Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell Softball Opens 2006 Slate this Weekend at East Carolina Pirate Classic
2/16/2006 7:00:00 AM | Softball
Feb. 16, 2006
LEWISBURG, Pa. - While there are plenty of changes to the Bucknell softball program with 10 newcomers to the roster in the second year of head coach Heather Rakosik's tenure, there are still many familiar faces with the primary starter at nearly every position back in Orange and Blue in 2006.
The veterans will be key for the Bison, who posted a 16-22 record last year for their most wins since the 2001 campaign. They also qualified for the Patriot League Tournament in back-to-back years for the first time since 1999 and 2000.
Bucknell, which was chosen to finish fourth in the Patriot League preseason poll, will begin its quest for its third straight postseason berth this weekend when it travels to Greenville, N.C., for the Pirate Classic, hosted by East Carolina. The Bison, who are opening their season on the earliest date in program history, play their first game Friday afternoon at 3 p.m. against Campbell. The three-day event features nine teams and Bucknell is in Pool B along with Campbell, Elon, Ohio and Towson.
Highlighting the list of veterans on this year's squad is senior first baseman Lauren Wible, who led the nation in hitting with a .524 batting average and was named the Patriot League Player of the Year, among a host of other accolades. Despite the shadows cast by the talented upperclassmen, the large group of freshmen have integrated themselves into the team nicely.
"The team gets along great," says Rakosik. "They have meshed together well to become a family, which is what our program is about. We have put the team first, and that is going to make them want success more. Up and down the line from senior to freshman, they don't care who is in the game as long as we are winning."
PITCHER
With one sophomore and four freshmen comprising the pitching staff, Bucknell has one of the youngest units in the country, but that does not mean Rakosik has low expectations.
The lone returner from last year's three-person staff is sophomore Christie Wiest. The Centre Hall, Pa., native posted a 7-8 record with a team-best 3.39 ERA as a rookie. She started 17 games and tallied five complete games while allowing opponents to hit just .282 against her.
"She expects big things out of herself, so I know she will have a good year," explains Rakosik. "She is the anchor of our pitching staff and is a great leader for our freshmen."
The biggest difference on this year's pitching staff will be the quartet of newcomers that will allow Rakosik to utilize a much deeper rotation this season.
Meagan Haley, Katie McDonald, Meg Muirhead and Tanya Roth are the freshmen pitchers. Haley and Muirhead are from Nevada and California, respectively, and have adjusted to college softball after playing against top-level competition all year round. That duo saw more time in the fall than McDonald and Roth, although all four will see action in the circle this spring.
CATCHER
Much like her pitching staff, Rakosik has five choices to insert into the lineup as the backstop. Juniors Michelle Danish and Lauren Litts, along with sophomore Erin Curatola earned playing time last year, with Danish and Curatola seeing the bulk of the action behind the plate and Litts mainly serving as the designated player. In addition to that trio, junior Meghan Feller, who sat out last season after surgery on her non-throwing shoulder, and freshman Emily Orazi, whose brother was a starter on the Bison football team last fall, will be in the mix as well.
"Catcher is a position we are striving to improve," describes Rakosik. "The player who is most consistent and can give us leadership and communicate well with our pitching staff will most likely see the most time."
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One of four team captains, Wible should hold down the first base position for the fourth consecutive season. In addition to her top-ranked batting average, Wible, who was the Patriot League Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year, was among the nation's leaders in doubles per game, walks per game and slugging percentage.
A durable player, Wible has appeared in 93 straight games and enters 2006 with a 16-game hitting streak intact. Along with her offensive prowess, which saw her smack a Bucknell record eight home runs last year, Wible is a strong defensive player. She has committed just 12 career errors and owns a .988 career fielding percentage.
"Lauren does not have to bang out home runs or hit .500," mentions Rakosik. "all she has to do is help the team win. Anything else she does is icing on the cake."
Backing up Wible at first base will be freshman Cassie Lloyd from nearby Mifflinburg, Pa. A three-sport star in high school, Rakosik thinks Lloyd will benefit greatly playing and learning behind Wible.
SECOND BASE
Another captain, junior Jennifer James, is expected to hold down the starting job at second base for the second consecutive season. James started 29 games last year and was sixth on the team in hitting at .262, despite missing some time early with an injury.
"Jen came along as a player and leader last year," recalls Rakosik. "She is versatile offensively and works every day to get better defensively."
Freshmen Ashley Beans and Kristin Frick, along with sophomore Heather Haskin, can also play second, but primarily play other positions.
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Haskin and Frick are the two top candidates for the shortstop position. Haskin, who started the 2005 season at third base, moved to shortstop midway through the year. She hit .253 with nine RBI and committed just nine errors as a rookie.
"I would like to see Heather have a breakout sophomore season," says Rakosik of the Noblesville, Ind., native.
Frick is a contact hitter who will get some gap shots as well. She is a smooth player who has good speed and has improved immensely as her confidence level has grown.
"It is going to come down to who can get the job done," predicts Rakosik. "Both Heather and Kristin are good athletes who we will need to anchor the defense as well as produce offensively."
THIRD BASE
Much like classmate and fellow captain Lauren Wbile, Kris Devore entered the Bison lineup as a freshman and hasn't left often, appearing in 118 of a possible 122 games the last three seasons. She solidified herself as the team's starting third baseman midway through last year when she moved there from shortstop. A solid offensive player, Devore was third on the team in hitting at .283. She also posted two home runs and 16 RBI, both third on the squad.
"Kris is as good of a third baseman as there can be," says Rakosik. "Offensively she has an unbelieveable amount of potential, she just needs to be more consistent."
There is not another true third baseman on the roster, but if Devore needs a rest, Haskin, Wible, Lloyd and Litts are all viable options.
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The outfield was a major focus for Rakosik and her staff in recruiting last year and it paid off with three outstanding freshmen in the mix for playing time. Beans, Ashley Carlson and Damara Farkas will join holdovers Monica Grinage and team captain Ashley Sarnecky, as well as Feller, in the outfield.
Carlson is expected to play in right field, while Beans has been impressive in center. Both are gutsy players who possess a good amount of speed. Farkas is an unbelievable athlete with a great arm.
Sarnecky started 26 games as a junior after playing just 17 her first two seasons and hit .209 with one home run and 5 RBI, but she hit .270 over her final 37 at bats.
Feller is a phenomenal hustler, while Grinage may see more time in the outfield after being used primarily as a pinch runner her first two years.
"Speed is the key for the outfield," explains Rakosik. "We have good competition and some talented players in the outfield."
Pirate Classic Schedule (Greenville, N.C.)
Friday, Feb. 17
Bucknell vs. Campbell, 3 p.m.
Bucknell vs. Elon, 5 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 18
Bucknell vs. Michigan State, 11 a.m.
Bucknell vs. Ohio, 5 p.m.
Sunday, Feb. 19
#1 Pool A vs. #2 Pool B, 9 a.m.
#3 Pool A vs. #4 Pool B, 9 a.m.
#1 Pool B vs. #2 Pool A, 11 a.m.
#3 Pool B vs. #4 Pool A, 11 a.m.
1A-2B winner vs. 1B-2A winner, 1 p.m.
3A-4B winner vs. 3B-4A winner, 1 p.m.
Pool A
East Carolina
Army
Michigan State
Seton Hall
Pool B
Bucknell
Campbell
Elon
Ohio
Towson
2006 Patriot League Softball Preseason Poll Team (1st-Place Votes) Points 2005 Overall Record 2005 League Record 1. Lehigh (10) 50 41-10 18-0 2. Army (2) 39 29-21 12-6 3. Colgate 34 19-19 11-8 4. Bucknell 29 16-22 8-10 5. Holy Cross 14 8-30 3-16 Lafayette 14 11-34 3-15
