Bucknell University Athletics
Defending Patriot League Champion Bucknell Softball Opens 2011 at Kickin' Chicken Classic
2/17/2011 7:00:00 AM | Softball
Feb. 17, 2011
- 2011 Bucknell Softball Media Guide
- 2011 Bucknell Softball Schedule
- Coastal Carolina Kickin' Chicken Classic Central
LEWISBURG, Pa. – Defending Patriot League champion Bucknell softball begins its title defense this weekend when they travel to the Coastal Carolina Kickin' Chicken Classic in Conway, S.C., Feb. 18-20. The Bison, which will square off against the host Chanticleers as well as James Madison and Saint Joseph's, hope to start 2011 off on the right foot after being voted first in last week's Patriot League Preseason Poll. Live stats on GameTracker will be available for all five games at the Coastal Carolina Softball Field.
Of Bucknell's three opponents this weekend, only Saint Joseph's finished the 2010 campaign with a winning record at 29-18. James Madison closed out the year with a 24-33 ledger, while Coastal Carolina came in at 27-31 a year ago. Only the Chanticleers have begun their 2011 season already, going 1-3 at the Palmetto State Showdown last weekend.
Below is a more complete look at the upcoming 2011 softball season.
Teams in all sports hope to build off their previous season when looking toward a new one, but few squads are starting in a better position than 2011 Bucknell softball. The Bison enter the new campaign just months removed from their second-ever Patriot League Championship and the first NCAA Tournament appearance in program history. Even with the success, the Orange and Blue will not be resting on their laurels.
“We're looking to come back and be as strong as we finished last year,” said head coach Heather Rakosik, who is heading into her seventh season with the Bison. “We have a really good core of upperclassmen returning, and are confident that the freshmen can step in and fill the spots of some graduated players.
“We have proved that we can win a league championship, but we want to prove that we can do it more than once and that we can do it consistently,” Rakosik continued. “This is a brand new year, and we're looking to continue to make a name for ourselves.”
Bucknell will rely on veteran leadership, including senior captains Alison Ford, Lauren Fry, Sam Rollandi and Jessie Snyder, to help build the Bison name. With nine of its 22 roster spots this spring going to upperclassmen, Bucknell has plenty of experience to call on as it vies for a repeat of one of the most successful seasons in program history. Last season Bucknell tied the school record in wins with a record of 28-20-1; set new program high marks in runs scored (249), doubles (75) and RBI (219); and broke into the top five in games played (49), batting average (.310), hits (403), home runs (20), triples (24), walks drawn (138) and strikeouts for the pitching staff (197).
Rakosik hopes to have that offense in full swing when competition officially gets underway at the Coastal Carolina Kickin' Chicken Classic Feb. 18-20.
“We're really looking to put some runs up on the board. Obviously that's what it's going to take to win games and give our pitchers some additional confidence. We definitely have a mix of short game, power and singles hitters that should give our opponents different looks every batter.”
Bucknell will have to wait until its March 30 doubleheader vs. Drexel for its first competition on its revamped field. Renamed Becker Field this winter, the Bison's home now includes new dugouts and backstop, a state-of-the-art scoreboard, new playing surface and double turf batting cage.
PITCHING – Bucknell's pitching rotation has a wealth of experience that belies its youth. Sophomore Alex MacLean was named the Patriot League Rookie of the Year, Second Team All-League and the Patriot League Tournament MVP on her way to posting a team-best 13-6 record and 2.76 ERA. Classmate Bridget Gates made an equally huge splash during her debut campaign with a 12-6 record and 3.05 ERA. She was also twice a Patriot League Rookie of the Week.
“We're definitely looking for them to improve on their freshman year,” said Rakosik of MacLean and Gates. “It's a career, not a season. For us, we're looking for them to improve year in and year out, to reinvent themselves. Our pitching coach, Sam Kszepka, is pushing them every day to make that happen, and I feel like if we stay on course, then they can continue to be a great duo.”
Filling out the pitching rotation will be freshman left-hander Courtney Conover.
CATCHING – Bucknell has a quartet behind the plate in Elyse Colmenero, Kara Sullivan, Alicia Wheeler and Meredith Dickson. A two-time First Team All-Patriot League selection, Colmenero was the Bison's go-to player at catcher last season, making nearly all of her 35 starts at the position. Fellow senior Kara Sullivan saw her game-day action increase last year, and Rakosik expects that trend to continue into the new season.
“She's a great communicator and has improved immensely over her career,” praised Rakosik.
Juniors Wheeler and Dickson continue to make strides and create a niche for themselves behind the plate as well.
FIRST BASE – The Bison will have a number of options at first base this year, among them senior Ford, who made 30 starts on the right half of the infield last season. A former All-Patriot League selection as a utility player, however, Ford will also be called on to fill a number of different roles. Expect newcomers Conover and Sophia Geraci to also play an integral part in the Orange and Blue's infield in 2011 as well.
“We do have a couple of freshmen in Courtney Conover and Sophia Geraci that we're really hoping can step in and help the team defensively as well as at the plate,” said Rakosik. “We have options, but we're going to have to look at the schematics of what's going to give us the best offensive lineup and give us that solid defense that we're looking for.”
SECOND BASE – Second base is another position in which Bucknell returns an all-league performer. Now a senior, Snyder earned first-team accolades a year ago, adding to her ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District citation for her work in the classroom. Snyder started 46 of her 47 games at second base and led the Patriot League in assists.
“She is a very versatile player that can play almost anywhere, so that's a good thing,” Rakosik said of Snyder, who also spent time at shortstop last season and started regularly at the position as a freshman. “She's shown that she's a top-notch second baseman and a consummate leader on the field.”
Adding depth at the position are Mary Horton, Laura Sandford and Caryn Connors. Horton saw most of her game-day action last season as the designated player, showing off her strong left-handed bat. Sandford, who spent most of her time as a pinch runner a year ago, has used the offseason to put her more in the mix at second base in 2011.
“Laura Sandford has improved leaps and bounds and is working harder every day,” said Rakosik. “It's definitely paying off for her and the team.”
THIRD BASE – Used to splitting her time between first and third base, Ford should continue to get a good amount of time at the hot corner, especially following the graduation of Mary Pavlovich. Ford earned just nine of her 42 starts at third base last season, but the senior co-captain was a First Team All-Patriot League selection as a utility player during her sophomore campaign, showing off her versatility.
“Right now we're really leaning on Alison Ford to be a leader on the hot corner. She's somebody who's proven herself,” said Rakosik. “She's a very good leader on and off the field and a very steady competitor.”
Up and coming at the position is freshman Kasey Segiel, who will provide some depth behind Ford.
“Kasey Segiel is an extremely hard worker. Every day she gets better and does great things in practice,” lauded Rakosik. “I think she'll be able to help the team a lot in that position.”
SHORTSTOP – Bucknell will have to replace another stalwart at shortstop having graduated Alyssa Okita, but the Bison have plenty of options to do so. Freshman Mallory Lyons, who was a first team all-area selection in high school, will be called upon early in her career to meet the team's needs.
“She's very capable, and she has a phenomenal arm,” Rakosik said of Lyons, one of the Bison's seven newcomers this season. “She just needs to continue to mature as a player, but she has all the tools and we're pushing her every day to be the best shortstop for our team and in the league.”
Snyder and Horton also have more than enough experience in the middle infield and should help solidify the shortstop position for Bucknell.
OUTFIELD – The Orange and Blue's outfield will show a mix of old and new in 2011. Seniors Lauren Fry and Sam Rollandi provide the experience for the team, while sophomores Cassie Greenhawk and Kathryn Wilkinson, and freshmen Conover and Julia Bonnell should keep things fresh.
Few have proved their success in the outfield more than Fry, a two-time All-Patriot League first teamer who added Louisville Slugger/NFCA All-Region and Patriot League All-Tournament to her resume last spring. In the field, she made all 48 of her starts in center, while offensively, she set Bucknell's single-season walks record (31) and took over a top-three ranking in single-season runs (42) and hits (55) in the program record books. Heading into her final season in the Orange and Blue, Fry will also look to move up the career top-10 lists in runs, where she ranks fifth with 93, as well as in doubles, where she is ninth with 28.
Flanking Fry is Rollandi, who drew all 10 of her starts last season in right field. Although she has found her niche in right, Rollandi has proved herself in a number of other roles as well. As a second-year captain, her leadership has proved invaluable to the Bison, and her ability to enter the game as a pinch hitter or a pinch runner has provided Bucknell with even more threats to opponents.
“She's proven that she really is most comfortable in right field but can handle being moved around a little bit,” said Rakosik of her veteran. “She's just a player that has crafted herself into a very good outfielder.”
Greenhawk used her speed to make a name for herself last season, spending much of her game time as a pinch runner. That quickness should translate into added success in the outfield. Joining her is Wilkinson, who is back in action after a knee injury ended her 2010 season prematurely.
“She's the type of player that will work and work, and she had one of the best arms on the team and still does,” said Rakosik. “We're looking for her to come in and give us some options for the outfield to make some things happen.”
When not playing other positions, Conover will also fill in in the outfield, as will Bonnell, who brings speed to the position.
