2013 ESU Softball Quick Facts (PDF)

East Stroudsburg University will look to return to the PSAC playoffs for the first time since 2010 as the 2013 softball season opens this weekend in North Carolina.

The Warriors return five starters in the field, led by a pair of .300 hitters in junior catcher Rebecca Smith and sophomore infielder Jamie Smith. In the circle, juniors Laura Suits and Amanda McKay have the most experience and will be joined by freshman Amanda Carlin.

ESU must replace five seniors who were multiple-year starters, including last year's PSAC East Player of the Year, third baseman Rachel Gieringer, who hit .355 with five home runs and 25 RBI. Catcher Alex Schubert (.327, 4 HR, 21 RBI), second baseman Brandi Stettler (.286, 13 RBI), first baseman Brittany Zanzalari (.236, 4 HR, 21 RBI) and shortstop Pam Sellers (.220, 10 RBI) are also departed.

ESU, under seventh-year head coach Jill Fuduric, made the PSAC playoffs from 2007-10 before just missing the postseason the last two seasons. Three of the five schools from each of the PSAC's three divisions will qualify for the playoffs in the first week of May.

PITCHER

Suits has the most experience on the roster, throwing 96.1 innings as a freshman and 42.2 last season before missing the final two weeks of the season due to injury. She has pitched in 40 games, including 17 starts, with 89 strikeouts in 139.0 innings.

McKay, a left-hander, has thrown just under 60 innings in two seasons and should also see time at first base.

Carlin, a freshman from East Meadow, N.Y., is expected to step in and pick up innings from three pitchers who combined for almost 200 innings last season. Carlin was a member of a Nassau County championship team on Long Island as a sophomore.

Freshman Allison Mende, from Ramsey, N.J., is also expected to contribute and was a two-time All-Bergen County selection.

Senior Jessica Ras, who battled Leukemia and returned from double-hip replacement surgery in summer 2011 to pitch late in the season last year, is dealing with elbow issues that may limit her time in the circle. She may be called on to contribute offensively.

CATCHER

Rebecca Smith, who played in the infield as a freshman and started 36 games in the outfield as a sophomore, moves behind the plate where she was a three-year captain in high school at Ichabod Crane (N.Y.). She hit .305 with a .364 on-base percentage and .473 slugging percentage last season, with eight doubles, a triple, four home runs, 18 RBI and 21 runs scored.

Freshman Katelyn Clancy, from Northampton High School, will be the primary backup. Freshman Danielle Dungee (North Penn High School) was also slated to see time but will miss the season due to injury.

INFIELD

The Warriors will shuffle around a few key players from last year's team, all sophomores, to cover three of the four infield spots as the season opens.

Cara McNeil made 17 starts at third base and 13 at designated player last season, and moves across the diamond to replace Zanzalari at first. She hit .248 with five doubles, two homers, nine RBI and 10 runs as a freshman. McKay will also see time at first.

Jamie Smith, who made 19 of her 25 starts at shortstop last year, slides over the second base. She hit .317, the highest returning average on the team, with a .419 on-base percentage, going 20-for-63 with five walks and six HBP at the plate.

Cara Woods started at three positions last year - left field (18), right field (6) and shortstop (4) - and is the primary shortstop this season. She hit .191 with a .312 on-base percentage, collecting 17 hits, 14 walks and scoring 14 runs.

At third base, freshman Kellie Mignoli steps in where Gieringer and McNeil split time last season. She was a three-time All-Nassau County selection at Wantagh (N.Y.).

Other players expected to see time in the infield include freshman Lauren Cregan at third and freshmen Haley Thomas and Sierra Wagner in the middle infield.

OUTFIELD

Sophomore Kacie Killeen started all 41 games in center field last spring, hitting .255 with a .344 on-base percentage, seven extra-base hits, 17 RBI and 16 runs. She will cover center field again this season, with new starters at the corner outfield spots.

Five players are projected to see action in the outfield - senior Jennifer Denaro, junior Kaitlin Blum, sophomore Kasey Meckes and freshmen Thomas and Wagner. Meckes started 19 games in left field last season.

THE SCHEDULE

The Warriors will play eight games in North Carolina over the first two weekends of the season, at Shaw on February 16-17 and Catawba on February 23-24.

The first home action is slated for Zimbar Field with a doubleheader against Goldey-Beacom on March 5. After a tournament in Salem, Virginia and another swing through North Carolina over spring break, the Warriors return north for their first PSAC action on March 29 at Millersville.

Home PSAC East doubleheaders will be played on March 30 vs. West Chester, April 9 vs. Shippensburg, April 12 vs. Millersville and April 26 vs. Kutztown.