2019 Roster  |  2019 Schedule

EAST STROUDSBURG – East Stroudsburg University's softball program will escape the winter to open up its 2019 schedule, with the Warriors set to play eight games across four days in Miami this weekend. The season officially gets underway with a 5 p.m. doubleheader at Barry on Friday.

ESU returns five starting position players and its entire rotation from a team which finished two games out of a PSAC postseason spot last spring. The Warriors closed out the year strong, winning three of their final four conference matchups, and they will enter this season looking to make their first playoff appearance since 2015.

"I think we have a very talented team this season," fourth year head coach Jaime Wohlbach said. "We're young, but this could be the most athletic group that I've coached here. I like what I've seen in practice so far."

OUTFIELD

Junior Kaylee Hazewski headlines an experienced group of outfielders for the Warriors. She started all 40 games from the leadoff position last year, batting .267 while ranking third in the conference with 23 stolen bases. ESU was a threat on the bases throughout its lineup, leading the conference in stolen bases per game (1.93) for a third-consecutive season.

Other outfielders who saw extensive playing time a year ago include sophomores Ashley Spencer and MacKenzie Lewis. Spencer hit .315 with a .373 on-base percentage and a team-best .611 slugging percentage, collecting five doubles, three home runs and 13 RBIs for the Warriors. Lewis, meanwhile, served as the team's primary right fielder, making only two errors on the year and adding eight stolen bases offensively.

Redshirt freshman Marissa Govan made an immediate impression last spring, hitting .429 with a pair of doubles in ESU's first seven contests before she was lost to a season-ending injury. Govan is back healthy this season and will look to earn a spot near the top of the lineup. Freshman Rachel Jacavage also adds depth to the position after recording a .556 average during her senior season at Long Reach HS in Elkridge, Md.

INFIELD

ESU will need to replace two regulars in the middle of its lineup, with third baseman Mary Wallick and second baseman Heather Visco both lost to graduation. The duo combined for over 300 hits, 19 home runs, 138 RBIs and 71 steals during their collegiate careers.

"Our infield is very young, but they've been working well together," Wohlbach said. "We're very athletic across the board, which should allow defense to be a strength for us."

Two freshmen are expected to see a bulk of the time in the middle of the infield, with Denva Shaw-Tait currently at shortstop and Lexi Wright at second base.

"Denva has a lot of experience playing against older players as a member of New Zealand's junior national team," Wohlbach commented. "She has a strong arm and the ability to contribute immediately in the middle of our lineup.

"Lexi has great range, and she's bounced back nicely from a summer injury," Wohlbach added. "She could handle every infield position if needed."

Sophomore Sofia Cecchin, who started 34 games at shortstop in her debut season, could slide over to third base this spring. Cecchin hit .289 and was successful on all 11 of her stolen base attempts for ESU in 2018.

Lewis and freshman Rachel Seiverd are each getting looks at first base during the preseason. Seiverd, who could also see time at catcher, was a three-time all-conference performer at St. Georges Technical HS in New Castle, Del.

CATCHER/DP

Kaitlyn Caleen became the first Warrior freshman since 2015 to earn All-PSAC East accolades last season, as she started 38 of 40 games at catcher and registered a .333/.392/.465 batting line. She was just as effective behind the plate, throwing out eight runners trying to steal and finishing the year with a .965 fielding percentage.

Senior Madison Vicendese is an additional option behind the plate for ESU, with most of her playing time likely to come from the designated player position. Vicendese has been a model of consistency for the Warriors over the past two seasons, hitting a combined .312 with a .359 on-base percentage. A second team All-Region performer in 2017, Vicendese started every game for ESU in both 2017 and 2018.

Freshman Caitlyn Murray also has experience at both catcher and first base. Murray, a Carteret, N.J., native, had a .488 career batting average in high school and will be a pinch hitting option for the Warriors this spring.

PITCHING

Senior Angelica Dark accounted for nearly half of ESU's innings in the circle last spring, as she recorded seven victories with a 4.14 earned-run average over 123 1/3 innings of work. Dark, who joined the program as a transfer from Sacramento City College, appeared in 26 games and made 21 starts.

Redshirt freshman Taylor Keeney delivered a 2.98 ERA across 44 2/3 innings in 2018 before suffering a season-ending injury. She will look to replicate that early success over a full season this year. Other returners include sophomore Mickayla Grow (4.02 ERA last year) and junior Erica Molinaro, while freshmen Mikayla Pourby and Alanna Molz also set to compete for playing time.

"They're all going to be fighting for innings," Wohlbach said. "The biggest thing at any level is command. We have a large staff, and they all throw a lot of different pitches. The group has potential if we're able to play to their strengths."

SCHEDULE

ESU's Miami trip is followed by a weekend tournament at Virginia State from Feb. 22-24. The Warriors debut their new field at Creekview Park in Stroudsburg on Thursday, March 14 against Chestnut Hill, while their PSAC East opener is set for Friday, March 29 at home vs. Millersville.

ESU was projected to finish fifth in the East standings in the preseason coaches' poll released last week. The Warriors will need to beat that prediction by two spots to make their return to the PSAC tournament.

"We've improved within the conference every year that I've been here," Wohlbach said. "And our expectations continue to rise this season. We've proven that we can compete with the top teams in the past, and we hope to continue to build on that as this group gains experience throughout the spring."