EAST STROUDSBURG – The East Stroudsburg University softball team is set to open the 2021 season at Creekview Park, when the Warriors host St. Thomas Aquinas for a doubleheader on Thursday afternoon. First pitch for game one against the Spartans is set for 1:00 p.m. at Vigon International Field. The Warriors will also host Dominican for a doubleheader on Wed., March 10th at Vigion International Field.
MARCH 8TH CREEKVIEW PARK SPECTATOR POLICY
Due to the large amounts of snow in the outfield beyond the baseball and softball fences, where we except spectators to sit or stand for this season, at this time we will only be able to provide very limited standing-room only space for spectators in the following areas:
- In the Creekview Park parking lot
- Along Serfass Lane, into the parking lot
- In the driveway from the main gate to the flagpole
All spectators in attendance at any home athletic event this spring are required to remain socially distanced of at least six feet apart (a family pod may sit or stand together) and wear masks at all times. Spectators are strongly encouraged not to interact with players, coaches or staff members in close contact before, during, or after the contest. No tailgating activities will be allowed.
For the full spectator policy,
click here.
HOW TO FOLLOW
HOME SWEET HOME
- The Warriors - whose 2020 season was canceled prior to playing a home game at Vigion International Field – will be playing a true home doubleheader for the first time in 681 days.
- The last time ESU took the field at Creekview Park against an opponent, it earned a 5-4 win to split a doubleheader with Kutztown on April 27, 2019.
- Monday's doubleheader will be ESU's first game on its new state-of-the-art turf surface at Creekview Park.
QUICK HITS
- For softball, the PSAC has realigned from a three-division conference to two divisions (East and West).
- Two-time All-PSAC East First Team catcher Kaitlyn Caleen returns for her senior season. Caleen is a career .320 hitter and currently ranks tied for third at ESU in career on-base percentage (.425) and seventh in slugging percentage (.500). She hit .306 with a .449 on-base percentage and .556 slugging percentage, both team-highs, in the abbreviated 16-game schedule in 2020.
- Other top returners to the lineup Sophomore Katherine Donaghue hit a team-best .409 (18-for-44) last spring, followed by junior shortstop Lexi Wright (.333, 9-for-27), Caleen (.306, 11-for-36) and redshirt junior outfielder Marissa Govan (.283, 13-for-46).
- In the circle, Marah Range (3-2, 4.56 ERA, 35.1 innings) and junior Mikayla Pourby (1-5, 3.58 ERA, 29.1 innings) both return.
QUOTABLE: "We're really excited about the depth of our team and the strength of our individuals. If we can gel and pull that all together, we are going to be a dominant force in our conference." - ESU softball head coach
Jaime Wohlbach
SCOUTING ST. THOMAS AQUINAS
- The Spartans will also open its season in the Poconos on Monday afternoon.
- STAC posted a 1-9 overall record in 2019, earning a 2-0 victory over Slippery Rock on March 12, 2020 in its final season of the campaign.
- The Spartans were selected to finish second in the East Coast Conference Coaches' Poll, while Carissa Della Vecchia was named the ECC Pitcher of the Year
SCOUTING DOMINICAN
- The Chargers will open its 2021 slate at Creekview Park on Wednesday.
- Dominican posted a 6-4 record in 2020.
- In the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Preseason Poll, Dominican was predicted to finish fourth among 14 teams in the league.
