Photo by: Jim Pierce
Season Preview: Different Dynamic, Same High Expectations For Defending Champion Mountain Hawks
2/7/2023 4:59:00 PM | Softball
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Lehigh softball program returned to the top in 2022. The Mountain Hawks continued to grow as the season progressed and were playing their best of softball at the end of the season. In the Patriot League Tournament, Lehigh defeated Boston University twice on the final day to win their league-best 15th title and first since 2017. The Mountain Hawks' run did not stop there. Lehigh battled Pac-12 power Washington twice at the NCAA Seattle Regional and defeated Weber State for its first NCAA tournament win (and the first for any Patriot League team) since 2015.
Â
Five members of an impactful senior class have graduated but head coach Fran Troyan has brought in six talented newcomers. With the new faces replacing the old faces the on-field product might look a little different, but the pieces are in place for the Mountain Hawks to make another postseason charge in May.
Â
"We lost a class that figured it all out really well in their senior year," said Troyan, who begins his 28th season. "We lost a lot of home run power. This year we are a little more athletic with this cast of characters. We're going to try to be a little more dynamic on the bases. We've added some people that have really great gap power. Maybe not home run power, so we're looking to maintain or increase our offensive productivity but it's going to look different than how it did last year. I'm confident that before it's all said and done, we'll have some high impact performers in that first-year class from an offensive standpoint."
Â
What the 16-player roster lacks in size, it makes up for in depth and versatility.
Â
"We have solid players defensively at every position," Troyan noted. "We have solid players 1-through-9 in the lineup, and we have pitching that has the ability to keep us in every game, including, if they're on, that can keep us in games against top 25 teams. The combination of having pitching that is capable to be able to compete and give us a chance in the circle plus capable people offensively and capable people defensively. This particular team has a fighting spirit that I don't think they're going to give up in any situation. That's the intangible that I love about this team right now."
Â
The senior member of the squad is fifth-year shortstop Carley Barjaktarovich. The two-time Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year and two-time NFCA All-Region honoree leads the Mountain Hawks at the plate, where she bats leadoff and boasts a .371 career average with 105 runs scored, in the field and in the locker room.
Â
"Having Carley back gives us the consummate leader by example at all times," Troyan said. "She has not only become a leader by example but a vocal leader out on the field. She has a high level of enthusiasm and spirit and she is somebody for the first-years to be able to use as a role model."
Â
Senior outfielder Emily Cimino is also a returning captain from Lehigh's 2022 championship team. Cimino was second team All-Patriot League and hit .358 with 33 RBIs last season. She will be playing her third outfield position in as many years as she moves over to right field for her senior campaign. Cimino played center field as a sophomore and moved to left field last year.
Â
Junior Brooke Cannon is a returning starter in center field. She batted .316 in 52 games last season while providing outstanding defense.
Â
Senior Josie Charles has the inside track for left field. Charles worked in the outfield prior to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic before working primarily at second and third base in the last two seasons.
Â
Sophomore Lindsey Martin and first-year Abbey Tabaka will provide outfield depth.
Â
In the pitcher's circle, junior Katelyn Young made enormous strides in her sophomore campaign. Young led Lehigh with 18 victories and went 10-1 with two shutouts during the Patriot League regular season. The left-hander earned a spot on the Patriot League's All-Tournament team, going 3-0 with a 1.33 ERA during Lehigh's run to the championship.
Â
Sophomore Maria Urban is expected to vie for time in the circle, while junior Ansley Dambach is working her way back after missing nearly all of the 2022 season due to injuries. The pitching staff should also be bolstered with the addition of first-year right-hander Chloe Hess from Maryland.
Â
"Katelyn has sorted out a bunch of stuff and we feel like she will be able to pick up where she left off when she was really fantastic at the end of the year," Troyan said. "We're excited about Maria's ability and just need her to get a little bit more consistent. Once she develops that consistency, she's going to be a strong pitcher for us. Chloe came in with great stuff and now she's learning through (Pitching Coach) Pattie Ruth (Taylor) how to pitch at the Division I level. She's going to really shine as we get through the preseason and into Patriot League games. Ansley has done a phenomenal job overcoming the adversity of a couple different surgeries and rehabbing. She is going to surprise some people with her ability to get hitters out."
Â
Behind the plate, junior Amanda Greaney returns as the Mountain Hawks' primary catcher. Sophomore Rory Dudley also saw time behind the plate and could figure in there or at first base. Dudley started 46 games last year and was a three-time Patriot League Rookie of the Week. Another first-year from Maryland, Sydney Parlett, has experience behind the plate and could also fill a utility role.
Â
Entering her fifth season as the starting shortstop, Barjaktarovich anchors an infield that features Dudley returning at first base, plus likely new starters at second and third.
Â
Lehigh's first-year class features two Californians, Lily Owens, who will likely feature at second base and Crysta Duenas, who could figure in at third and back up Barjaktarovich at shortstop. NC State transfer Maddy Schmeiser will also compete for time at third base, while first-years Abbey Tabaka and Sydney Parlett could also see time at first base when Dudley is behind the plate.
Â
This year's Lehigh squad will be challenged by a schedule that features an extra weekend of pre-league action. Early season games against national powers like Alabama and Texas will show opportunities for growth and help prepare the Mountain Hawks for a challenging league slate.
Â
"There are a number of teams that we're playing that we feel like, being out of the northeast and preparing to play without being on our field, we feel like there's a number of teams that are really good that we'll be able to compete with right away," Troyan explained. "Honing our competitive instincts in those games is really important and then there's going to be incredible learning and growth opportunities when we play teams like Alabama and Texas and Iowa and USF. What I love about those opportunities is that when you play teams that are a little more polished than you early in the season, it helps define what you really need to work on as a team.
Â
"The team right now is in a really good mental spot in terms of being aware that they're playing some tough competition and that they're looking to just grow on a daily basis," Troyan concluded. "The important part for us is that we have small roster so we have to remain healthy as we go through things. We are playing a lot and because we have so many young players that we're going to count on, the more that we play, the more that they're going to be able to sort out what they need to do physically and mentally to be able to perform at the Division I level."
Â
The Mountain Hawks will open the 2023 season at Alabama's Leadoff Classic, Feb. 10-11 in Tuscaloosa, Ala. Lehigh will play two games against both Georgia Southern and host and No. 7/9 Alabama in its opening weekend.
Â
Â
Five members of an impactful senior class have graduated but head coach Fran Troyan has brought in six talented newcomers. With the new faces replacing the old faces the on-field product might look a little different, but the pieces are in place for the Mountain Hawks to make another postseason charge in May.
Â
"We lost a class that figured it all out really well in their senior year," said Troyan, who begins his 28th season. "We lost a lot of home run power. This year we are a little more athletic with this cast of characters. We're going to try to be a little more dynamic on the bases. We've added some people that have really great gap power. Maybe not home run power, so we're looking to maintain or increase our offensive productivity but it's going to look different than how it did last year. I'm confident that before it's all said and done, we'll have some high impact performers in that first-year class from an offensive standpoint."
Â
What the 16-player roster lacks in size, it makes up for in depth and versatility.
Â
"We have solid players defensively at every position," Troyan noted. "We have solid players 1-through-9 in the lineup, and we have pitching that has the ability to keep us in every game, including, if they're on, that can keep us in games against top 25 teams. The combination of having pitching that is capable to be able to compete and give us a chance in the circle plus capable people offensively and capable people defensively. This particular team has a fighting spirit that I don't think they're going to give up in any situation. That's the intangible that I love about this team right now."
Â
The senior member of the squad is fifth-year shortstop Carley Barjaktarovich. The two-time Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year and two-time NFCA All-Region honoree leads the Mountain Hawks at the plate, where she bats leadoff and boasts a .371 career average with 105 runs scored, in the field and in the locker room.
Â
"Having Carley back gives us the consummate leader by example at all times," Troyan said. "She has not only become a leader by example but a vocal leader out on the field. She has a high level of enthusiasm and spirit and she is somebody for the first-years to be able to use as a role model."
Â
Senior outfielder Emily Cimino is also a returning captain from Lehigh's 2022 championship team. Cimino was second team All-Patriot League and hit .358 with 33 RBIs last season. She will be playing her third outfield position in as many years as she moves over to right field for her senior campaign. Cimino played center field as a sophomore and moved to left field last year.
Â
Junior Brooke Cannon is a returning starter in center field. She batted .316 in 52 games last season while providing outstanding defense.
Â
Senior Josie Charles has the inside track for left field. Charles worked in the outfield prior to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic before working primarily at second and third base in the last two seasons.
Â
Sophomore Lindsey Martin and first-year Abbey Tabaka will provide outfield depth.
Â
In the pitcher's circle, junior Katelyn Young made enormous strides in her sophomore campaign. Young led Lehigh with 18 victories and went 10-1 with two shutouts during the Patriot League regular season. The left-hander earned a spot on the Patriot League's All-Tournament team, going 3-0 with a 1.33 ERA during Lehigh's run to the championship.
Â
Sophomore Maria Urban is expected to vie for time in the circle, while junior Ansley Dambach is working her way back after missing nearly all of the 2022 season due to injuries. The pitching staff should also be bolstered with the addition of first-year right-hander Chloe Hess from Maryland.
Â
"Katelyn has sorted out a bunch of stuff and we feel like she will be able to pick up where she left off when she was really fantastic at the end of the year," Troyan said. "We're excited about Maria's ability and just need her to get a little bit more consistent. Once she develops that consistency, she's going to be a strong pitcher for us. Chloe came in with great stuff and now she's learning through (Pitching Coach) Pattie Ruth (Taylor) how to pitch at the Division I level. She's going to really shine as we get through the preseason and into Patriot League games. Ansley has done a phenomenal job overcoming the adversity of a couple different surgeries and rehabbing. She is going to surprise some people with her ability to get hitters out."
Â
Behind the plate, junior Amanda Greaney returns as the Mountain Hawks' primary catcher. Sophomore Rory Dudley also saw time behind the plate and could figure in there or at first base. Dudley started 46 games last year and was a three-time Patriot League Rookie of the Week. Another first-year from Maryland, Sydney Parlett, has experience behind the plate and could also fill a utility role.
Â
Entering her fifth season as the starting shortstop, Barjaktarovich anchors an infield that features Dudley returning at first base, plus likely new starters at second and third.
Â
Lehigh's first-year class features two Californians, Lily Owens, who will likely feature at second base and Crysta Duenas, who could figure in at third and back up Barjaktarovich at shortstop. NC State transfer Maddy Schmeiser will also compete for time at third base, while first-years Abbey Tabaka and Sydney Parlett could also see time at first base when Dudley is behind the plate.
Â
This year's Lehigh squad will be challenged by a schedule that features an extra weekend of pre-league action. Early season games against national powers like Alabama and Texas will show opportunities for growth and help prepare the Mountain Hawks for a challenging league slate.
Â
"There are a number of teams that we're playing that we feel like, being out of the northeast and preparing to play without being on our field, we feel like there's a number of teams that are really good that we'll be able to compete with right away," Troyan explained. "Honing our competitive instincts in those games is really important and then there's going to be incredible learning and growth opportunities when we play teams like Alabama and Texas and Iowa and USF. What I love about those opportunities is that when you play teams that are a little more polished than you early in the season, it helps define what you really need to work on as a team.
Â
"The team right now is in a really good mental spot in terms of being aware that they're playing some tough competition and that they're looking to just grow on a daily basis," Troyan concluded. "The important part for us is that we have small roster so we have to remain healthy as we go through things. We are playing a lot and because we have so many young players that we're going to count on, the more that we play, the more that they're going to be able to sort out what they need to do physically and mentally to be able to perform at the Division I level."
Â
The Mountain Hawks will open the 2023 season at Alabama's Leadoff Classic, Feb. 10-11 in Tuscaloosa, Ala. Lehigh will play two games against both Georgia Southern and host and No. 7/9 Alabama in its opening weekend.
Â
Players Mentioned
IF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
IF/OF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
P/UT
/ Softball
C/UT
/ Softball
IF
/ Softball
C
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
IF
/ Softball
UT
/ Softball
IF
/ Softball
UT
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
P
/ SoftballLehigh Sports Central: Softball
Wednesday, April 30
2025 Season Preview: Softball
Thursday, February 06
Lehigh Sports Central: Softball
Wednesday, April 17
