The Goldey-Beacom College softball program made substantial strides in 2009, jumping from last place the previous season to ninth place by going 19-23 and 8-16 in CACC play. But for them to make even more progress this season, everyone will have to pitch in.
The Lightning added five new recruits to build on last season’s six starting freshman. “The way we play in fall ball will dictate what our season will be like,” head coach Jerry Grasso said. “Success has no short- cuts. We are going to have to be committed year-round; there is no offseason when you compete in our conference.”
The Lightning will have depth at several key positions, including pitching. They return junior ace Heather Draper. She was 7-8, with 78 strikeouts in 89.1 innings pitched in 2009. Draper was on pace to break into the record book with eight or more wins, but sustained a near career-ending injury. Draper should return with vengeance, and will be a key leader on this year’s pitching staff.
Also on the pitching staff is sophomore Sadie Jones, who led the threesome in innings pitched in 2009 with 102.2 and posted 69 strikeouts and 39 walks. Shannon O’Hara, also a sophomore, was a dual-role player, sporting quality numbers at first base when not pitching. The sophomore boasted a .983 fielding average and made only three errors in 174 chances; earning the team’s Golden Glove award for 2009.
When on the mound, O’Hara posted healthy wins over regionally ranked opponents Wilmington University and East Stroudsburg University. O’Hara compiled a 6-6 record, throwing 51 strikeouts in 70 innings pitched, along with a 3.18 ERA.
Newcomers, Leanne Miller, ToriAnne Davies, and Ashley Antosh, will also see time on the mound as freshmen. Miller, a South-Jersey product was voted the Daily News Player of the Year award and a 1st-Team Courier Post Group IV player. Miller was exceptional at the plate in high school, batting .500, along with a 19-4 record. She recorded 160 K’s in 154 IP, while only tossing 32 base-on-balls. She posted 10 shutouts to go with a 1.45 ERA.
Davies, who comes from Delaware-based Hodgson Vo-Tech High School, ended her career with over 350 strikeouts and first-team All-State honors. She went 17-3 her senior year, and hit .521, with an on-base percentage of .582.
Antosh, from Twin Valley High School, led her team to the sectional finals of the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA), and posted a combined 25 wins her junior and senior year. She also had a career ERA of 1.59. The right-hander only walked 53 batters in 241 innings pitched. She made All-Berks County and PSBCA All-State Class AAA Honorable Mention her senior year.
Managing the catching duties will be returning veteran Lauren Witzke. A senior, Witzke posted solid statistics for the Lightning, leading the team in at-bats (124), runs scored (28), hits (48), doubles (14), total bases (62), slugging percentage (.500), on base percentage (.454), and stolen bases (12). While behind the plate, Witzke threw out six of seven runners. Her hustle and solid offensive numbers earned her 2nd Team All-CACC honors.
Also returning is Danielle Rice. The sophomore started in all but one game last year, splitting time behind the plate and as the designated hitter. Rice put up solid stats last year, driving home 23 runners, and slugging 10 doubles and three homeruns. She also managed a solid .972 fielding average.
Freshman Erin Poffenberger will find playing time both behind the plate and in the outfield. Poffenberger is out of Frederick, Md. She is a two-time M.V.A.L., 1st-Team All-conference player. She hit a solid .388 her senior year with six doubles, two triples, and a homerun in 16 games.
The Lightning return a solid infield, anchored by sophomore Ashley Paige at shortstop. Her defensive statistics are deceiving; although she made 20 errors, Paige made some outstanding defensive plays that kept the Lightning in all their games. Paige hit .240 with 22 runs scored and 10 stolen bases. Paige was one of four team members to earn the NFCA Academic All-American award.
Giving Paige competition at shortstop will be freshman Angelina Myers. The talented Myers comes from Twin Valley High School, where she earned 2nd team All-Conference honors in Berks County. She received the coach’s award her senior season while batting .309 in 18 games. She also scored 14 runs on 17 hits and punched out seven extra-base hits. Myers can also help the Lightning at several other positions including third base, second and outfield.
The hot spot, third base will be played by sophomore Jordan Waterloo. Waterloo swatted .212, going 18-85. She also had two doubles and 20 total bases. Waterloo had 48 putouts, 41 assists and nine errors for a .908 fielding average. Waterloo excelled in the classroom, earning the prestigious NFCA Academic All-American award.
Shannon Graves will return at second base. The sophomore speedster stole seven bases and scored 13 runs. With her experience, Graves looks to bolster her numbers at the plate and defensively. Challenging Graves will be junior Jackie Waddle, who played in 30 games last year. Waddle hit .246 going 14-57, and collected 11 walks, and had an on-base percentage of .368.
Senior Kim Narkiewicz, a four-year starter, will help captain the squad. She is a two-time NFCA Academic All-American. Narkiewicz swings a solid stick, finishing last year at .270, with 10 RS, and 11 RBI. Cailin Cavanaugh, a sophomore starter, will return and play the outfield. Cavanaugh came on strong toward the end of last season and swatted 27 hits in 93 at-bats, finishing with a .290 average. Cavanaugh stole three bases and posted a .960 field average.
The most exciting thing about the 2010 Lightning squad is it is still in rebuilding mode. As the squad looks to climb the latter to the top of the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference, the crystal ball says with the help and wealth of the incoming freshman, and the return of some solid veterans, the Lightning will once again compete for a conference play-off berth.
