turf at Frank Banko Field.
Not only will Lehigh encounter teams that have been playing for two weekends in its first tournament, the Citrus Classic, but the opening weekend schedule features three power conference teams, including No. 14 Minnesota, Louisville and South Carolina. Still, Troyan doesn't mind the late start.
"If we started with games a little earlier, we'd have to take some weekends off," Troyan said. "I would rather have a start and get in the rhythm of playing. The other thing that's a benefit from starting later rather than early is that you're more likely to be outside after playing toward the end of February instead of playing at the beginning of February. Those practices after we start playing become incredibly important."
Lehigh is coming off a 36-20 campaign in 2017 that saw the Mountain Hawks win their sixth straight Patriot League regular season title and ninth tournament crown in the last 14 years. The Mountain Hawks graduated just three players from last year's title team, but all three played key roles on the field and in the locker room. Vicky Lattanzio and Ashley Cole combined for 57 RBIs, while Christine Campbell saved her best for the final day of the Patriot League Tournament, beating Boston University twice to earn Tournament MVP honors.
Pitching remains paramount in softball so Campbell's void will be filled by Patriot League Preseason Pitcher of the Year Emily Sorem, improving sophomore Parker Boyd and freshman Lainey Stephenson. While the Mountain Hawks will miss Lattanzio and Cole's offense, Lehigh does return Patriot League RBI leader Carolyn Wright behind the plate and No. 3 hitter Mary-Hannah Smith at second base, but a bigger emphasis may be placed on speed and the short game, led by outfielders Nicole Yozzo, Ashley Rabago and transfer Hannah Edwards.
While team chemistry remains solid and a number of veteran players have set a good example, Troyan is interested in seeing early on who steps in to take on a more vocal leadership role.
"I feel like the hitting is really starting to come along," Troyan said. All the pitchers are making progress right now but we're facing each other in practice so that's getting a little bit stale. I feel like our outfield defense is going to be a real strength for us and the infield is going to come along as well.
"We certainly have a lot of work ahead of us and the biggest thing that we'll notice in the beginning is that we'll need to have some people from a communication and leadership standpoint on the field," Troyan continued. "Vicky was so vocal last year that we'll need somebody who can really become that person who's the vocal communicator on the field."
The Mountain Hawks were picked first in the Patriot League's preseason poll, with Sorem, Wright and Yozzo garnering preseason all-league recognition.
With four weeks down and one to go, a brunt of the work has already been put in to prepare for the upcoming season. Lehigh is looking forward to the early challenges to see what areas need to be fine-tuned before the Patriot League season ramps up in late March.
"We're at a point right now where we pretty much have everything in schematically that we need to do to be ready to play," Troyan said. "It's the same thing every season. We don't know exactly what our strengths and weaknesses are going to be until we see them on the field so we're anxious to get started and see what we have."
The Mountain Hawks will open the 2018 season with five games over three days at the Citrus Classic, Feb. 23-25 in Orlando, Fla. Lehigh will open with Louisville (10 a.m.) and Savannah State (12:30 p.m.) on Friday, Feb. 23 and will also battle Minnesota, South Carolina and Miami (Ohio) on its opening weekend.
"With a month of practice, we've had plenty of time to get ready," Lehigh head coach Fran Troyan said.
"Historically, getting ready to play outside on dirt is always a challenge but I feel like the team has used Rauch Fieldhouse and our ability to get a little bit on to Banko Field in a way that's helped them to get ready to play. There comes a point in time where you just have to play and it's not until you play that you know what you have to work on. The teams we're playing in the first tournament will expose any weaknesses that we have so that we can shape our practices and our workouts.
For the most part, typical January/February weather has forced Lehigh's preparations inside Rauch Fieldhouse but the occasional warm, dry day has allowed the Mountain Hawks to enjoy several workouts on the turf at Frank Banko Field.
Not only will Lehigh encounter teams that have been playing for two weekends in its first tournament, the Citrus Classic, but the opening weekend schedule features three power conference teams, including No. 14 Minnesota, Louisville and South Carolina. Still, Troyan doesn't mind the late start.
"If we started with games a little earlier, we'd have to take some weekends off," Troyan said. "I would rather have a start and get in the rhythm of playing. The other thing that's a benefit from starting later rather than early is that you're more likely to be outside after playing toward the end of February instead of playing at the beginning of February. Those practices after we start playing become incredibly important."
Lehigh is coming off a 36-20 campaign in 2017 that saw the Mountain Hawks win their sixth straight Patriot League regular season title and ninth tournament crown in the last 14 years. The Mountain Hawks graduated just three players from last year's title team, but all three played key roles on the field and in the locker room. Vicky Lattanzio and Ashley Cole combined for 57 RBIs, while Christine Campbell saved her best for the final day of the Patriot League Tournament, beating Boston University twice to earn Tournament MVP honors.
Pitching remains paramount in softball so Campbell's void will be filled by Patriot League Preseason Pitcher of the Year Emily Sorem, improving sophomore Parker Boyd and freshman Lainey Stephenson. While the Mountain Hawks will miss Lattanzio and Cole's offense, Lehigh does return Patriot League RBI leader Carolyn Wright behind the plate and No. 3 hitter Mary-Hannah Smith at second base, but a bigger emphasis may be placed on speed and the short game, led by outfielders Nicole Yozzo, Ashley Rabago and transfer Hannah Edwards.
While team chemistry remains solid and a number of veteran players have set a good example, Troyan is interested in seeing early on who steps in to take on a more vocal leadership role.
"I feel like the hitting is really starting to come along," Troyan said. All the pitchers are making progress right now but we're facing each other in practice so that's getting a little bit stale. I feel like our outfield defense is going to be a real strength for us and the infield is going to come along as well.
"We certainly have a lot of work ahead of us and the biggest thing that we'll notice in the beginning is that we'll need to have some people from a communication and leadership standpoint on the field," Troyan continued. "Vicky was so vocal last year that we'll need somebody who can really become that person who's the vocal communicator on the field."
The Mountain Hawks were picked first in the Patriot League's preseason poll, with Sorem, Wright and Yozzo garnering preseason all-league recognition.
With four weeks down and one to go, a brunt of the work has already been put in to prepare for the upcoming season. Lehigh is looking forward to the early challenges to see what areas need to be fine-tuned before the Patriot League season ramps up in late March.
"We're at a point right now where we pretty much have everything in schematically that we need to do to be ready to play," Troyan said. "It's the same thing every season. We don't know exactly what our strengths and weaknesses are going to be until we see them on the field so we're anxious to get started and see what we have."
The Mountain Hawks will open the 2018 season with five games over three days at the Citrus Classic, Feb. 23-25 in Orlando, Fla. Lehigh will open with Louisville (10 a.m.) and Savannah State (12:30 p.m.) on Friday, Feb. 23 and will also battle Minnesota, South Carolina and Miami (Ohio) on its opening weekend.
Players Mentioned
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/ Softball
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UT
/ Softball
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/ Softball
IF
/ Softball
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P/UT
/ Softball
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/ Softball
OF
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