2007 season preview

March 7, 2007

NORTON, MA- Three years removed from its third appearance at an NCAA Tournament College World Series and its last New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) regular season and tournament championships, the Wheaton College softball team continues its trek in 2007 with the hopes of returning to the top of the conference and back to the NCAAs.

Knowing winning its sixth NEWMAC Tournament title in nine years is the ultimate goal for the 13-member Lyon squad, 18th-year head coach Gina Loudenburg recognizes there is much work to be done before those conversations can take place. Loudenburg, who is joined on the staff by 12th-year assistant Bob Roscoe and first-year assistant Cheryl Warren Powers, is approaching a major individual milestone. With a 480-172-3 record, Loudenburg is attempting to become just the 13th Division III softball coach ever to rack up 500 career victories.

"We have had a very positive experience thus far," said Loudenburg. "The morale has been fantastic and the work ethic is the best it's been in three years. The chemistry is there, and everyone has stepped into a leadership role. Our backs are against the wall, as we only have 12 healthy players, but everyone's made the 100 percent commitment to what the cause is."

Loudenburg hopes that is the difference this spring, as the Lyons are coming off a 24-15 season in which they tied for second in the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) at 9-7. However, based on the tournament's seeding, the Blue and White was bumped to a road game, where the team had a pair of impressive streaks end in a first round loss. Wheaton had advanced to at least the semifinal round of the league tournament every season since joining the New England Women's Eight (NEW 8) in 1988 and had either been tourney champion or runner up each year since 1992.

After starting 2006 with a 10-2 record down south, the Lyons went 14-13 the rest of the way, and Loudenburg realizes the importance of winning close games. Wheaton posted a 14-2 mark in its first 16 games that were decided by two runs or less before going 3-5 in its last eight. "We need to have that sixth element when it comes to winning close games, and we haven't had that in the last two years," stated the six-time conference coach of the year. "With this group, I can see it in them. The coaches are pushing the players harder than in the last two years. Mentally and emotionally we have to be tougher."

Preparing the team to face the mental challenges in the coming months, the coaching staff has led classroom sessions that include small-goals setting and mental imagery. From fine tuning each player's approach to focusing on the little things that will get the team to where it needs to be, Loudenburg's main objective is to make sure each one of her players is mentally prepared before stepping onto the field.

"We need to bring our mental game to the next level," acknowledged Loudenburg. "Preparing for the next at bat in the on-deck circle, understanding opposing pitching and hitting, and picking up on different strategies of the game are all very important. We want everyone to be not just a player but a student of the game. They need to know how to prepare themselves for a game, how to mentally take care of themselves, and how to reach a high performance level."

Loudenburg hopes senior co-captains Jessica DePolito (Taunton, MA/Coyle and Cassidy) and Nicole Lachance (Rochester, NH/Spaulding) set that example, as they're the two lone remaining members from the 2004 NCAA Tournament team that competed in Salem, Virginia. The pair is also the only two players to have participated in a Leadoff Classic, which this year features 12 of the top 25 teams in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) preseason poll, including four of the top five.

DePolito and Lachance were both named NEWMAC All-Conference selections a year ago, with DePolito also earning NFCA All-New England honors for the second straight season. DePolito batted a career-best .373 with 22 RBI and eight doubles while playing first base, and Lachance hit .319 with 19 RBI, nine doubles, a league-high five home runs and eight stolen bases from her shortstop position. When not at short, Lachance will see time in the outfield.

Sophomore Katelynn Hanewich (Bradenton, FL/Lakewood Ranch) will fill a shortstop role after picking up 20 starts as a freshman. Juniors Meredith Gorton (Warwick, NY/Warwick Valley) and Erika Marini (Pawtucket, RI/Saint Raphael Academy) will most likely get the starting nods at second and third, respectively. Gorton turned in a solid .961 fielding percentage in 28 starts in 2006, while Marini fielded an impressive .974 in 37 starts.

Lachance will serve as the emergency backup at second, while freshman Merry MacDonald (Braintree, MA/Braintree) will spell Marini at third. MacDonald and Marini are expected to assume duties in left when not on the hot corner. In the mix at catcher are junior Alix Brozman (Chappaqua, NY/Horace Greeley) and sophomore Lynn Cotto (Brookfield, CT/Brookfield). Brozman, who makes the transition from the outfield, should still see time there when not behind the plate.

Loudenburg will take a game-by-game approach with the outfield, as the team is mostly comprised of infielders, but she alluded to sophomore Brady Benton (Concord, NH/Concord) taking the reigns in center. Left will be shared by Wheaton's pair at third and right is still undetermined.

The mound features juniors Jodi Moynagh (Worcester, MA/Holy Name Central Catholic) and Audrey Poulton (Charlestown, RI/Chariho Regional) and freshman Andrea Bagley (Foxboro, MA/Foxboro). Moynagh recorded a 13-6 mark with a 1.55 earned run average in 131.1 innings, as she struck out 133 batters versus only 39 walks. Poulton had an 11-8 record and 2.16 ERA in 139.1 innings, fanning 108 batters while walking 37.

"Our pitchers will get their starts," said Loudenburg. "We want to keep teams off balance, but we need to be careful about using all three in a game, as we'll need them to occasionally pinch run. All three will also see time in a relief capacity so teams don't get used to us and so our pitching staff doesn't become stagnant by being in a certain rotation. We want to keep them fresh and push them mentally."

Sophomore shortstop Stacey Kelleher (Brockton, MA/Brockton), who started her freshman campaign by batting .379 with 10 runs, five RBI and five steals in just 12 games, suffered a knee injury in her first game up north last spring. She is expected to miss the entire season.

Wheaton splits its 12-game spring trip between Panama City Beach and Fort Myers, Florida, as the Lyons will play six games at the Leadoff Classic in Panama City Beach from March 9-11 and six more at the 17th annual Gene Cusic Collegiate Classic in Fort Myers on March 13-15. The Blue and White opens its northern and conference schedules at Smith College on March 25 before beginning the home portion of its season with a doubleheader against league rival Springfield College on March 31.

This page is maintained by Scott Dietz. Last updated on 3/7/07.
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News

Wheaton graduate Powers selected to guide Lyon softball program (more)

Kelleher becomes ninth Wheaton softball player to be named All-American (more)

Kelleher and Moynagh each earn NFCA All-New England accolades (more)

Upcoming Schedule

7-12-Mar Sat-Thu Spring Trip N TBA
19-Mar Thu Bridgewater St. (2) H 3:00pm
21-Mar Sat Coast Guard (2) H 12:00pm