POTSDAM'S IMPROBABLE RALLY KEYS 8-4 VICTORY

OVER SAINTS IN SEASON FINALE

May 4: Despite allowing only one hit to the St. Lawrence softball team through six innings, Potsdam State found themselves trailing 4-1 with two outs and a runner on second base to the Saints on Friday afternoon at Saints Softball Field. However, Molly Flynn began the Bears’ two-out rally, as the visitors went on to rattle off seven runs on six hits to grab an 8-4 lead and hold off the Scarlet and Brown in the final game of 2007 for each team.

 

The loss dropped the Saints to 8-19-1, while Potsdam finishes the year with an 8-24 mark.

 

Senior pitcher Rosanne Weaver allowed only one hit on the afternoon, which came in the first inning off the bat of St. Lawrence sophomore Lilah Brown. Brown doubled to the warning track, driving in rookie Jennifer Girard who reached with a walk to give St. Lawrence the early 1-0 advantage.

 

The home team would tack on two more runs in the bottom of the second without a hit to extend their lead to

3-0. A leadoff walk allowed first year student Jessica Manderfield on base, while fellow classmate Amy Atkins reached on an error behind her. After a sac bunt by senior Melissa Pittelli moved both runners into scoring position, a wild pitch by Weaver allowed Manderfield to score and Atkins to reach third. Senior Yralee Mendez then drove in Atkins on a sac fly to left field.

 

On the mound for the Saints was senior Ava Pickering, who cruised through the first three innings without allowing a run. Potsdam would plate their first run in the top of the fourth after senior Eliza Ladouceur led off with a double, advanced to third on a wild pitch, and scored on an error by the third baseman to make the score 3-1 in favor of the Scarlet and Brown. However, Pickering would battle back and stranded runners on first and second to protect the lead.

 

The Saints would get that run right back in the bottom of the fifth, however, when they managed to load the bases despite not getting a hit. The lone run in the inning scored when Mendez, who reached on an error, came in from third on a wild pitch to give her team a 4-1 cushion.

 

After another double by Ladouceur began the top of the sixth, Pickering retired three consecutive batters to end the Potsdam threat. After Jillian Dunkleberger singled to begin the top of the seventh, Pickering was able to retire Stephanie Bibbens on a ground ball and Alaina White via strikeout.

 

The Bears weren’t near finished however, putting together an incredible seven-run rally that shocked the Saints and put them in a four-run deficit heading to the bottom of the seventh. After Flynn singled to advance Dunkleberger to third, Alicia Paluck followed with an RBI single to cut the lead to 4-2. Toni Blevins then connected with another two-out single that scored Flynn and moved Paluck, representing the tying run, to third.

 

St. Lawrence then opted to intentionally walk Ladouceur, who was 3-for-3, to load the bases and instead pitch to Danielle Goodrich. After working the count full, Goodrich took a pitch that was called a ball, and the tying run came across with the bases remaining loaded. Junior Jocelyn Cole then delivered the biggest blow, lacing a

3-run double to left field, clearing the bases and giving Potsdam a 7-4 lead. Cole, who advanced on a single by Dunkleberger, completed the improbable rally when she scored on an error by the second baseman.

 

Though the Saints did get two runners on in the bottom of the seventh, they were unable to plate the four runs they needed and dropped their season finale to the Bears, 8-4.

 

Weaver and Ashley McCoy, who earned the victory to improve to 3-5, allowed only the one hit to Brown in the first before shutting down the Saints offense. The Bears, who finished with four errors on the afternoon, had eleven hits off Pickering including six in the seventh inning. Pickering suffered the loss and finished the season 5-5.

 

 

COUGHLIN AND HOENER SHUT DOWN SAINTS AS

HAMILTON SWEEPS DOUBLEHEADER

May 2: The St. Lawrence University softball team dropped a pair non-league games to Hamilton College on Wednesday afternoon at Ferguson Field in Clinton, NY . The Continentals (4-30) upset the Saints (8-18-1) behind a six-hit shutout in the opener by Megan Coughlin and a four-hit pitching performance by Erin Hoener in the nightcap in 8-0 and 4-1 victories for the home team.

 

The Continentals scored in each of the first three innings, grabbing two runs in the first, one in the second, and then exploding for five runs in the third to build an 8-0 cushion. Coughlin, who allowed only six singles in five innings, helped herself at the plate with a 3-for-3 performance including a double. Caitlin McCormick helped her pitcher in the five-run third with an RBI double that scored two runs, while Jen Sadowsky singled and drove in a pair as well.

 

Sophomore Janelle Graves took the loss for the Saints and fell to 2-11 overall, while Coughlin earned her second win of the season, improving to 2-16.

 

The Saints fell behind again in the second game as Hamilton scored the first run in the bottom of the third. The Scarlet and Brown would respond with a run of their own in the top of the fourth to even the score at 1-1. However, the momentum swung right back in the Continentals favor in the bottom of the inning, as they regained a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the fourth and added two insurance runs in the fifth to ensure the victory.

 

Coughlin continued to hurt the Saints in the second game, as she collected two more hits, including a double, and an RBI to finish the afternoon with five hits. Sadowsky was 2-for-3 in game two with one RBI while Amber O’Connor finished with two hits and an RBI as well.

 

Hoener also notched her second win of 2007 to improve to 2-12, while junior Jess McPherson took the loss and fell to 0-1. First year student Molly Swan had the Saints only extra-base hit on the afternoon in the sixth inning of the second game, as the Clifton Park, NY native connected with her third double of the season.

 

St. Lawrence will look to rebound and end a current four-game losing streak when they meet Potsdam State on Friday, May 4th in the final games of 2007. The Saints and Bears will square-off in the make-up contest from April 3rd at 3:30pm at Saints Softball Field in Canton, NY.

 

 

UNION USES LATE RALLY TO SWEEP SAINTS

IN FINAL CONFERENCE GAMES OF 2007

April 29: The St. Lawrence University softball team dropped their final two Liberty League contests of the season on Sunday afternoon, as Union College pitcher Tiffany Ippoliti held the Saints to one hit in the opening game of the doubleheader which the Dutchwomen won 6-0. In the nightcap, the Scarlet and Brown opened up a 5-0 cushion in the second inning. However, Union used a late rally in the sixth inning, rattling off eight runs to come-from-behind and sweep the Saints, 13-7.

 

Sophomore pitcher Janelle Graves held the Liberty League’s second-place team to zero runs through three innings before running into trouble in the fourth. Diana Polli lined a ground-ruled double down the left field line to lead off the inning, and her pinch runner Lucia Reed scored on a fielding error by Saints rookie third baseman Jessica Manderfield. Megan Kaknis followed with an RBI double, and Catherine Kielb delivered the big blow, a two-run homer to center to make the score 4-0 in Union’s favor.

 

Junior pitcher Jess McPherson, who made an impressive debut against Skidmore yesterday, relieved Graves in the fourth and retired the Dutchwomen without allowing any further damage.

 

Ippoliti carried her perfect game bid into the fifth inning and seemed in control after retiring Manderfield on an easy pop up to the shortstop. Her one blemish on the afternoon would come to the following batter, though, as first year student Jenna Padeni lined a clean single to left field to break up both the perfect game and no hitter bid.

 

However, that was the lone base-runner the Saints would have in the opener, as Ippoliti retired the next eight batters in a row to improve to 9-4 on the season. Union added two insurance runs in the fifth inning when Kaknis homered to left field to plate Michelle Rogers and complete the game’s scoring.

 

Graves took the loss and fell to 2-9, allowing four runs on five hits. McPherson also pitched three innings in relief, allowing two runs on four hits.

 

The beginning of the second game couldn’t have started out better for St. Lawrence, as senior Ava Pickering shut down Union in the first inning and allowed her team to go to work offensively against Lindsay Colvin. The Saints wild half of the inning featured a passed ball, two errors, and three hits from rookie Molly Swan, senior Yralee Mendez, and first year student Alexandria Wajer (2b). The Scarlet and Brown knocked Colvin from the game without retiring a batter in the second, while Ippoliti came in to relieve her and got out of the inning after five runs had been posted.

 

Union would get a run back in the second when Kielb homered to lead off the inning against Pickering to make the score 5-1. However, Pickering would respond by getting Bridget Graham to line into a double play to end the threat in the second.

 

The Dutchwomen continued to climb back into the game with a three-run third inning, with the big hit once again coming off the bat of Kaknis, who blasted a three-run homer to centerfield with two outs to bring Union to within one run at 5-4.

 

After the home team tied the score 5-5 in the bottom of the fourth, the Saints offense went back to work in the fifth, scoring two runs to take a 7-5 advantage. First year student Jennifer Girard laid down a bunt-single, and was driven home by Swan’s RBI single to center one out later. After Padeni singled to advance Swan to second, sophomore Lilah Brown drove a two-out base hit to centerfield that scored Swan to complete St. Lawrence’s scoring.

 

Unfortunately for the Saints, their bid to split the series with Union came unraveled in the bottom of the sixth inning. Rogers gave the Dutchwomen their first lead of the game, 8-7, when she drove her sixth homerun of the season over the leftfield wall against McPherson, who relieved Pickering in the fourth. After the homerun, Graves replaced McPherson and had little luck against Union’s line-up, as Kaitlin Graham and Ashley Kovack hurt her with RBI hits to break open the game and give the Dutchwomen a 13-7 lead.

 

Ginny Sack earned the win and improved to 9-1 on the season after getting the final five outs for Union. Meanwhile, Graves was credited with the loss and dropped to 2-10.

 

Swan and Wajer each had two hits for the Saints on the afternoon, while Swan, Mendez, and Brown drove in runs for the visitors.

 

The Saints will play their final doubleheader of the 2007 season on Wednesday, May 2nd in Clinton, NY against Hamilton College. The Saints and Continentals will square off at 4:00pm.

 

 

 

ATKINS AND RICHARDSON PACE SAINTS

IN SWEEP OF THOROUGHBREDS

April 28: The St. Lawrence University softball team snapped an eight game losing streak and picked up their first conference victories of the year with 8-3 and 8-1 wins over Skidmore College on Saturday afternoon. The Saints were led by their rookies at the plate, as they batted in eleven runs on the afternoon including three each from first year student Amy Atkins and sophomore Meghan Richardson. On the mound, sophomore Janelle Graves allowed only three runs on seven hits to win the opener, while junior Jess McPherson pitched six innings in the second game while allowing only three hits and one run.

 

The Saints jumped right out of the gate against the Thoroughbreds in the opening game, as first year student Jenna Padeni delivered a two-out single that scored fellow classmate Julia Humphries. Atkins then followed with another clutch hit, scoring two more to put St. Lawrence on top 3-0 after a half inning of play.

 

After St. Lawrence tacked on another run in the second, Skidmore would get to Graves in the bottom of the inning to make the score 4-1. The Thoroughbreds would load the bases in the inning, and Lauren Dinsdale connected for an RBI single to plate the home team’s first run. However, Graves would battle out of the jam and protect her three run lead.

 

After the Thoroughbreds cut the deficit to one in the third, 4-2, senior Yralee Mendez gave her pitcher two insurance runs, as the New York, NY native belted a pitch over the wall in left-center field for her second career homerun. Mendez’s two RBI’s gave the Saints a 6-2 lead, which was more than enough for Graves.

 

St. Lawrence would plate runs in both the top of the sixth and seventh innings to open up an 8-2 lead to ensure their seventh win of the season. Atkins came through with another RBI in the sixth, while Richardson tacked on the team’s final run in the bottom half of the seventh to score first year student Molly Swan from first base.

 

Despite allowing a run to Skidmore in the bottom of the seventh, Graves picked up her second win of 2007 despite allowing seven hits spread out over seven innings. The Fort Ann, NY native gave up three earned runs and five walks, but countered with five strikeouts.

 

McPherson was the story of the second game, as she was added to the Saints roster this week with the team short on depth at pitcher. The Ogdensburg, NY native, who played for the Scarlet and Brown in her rookie season (2005), allowed only one earned run in six innings, while striking out six batters to two walks.

 

McPherson’s outstanding start on the mound was backed by another eight run performance by the Saints that again started in the early innings. After the visitors grabbed a 1-0 lead through one inning, they tacked on three more in the second to open up a comfortable 4-0 lead. Atkins, sophomore Lilah Brown, and rookie Jennifer Girard opened the inning with consecutive singles to load the bases with no one out. Atkins would then score on a wild pitch by Dinsdale, who pitched for the Thoroughbreds in the second game. After Brown scored on a groundout by Mendez, Girard would then come to the plate on an RBI single by Swan to cap off a three run inning.

 

Skidmore would tally their only run against McPherson in the third, as Dinsdale led off with a double. After she advanced on a groundout by Lindsey Kocur, she scored on an RBI single by Shaila DeLea. However, McPherson showed great poise in only her third inning of the season, getting Sarah Stehouwer to fly out to second with runners on second and third to end the inning.

 

The Saints responded to McPherson’s performance in the third with three runs in the fourth and one in the fifth to complete the scoring. Swan drove in Girard with an RBI double in the fourth, and Richardson followed with a single that scored two to extend St. Lawrence’s lead to 7-1 through three and a half innings.

 

The game’s final run came in the top of the fifth, as Girard continued the momentum for the Saints rookies, delivering a one-out single to score Atkins.

 

Senior Ava Pickering, who was cleared to play this weekend after being forced to sit with an injury to her pitching arm, relieved McPherson in the seventh. Though she allowed a leadoff single and had a wild pitch, Pickering struck out Erica Astarita swinging and retired both DeLea and Elise Bedard on fly outs to end the game.

 

St. Lawrence improved to 8-14 overall with the sweep, while Skidmore dropped to 12-19.

 

The Saints will be in action again tomorrow, Sunday, April 29th in the final contests of the Liberty League season. The Scarlet and Brown will meet Union College in Schenectady, NY for a doubleheader at 12:00pm.

 

CARR DRIVES IN TEN RUNS AS ROCHESTER

SWEEPS SAINTS ON SENIOR DAY

Apr. 21: The University of Rochester used some timely hitting to sweep the St. Lawrence University softball team on Senior Day in a conference doubleheader on Saturday afternoon. The Yellowjackets (16-5, 4-0) scored 21 of their 23 runs with two outs, including a two-out grand slam off the bat of Sam Carr in the second game as the visitors swept the Saints 11-0 and 12-2.

 

Rochester took an early 2-0 lead in the opening game when Brittany Celeste delivered a two-out double in the top of the second off of St. Lawrence sophomore pitcher Janelle Graves. The offense was plenty for Rochester pitcher Beth Ameno, who was in a nice groove, allowing only one base-runner in three innings of work.

 

The Yellowjackets would put things away in the fourth and fifth innings, as they scored a total of nine runs to blow the game open. The Saints seemed poised to get out of the fourth unscathed after getting Celeste to fly out to second base. However, with the bases loaded, Carr came through with a bases-clearing two-out double and put Rochester ahead 5-0. A single from Jena Robertson would score Carr from third and complete the fourth inning scoring.

 

Though the Saints had runners on first and third with one out in the bottom half of the inning, Robertson, who came in to relieve Ameno on the mound, battled out of trouble with a strike out and a groundout to end the inning.

 

The fifth inning again appeared to be in control for St. Lawrence as they had two outs and runners on first and second. However, the leadoff hitter Jess Sorrentino got the third two out rally of the day started with an RBI single. The Yellowjackets would strike with four consecutive RBI hits off of Graves, plating five runs to cap an impressive 11-0 win.

 

The Saints scattered three hits against Robertson off the bats of sophomore Meghan Richardson, first year student Jess Manderfield, and junior Nicole Bottego. Graves gave up 12 hits and fell to 1-8 on the season, while Ameno earned her sixth win of the year for Rochester.

 

The second game pitted rookie pitcher Asuka Nakayama for St. Lawrence against Rochester’s Carly Hoffend. Though the Yellowjackets scored one run in the first inning, it was in the second frame that Nakayama ran into her first real jam of the day. A one-out single from Celeste loaded the bases and brought Sorrentino to the plate. However, she struck the leadoff hitter out and had a chance to blank the visitors in the inning. Unfortunately, Carr had other ideas. The Yellowjackets’ second baseman drilled a two-out grand slam off of Nakayama that gave Rochester a 5-0 lead at the end of two innings.

 

The Saints offense also struggled to get going against Hoffend, who was perfect through 3.2 innings until allowing a walk to Richardson. She would come right back against sophomore Katie Dreher, though, getting her to ground out to second to end the inning.

 

After Rochester had again tacked on three runs with two outs in the fourth, Nakayama again found herself facing Carr with a runner on first and two outs in the fifth. Carr would again win the battle, crushing a pitch over the centerfield wall for her second homerun of the day to put Rochester ahead 12-2.

 

Though she carried a no hitter into the fifth and what looked to be the final inning, Hoffend gave up a one-out hit to sophomore Lilah Brown, who laced a hard line-drive that caught the pitcher in the arm and forced her to leave the game. After a wild pitch from Ameno let senior Melissa Pittelli and Brown move up to second and third with one out, rookie Amy Atkins connected for an RBI single to score Pittelli. A wild pitch would then allow Brown to come in from third as well and make the score 12-2. Ameno would then end the contest after a solid at bat by junior Sheila Rodriguez with a strikeout.

 

The loss sent Nakayama to 0-2 and the Saints to 6-14-1 on the season. Meanwhile, Hoffend remained unbeaten at 6-0, but was responsible for the two Saint runs.

 

Saturday’s doubleheader was perhaps the final home contests for St. Lawrence University seniors Melissa Pittelli, Yralee Mendez, and Ava Pickering. Because the Potsdam State and Russell Sage games are yet to be determined, Saints head coach Fran Grembowicz and the rest of the squad honored their tri-captains after the game with an on-field ceremony.

 

“I truly don’t know what I’ll do without Yralee, Ava, and Telli next year,” said Grembowicz. “They’ve put everything they have into this program, and I can’t thank them enough for their hard work and leadership.”

 

Unless the games that were cancelled earlier in the season are re-scheduled, the Saints will end their 2007 season on the road next weekend with a pair of Liberty League doubleheaders. The Scarlet and Brown will visit Skidmore College on Saturday, April 28th and then will head to Schenectady, NY to take on Union college on Sunday afternoon.

 

 

SOARING EAGLES RALLY IN BOTH GAMES

TO SWEEP SAINTS IN DOUBLEHEADER

Apr. 20: The St. Lawrence University softball team held leads of 3-0 in the opening game of their doubleheader with Elmira and 4-0 in the second game. However, with clutch hitting performances by Katrina Katen and Jennifer Stickler, the visiting Soaring Eagles rallied to sweep in the Saints in Canton, NY on Friday afternoon with 7-4 and 8-5 (8 innings) victories.

 

The victories moved Elmira to .500 on the season at 6-6, while the Saints fall to 6-12-1 in 2007.

 

St. Lawrence built itself the 3-0 advantage in the opening game against Elmira pitcher Danielle Rash in the opening three innings. The Scarlet and Brown plated two runs in the opening frame when first year student Molly Swan led off with a triple off Rash, and scored on a bunt single by fellow classmate Julia Humphries. Humphries would then come around to score the game’s second run on a single by sophomore Meghan Richardson.

 

After the Saints scored their third run of the game on an RBI groundout by rookie Jessica Manderfield, Elmira regrouped in the top half of the fourth against Saints pitcher Janelle Graves. Katen led off the inning with a single, and scored on a double by Cassandra Bishop in the following at bat. After a single by Stickler, Bishop scored on a sac fly from Britnee McGuire to make the score 4-2 in favor of St. Lawrence. The final Elmira run in the inning came on a single from Jennifer Jenkins, who scored Stickler from second.

 

The Soaring Eagles took the lead in the top of the fifth on a, when Stickler delivered an RBI single to left, scoring pinch runner Kelli O’Connor from second base. However, the Saints would come right back and tie the score in the bottom of the sixth. After rookie Amy Atkins led off the inning with a walk, Swan stepped the plate with two outs against Rash and delivered a key triple to right-centerfield, scoring Atkins and tying the game at 4-4 heading to the seventh inning.

 

Elmira’s hopes to score the lead run seemed in jeopardy when leadoff hitter Kerri Lavender flied out to third base for the second out and Jamie Huntley on second. However, it was Katen who came through with a clutch, two-out double to the gap to score the lead run. After an intentional pass was given to Bishop to set up force out possibilities, Stickler matched Katen’s effort with a double of her own to put the game out of reach, plating both Katen and Bishop for a 7-4 advantage.

 

Rash got the Saints to go down in order in the bottom of seventh to protect the lead and earn her third win of the season. Graves gave up nine hits in seven innings with five strikeouts, but took the loss and fell to 1-7.

 

The two teams would again come down to the wire in the second half of the doubleheader, as they needed eight innings to determine a winner. St. Lawrence used a four-run third inning to give their rookie pitcher Asuka Nakayama a 4-0 lead in her first collegiate pitching appearance. The Scarlet and Brown, leading 2-0 against Elmira’s Kelli O’Connor, sent first year student Jennifer Girard to the plate with two outs and runners and second and third. The Gouverneur, NY native came through, lining an RBI triple to the game in right-centerfield, scoring both Manderfield and junior Nicole Bottego and completing the team’s scoring in the inning.

 

Elmira would again respond, though, scoring two runs in back-to-back innings to knot the score at 4-4. The Soaring Eagles plated two runs in both the fifth and sixth innings, with the tying two runs in the sixth coming on a two-out double by Natalie Lesieur.

 

After neither team could push home a run in the seventh, the game went to extra innings, where the last batter of the previous inning is placed on second base in order to help manufacture runs. The visitors would do just that, plating four runs in the top of the 8th to take a commanding 8-4 lead into the bottom half of the inning. After scoring two runs to grab a 6-4 lead, it was again Katen that would deliver the big blow, knocking in two more runs with a two-out RBI to left field.

 

Though the Saints would score senior Melissa Pittelli, who pinch ran for Bottego at second base, they could not even the score and fell to the Soaring Eagles, 8-5.

 

Though she did allow 10 scattered hits, O’Connor did an excellent job of keeping the Saints off the board after the third inning. She improves to 3-3 on the season and had two strikeouts on the afternoon. Nakayama, who was very solid in her first outing of the season, falls to 0-1.

 

The Scarlet and Brown will look to end a current six game losing streak on Saturday afternoon when they welcome Liberty League foe Rochester to Canton, NY. The Saints and Yellowjackets will begin their conference doubleheader at 1:00pm.

 

RED HAWKS EARN SWEEP AGAINST SAINTS

IN LIBERTY LEAGUE OPENERS

Apr. 14: The St. Lawrence University softball team opened their 2007 Liberty League schedule on Saturday afternoon with a doubleheader against Rensselaer at the Saints Softball Field. Sophomore pitcher Janelle Graves gave an admirable performance, throwing both games for the Scarlet and Brown with senior pitcher Ava Pickering forced to sit due to injury. However, the Red Hawks received solid pitching performances of their own from Michelle Street and Michelle Bianchetti to sweep the Saints by the scores of 5-1 and 9-1 (5 innings).

 

The Red Hawks jumped out early on their hosts in the first game of the doubleheader, loading the bases with nobody out in the top half of the first inning against Graves. After Julianne Bass was hit by a pitch to score the game’s first run, Natalie Gendron delivered a double to score both Beth Gargon and Courtney Sweeney to put RPI ahead 3-0. Though the Red Hawks would again load the bases, Graves would battle out of the jam with a strike out, a fielder’s choice, and a fly out to control the damage.

 

After the Saints were unable to get any offense going despite having the leadoff runner on base in the bottom of the first, Rensselaer went right back to work in the top of the second inning. After Graves retired the first two Red Hawk hitters, she got into trouble by hitting Gargon. With the runner at first, Bass delivered a clutch two-out homerun over the left-centerfield wall to put the visitors on top 5-0.

 

Though the Saints were able to get their leadoff runner on base in three of the first four innings, Street bucked down and worked her way out of trouble to keep her opponents off the scoreboard. However, Graves was equally impressive, blanking RPI the rest of the game.

 

St. Lawrence plated their only run of the game in the bottom of the seventh, as first year student Alexandria Wajer reached on an error by Street and advanced to second base. Fellow rookie Molly Swan then stepped to the plate and roped a one-out double to centerfield, scoring Wajer to make the score 5-1. Street would collect herself, though, and managed to get first year student Julia Humphries and Richardson out on routine fly balls to earn the win. The victory moved her to 7-3 on the season, while Graves fell to 1-5 despite giving up only six hits and two walks in seven innings.

 

With Pickering out of the Saints pitching rotation, Graves was forced to throw in the second half of the doubleheader as well. Though she allowed a run in the first to Rensselaer, she got the visitors out 1-2-3 in the second. The Scarlet and Brown continued to struggle with runners in scoring position, though, as they stranded Manderfield on base in the bottom of the second after a leadoff double.

 

The Red Hawks would open things up in the third inning, plating seven runs to take an 8-0 lead. Gargon delivered an RBI double to score two and was followed by Bass who came through with an RBI single. It was then Kate Stira’s double that scored Logan Russell and Gendron that made the score 6-1. Becky Bailey and Sara Finkbeiner then added back-to-back RBI singles to complete the scoring in the inning for Rensselaer.

 

The Saints would score their lone run of the game in the bottom of the fourth, as Manderfield started things off with a one-out single to center. After Jenna Padeni reached on a fielder’s choice that had Manderfield forced out at second, first year student Amy Atkins reached on an error by Bianchetti, who allowed only two St. Lawrence hits in the second game. However, the error would allow Padeni to score all the way from first and get the Saints on the scoreboard trailing 8-1.

 

Rensselaer would waste little time in getting the run back, as they manufactured a run in the top of the fifth to extend their lead back to eight runs at 9-1. After Bianchetti got senior Yralee Mendez, Swan, and Humphries in order in the bottom half of the fifth, the game was called and the Red Hawks completed the sweep of the Saints.

 

Bianchetti finished with four strikeouts in five innings to improve to 8-2 overall. Graves dropped to 1-6 after the second game, allowing eleven hits and seven earned runs.

 

“I thought Janelle really gave a great performance today, and we simply need to hit the ball,” said Saints head coach Fran Grembowicz. “We had our chances in the first game with leadoff runners on but we didn’t capitalize.”

 

 

 

FRIDAY'S DOUBLEHEADER WITH RUSSELL SAGE POSTPONED DUE TO WEATHER

Apr. 13: This afternoon's doubleheader between the Saints and Russell Sage Gators has been postponed due to weather. Though the game will be rescheduled, no date has been determined.

 

The Saints hope to be in action in their 2007 Liberty League opener against Rensselaer tomorrow, Saturday, March 14th. The doubleheader between St. Lawrence and the Red Hawks is scheduled to begin at 1:00pm at the Saints Softball Field.

 

 

CARDINAL PITCHERS KEEP SAINTS OFFENSE QUIET AS PLATTSBURGH EARNS SWEEP

Apr. 10: The Plattsburgh State Cardinals received back-to-back complete game shutouts from pitchers Stephanie Zweig and Jaclyn Leitze, sweeping the St. Lawrence University softball team 6-0 and 8-0 in their doubleheader on Tuesday evening. Junior Nicole Bottego led the Saints with two hits in five plate appearances.

 

Neither team was able to get on the board early in the opening game, with Zweig and Saints senior pitcher Ava Pickering exchanging three scoreless innings to start the first half of the doubleheader.

 

The visiting Saints had a quality chance to take the lead in the top of the fourth, when sophomore Meghan Richardson and rookie Jessica Manderfield led off the inning with back-to-back singles. After a sac bunt from first year student Jenna Padeni advanced the runners, Bottego came to the plate with a chance to put the Scarlet and Brown ahead. Zweig bucked down, though, and struck Bottego out swinging, then got sophomore Lilah Brown to ground out to second base to end the threat.

 

After escaping the top half of the fourth without allowing a run, Plattsburgh would plate the game's opening run in the bottom half of the inning. The Saints seemed poised to escape the inning after allowing a double to Ashley Napear. With Nicole Pomponio pinch-running at second, Stephanie Blood hit a ground ball to the left side, and the Saints caught Pomponio off second and picked up the second out on the fielder's choice. However, Danielle Gjergji followed with a fly ball to center that was mishandled by centerfielder Yralee Mendez. The error allowed Blood to score all the way from first and give the Cardinals the coveted 1-0 lead.

 

Though St. Lawrence had their leadoff hitter on in the top of the fifth, they were unable to manufacture the tying run, and they went down in order in the sixth. Plattsburgh would take advantage of the Saints lack of offense, and put the game out of reach in the bottom of the sixth. Gjergji came through with a clutch bases loaded single that scored one. Andrea Stupp then delivered the big blow, hitting a grand slam to plate four runs and give the home team a 6-0 lead.

 

Pickering went five innings, allowing six runs on eight hits in taking the loss while Zweig went the distance for Plattsburgh, improving to 5-3 with a four hit, ten strikeout performance.

 

The second half of the doubleheader was all Plattsburgh, as the Cardinals scored at least one run in each of the four innings they batted. Leitze was in control for the Cardinals, striking out eight St. Lawrence batters and allowing only two hits throughout the contest.

 

Meanwhile, sophomore pitcher Janelle Graves struggled against the Cardinals tough batting order, giving up eight earned runs on ten hits. Plattsburgh's Shannon Connors did some damage against the Saints in the second half of the doubleheader, going 2-for-2 with a walk and three RBI's before the game was called after 4.5 innings with the score 8-0 in Plattsburgh's favor.

 

Bottego was the only Saint to record two hits on the day, while rookie Julia Humphries, Richardson, Manderfield, and Padeni all had one hit a piece. Graves' loss in the second game dropped her overall record to 1-4, while Leitze improved to 7-3.

 

The Saints (6-8-1) will be in action again on Friday, April 13th when they welcome Russell Sage to

Canton, NY for a doubleheader at the Saints Softball Field. The Saints and Gators will begin their opening game at 4:00pm.

 

PADENI DELIVERS GAME-WINNING HIT

IN BOTTOM OF THE SEVENTH

Apr. 3: With the score tied at 4-4 in the bottom of the seventh, first year student Jenna Padeni drove home fellow rookie Jennifer Girard with a bases loaded single to right field, giving the St. Lawrence University softball team a 5-4 win over Potsdam State at the Saints Softball Field on Tuesday evening. Though originally the two teams were scheduled for a doubleheader, the second game was called due to darkness.

 

Potsdam State held a 2-1 advantage after the first inning, as Jocelyne Cole doubled home Toni Blevins off of St. Lawrence senior pitcher Ava Pickering in the top half of the first. Cole would then come around to score on an error, giving the Bears an early 2-0 lead.

 

The Saints would cut the deficit in half in the bottom of the inning thanks to first year student Molly Swan, who used heads-up base-running and stole home with junior Nicole Bottego at the plate.

 

Though Pickering coasted through the fifth inning, Potsdam State pitcher Megan Strough ran into trouble in the Saints batting order in the fourth. After a walk to Padeni landed her on the base paths, the rookie moved to third on a steal and a passed ball. After Picking reached on a fielder’s choice, senior captain Yralee Mendez reached base on an error by Potsdam’s third basemen. The error scored both Padeni and Pickering, giving St. Lawrence a 3-2 lead.

 

The Saints would tack on one more in the inning when Swan singled home Mendez after the New York, NY native had advanced to second base on the previous error.

 

Trailing 4-2 in the top of the sixth, Potsdam rallied to tie the score behind solid hitting from the meat of their order. After Blevins walked and Cole singled, Stephanie Bibbens loaded the bases with a walk issued by Pickering. After Ashley McCoy hit a sacrifice fly to left, Blevins scored to make it 4-3. However, St. Lawrence seemed to have Cole picked off at third, but Pickering’s throw to third baseman Jessica Manderfield was misplayed, and the tying run scored as the ball rolled back into left field.

 

The veteran pitcher did not get rattled, though, and Pickering was able to keep the score tied by striking out Molly Flynn and getting Morgan Johnston to ground out to the shortstop.

 

After both the Saints and Bears went scoreless in the bottom of the sixth and top of the seventh, respectively, sophomore Meghan Richardson got the Scarlet and Brown started in the bottom of the seventh with a base hit to left field. After Manderfield walked, Bottego came to the plate and was also issued a free pass by Strough to load the bases for Padeni. The Jaffrey, NH native did not disappoint, lacing a base hit down the right field line that easily scored Girard, a pinch runner, from third to give the Saints a hard-fought 5-4 victory.

 

“I thought we really ran the base paths well today, and came up with some clutch plays on both sides of the ball,” said head coach Fran Grembowicz. “Ava did a nice job keeping the score tied in the sixth, and Jenna delivered at a key moment when we needed her.”

 

Pickering earned the victory and moved to 5-3-1 on the season, while allowing four runs on three hits and notching four strike outs. Strough took the loss, giving up six hits and five runs and allowing eight walks.

 

Swan finished with a solid outing for the Saints, going 2-for-3, while Richardson also collected two hits on the day.

 

The second game of tonight’s doubleheader was called due to darkness in the fifth inning. The game will be replayed in its entirety at a date to be determined.

 

St. Lawrence ( 6-6-1) will have the remainder of the week off, and will be in action again next week, Tuesday, April 10 th for a doubleheader against Plattsburgh State in Plattsburgh, NY. The games are scheduled to begin at 3:30pm.

 

 

 

SAINTS DROP TWO AGAINST FISHER

IN OPENING HOME SERIES

Apr. 1: The St. Lawrence University softball team played their first two home contests of the 2007 season on Sunday afternoon against St. John Fisher. The Saints took an early lead in the first game, but were unable to hold on and fell 4-1 to the Cardinals. The visitors then rode strong pitching performances from Amanda Shevchuk and Jessica Maurer to earn the sweep over the Scarlet and Brown, 3-0.

 

The two losses moved St. Lawrence to 5-6-1 on the season, while St. John Fisher improved to 9-7 overall.

 

The Saints got on the board in the bottom half of the first inning in game one of the doubleheader when an errant throw from the Cardinal shortstop allowed sophomore Meghan Richardson to score from first. However, the run would be the Saints last, as Fisher would not have another error the rest of the afternoon and allowed only six more hits.

 

Though senior pitcher Ava Pickering kept the Cardinals off the scoreboard through two innings, she ran into some trouble in the top of the third with two outs and Jonna Gerigitan on third. Leadoff hitter Kate Maurer came to the plate and sent an RBI triple to centerfield, evening the score at 1-1. St. John Fisher wasn’t done though, as Sara Dresser would deliver two more runs with a double after Pickering walked Sarah Gates to make the score 3-1 in favor of the visitors.

 

After the Saints stranded rookie Amy Atkins in the bottom of the third, the Cardinals would plate an insurance run in the fourth when Gerigitan drove in Laura Paul on a single to center. The 4-1 lead proved to be enough, as Fisher pitcher Jessica Maurer would allow only one more St. Lawrence base-runner on her way to her second win of the season. Pickering, who gave up five hits in seven innings of work, took the loss and fell to 4-3.

 

In the second half of the doubleheader, Fisher took an early 1-0 lead in the second inning when a leadoff single by Kristi Bradley would come back to hurt the Saints, as she would score the game’s first run on a single by Nicole Watkins off St. Lawrence pitcher Janelle Graves. However, Graves would hold a very talented Cardinal lineup to only the one run through six innings, and allowed her team two excellent chances to even the score later in the game.

 

Still trailing 1-0 in the bottom of the fifth, the Saints loaded the bases when Atkins singled and first year students Jennifer Girard and Jenna Padeni earned a two-out walks. However, Shevchuk got Richardson to hit a grounder back to her at the mound to end the inning and protect the coveted one run lead.

 

After Graves held the Cardinals in the top half of the sixth, St. Lawrence would threaten again in the bottom half, putting runners on first and second with no one out, forcing Shevchuk to leave the game in favor of Maurer. This time, the game one winner was outstanding in relief, getting her team out of the jam with a fly out, a pop out to the catcher, and a strikeout.

 

St. John Fisher would score twice in the top of the seventh to make it a 3-0 game, and Maurer pitched a perfect bottom half of the inning to earn her second save of the season and give the visiting Cardinals a sweep of the Saints.

 

“We simply couldn’t string our hits together today to produce runs,” said Saints head coach Fran Grembowicz. “ St. John Fisher is a good team, and I thought we hung with them all day. Ava and Janelle gave us two quality starts and kept us in both games, we just didn’t give them the run support today.”

 

Graves took the loss and fell to 1-3 after allowing seven hits and two earned runs. Meanwhile, her counterpart Shevchuk improved to 5-3 on the season after collecting six strikeouts and allowing five hits.

 

The Saints will look for their first home wins of the season when they host Potsdam State on Tuesday,

April 3rd. The two North Country rivals will begin their doubleheader at 4:00pm.

 

 

SAINTS SWEEP FINAL GAMES IN FLORIDA

AS TWO EARN LEAGUE HONORS

Mar. 26: The St. Lawrence University softball team finished their spring break trip with a 5-4-1 record thanks to a sweep over Lasell and Albright in their final two games of their 2007 spring trip to Fort Myers, FL. Senior pitcher Ava Pickering and first year student Jessica Manderfield were awarded for their efforts, as each earned Liberty League recognition for their performances during the ten-game span.

 

Pickering pitched the Saints to their fourth win of the campaign against Lasell by the score of 6-0, allowing just three hits while striking out seven batters. The Scarlet and Brown built a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning thanks to the top of the order. First year student Julia Humphries drew a walk to start the inning, followed by a single from fellow rookie Amy Atkins. Sophomore Meg Richardson then delivered a single that drove in both runners and would later score the team's final run of the inning on a hit by rookie Jenna Padeni.

 

With Pickering in control, the Saints struck again in the fourth when Padeni scored on a Lasell error to make the score 4-0. The team would tack on two more runs to put the game out of reach in the sixth, as Atkins doubled to score Humphries, and Manderfield would then complete the scoring, driving in a run on an infield single.

 

Atkins, Manderfield, and Padeni each went 2-for-4 in the game, leading the team into the second game on Friday against Albright.

 

Humphries again sparked the Saints in the first, doubling to left field and advancing on a sac bunt by Atkins. Richardson's sacrifice fly plated the game's first run to put the Scarlet and Brown ahead in the top of the first.

 

Albright would respond in the bottom half of the inning, though, as Stevie Crouse drew a walk and moved to second on a single by Alex Keyes. Jen Lynch then delivered a single to left-center field to score Crouse and even the score at 1-1 through one inning.

 

St. Lawrence showed their resiliency by coming right back in the second and re-establishing a one run cushion. Padeni advanced to third base on a series of errors by Albright, and senior Yralee Mendez lined a base hit to left field to score Padeni for the 2-1 lead. Humphries then added an RBI single in the top half of the fourth to score Pickering to make the score 3-1.

 

After Albright cut the lead to one in the bottom of the fourth, the Lions again put pressure on the Saints in the fifth as they loaded the bases with no outs against sophomore Janelle Graves. However, the Fort Ann, NY native battled out of the jam, getting back-to-back ground balls which allowed her defense to get the force outs at home. Graves then flashed some leather on a diving catch on a line drive towards the mound to end the inning and preserve the victory.

 

"I think we got off to a good start, and I'm proud of the way the team stepped up to work together and get beyond some hurdles we've faced in the early going," said head coach Fran Grembowicz. "The pitching staff was solid, and I was impressed with our performance at the plate. Overall, I'd say the Florida trip helped us gain some valuable experience and we can now focus on building out success throughout the season."

 

Pickering was named the Liberty League's "Co-Pitcher of the Week" after compiling a 4-2-1 record in Florida. The Arlington, VT native totaled 33 strikeouts in her seven appearances, including a season-best nine strikeouts against Bethel. Pickering also did some damage at the plate with two homeruns and a triple.

 

Meanwhile, Manderfield was tagged the conference's "Rookie of the Week" after connecting for fifteen base hits and six RBI's in Florida. The Davisburg, MI native boasts a .455 batting average thus far in her first season with the team.

 

The Saints will be in action again on Sunday, April 1st for the opening home games of the 2007 season.

St. Lawrence will play a doubleheader with St. John Fisher, with the first game beginning at 1:00pm.

 

 

 

SAINTS SPLIT SERIES WITH

BUFFALO STATE AND WNEC

Mar. 22: The St. Lawrence University softball team dropped a 3-2 decision to Buffalo State on Thursday morning before rebounding to out-hit Western New England College (WNEC) in a 15-14 win in Ft. Myers, FL. The victory over the Golden Bears moved the Saints to 3-4-1 on the season.

 

In the opener, Buffalo State took a 1-0 lead in the first when Joss Mooney was driven in by Nicole Sabuda. After several scoreless innings, it was again Buffalo State that added an insurance run in the bottom of the fifth. Nicole Maher singled, moved to second on a walk to Chris Tscharl, and with two outs, Lauren Mruk singled to left to score Maher.

 

The Scarlet and Brown cut the lead to 2-1 in the top of the sixth when rookie Julia Humphries hit a line shot to center and advanced to second when the ball deflected off the glove of the centerfielder. Sophomore Meg Richardson then hit a clutch single to center to plate Humphries.

 

St. Lawrence would then tie the score at 2-2 in the top of the seventh. First year student Asuka Nakayama was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning, followed by a bunt single by Katie Dreher had a bunt single. Senior Melissa Pittelli then singled to load the bases, and Humphries ripped the ball to left field, driving in the tying run.

 

The Bengals would respond in the bottom of the seventh, though, with a run to seal the victory, 3-2. Jo Banach hit a double off senior pitcher Ava Pickering, which scored Laurie Hutten and gave Buffalo State a hard-earned win over St. Lawrence in Thursday’s opener.

 

After dropping their third straight game, the Saints came through with a 15-14 win over WNEC to earn the split. They jumped out to a 3-2 lead after the first, as rookie Jessica Manderfield doubled to score Humphries to get the Saints on the board. Pickering then ripped a triple to right-center field to bring both Manderfield and junior Nicole Bottego home for a 3-0 advantage. Though the Golden Bears answered with a pair of runs in the bottom half of the inning, the Saints held a coveted one-run lead.

 

The scoring was merely getting started though, as the two teams were deadlocked at 6-6 after the second inning. St. Lawrence scored when Richardson drove home senior Yralee Mendez and Bottego doubled home Pittelli and Richardson. Again, WNEC responded to the Saints offense, plating four runs to knot the game at 6-6.

 

Though the Scarlet and Brown picked up a run in each of the next three innings, it was the Golden Bears that went up by one run in the bottom of the fifth inning, 10-9. The young Saints team responded however, taking the lead for good in the top of the sixth. First year student Amy Atkins and Humphries singled, and a WNEC error allowed Atkins to score the tying run. After Manderfield walked, Bottego came to the plate and laced a hit to the gap, scoring both Humphries and Manderfield.

 

Pickering did a nice job in relief of sophomore Janelle Graves, silencing the Golden Bears’ bats in the bottom half of the sixth.

 

First year student Jennifer Girard led of the seventh with a pinch-hit single to center, then moved to second on a passed ball. Mendez advanced Girard to third on a sacrifice bunt, and the Saints manufactured the run when Atkins singled to bring Girard home. Rookie Jenna Padeni drew a walk to place runners on first and second, and each runner advanced on a double steal. Humphries again came through for the Saints singling to right field, followed by Richardson driving in Padeni for the eventual game-winning run on a ground ball to the right side.

 

Though the Saints carried a five run advantage into the bottom of the seventh, WNEC wasn’t finished as Steph Glanswer led off the inning with a home run. After a pop out, Allison Glassick singled and advanced to third on a Saint error. The Golden Bears would score two more runs on a fielder’s choice and an infield single to pull to within one. With runners on first and second with two outs, Pickering would deliver, forcing Britt Degenero to pop out to second base to preserve the Saints’ win.

 

Every St. Lawrence batter recorded a hit against WNED, with Bottego going 4-for-5 at the plate and Manderfield notching three hits. Graves went 4 2/3 innings for St. Lawrence, while Pickering picked up the victory.

 

 

SAINTS FALL TO BOWDOIN

AND TRINITY IN FLORIDA

Mar. 21: The St. Lawrence University softball team dropped two contests on Wednesday to a pair of NESCAC teams, Bowdoin and Trinity, during their Spring trip to Florida. The Saints (2-3-1) fell in the opener 5-4 to Bowdoin, then dropped the second game to Trinity by the score of 9-1.

 

After three scoreless innings, it would be the Scarlet and Brown who struck first, scoring four runs in the top of fourth inning. Sophomore Meg Richardson got the inning started with a one-out single, and would then score on first year student Jessica Manderfield's double.

 

With two outs in the inning, junior Nicole Bottego drew a free pass on a catcher's interference call that kept the inning alive. Senior tri-captain Ava Pickering then delivered, clearing the bases with a three-run home run to put her team ahead 4-0.

 

Bowdoin came right back in the bottom half of the inning though, responding with three runs to cut their deficit to 4-3. The Polar Bears strung three base hits together, and were aided by two St. Lawrence errors.

 

It would be the miscues that doomed the Saints, though, as Bowdoin again capitalized on a St. Lawrence error in the bottom of the fifth. The Polar Bears then attacked with their bats, notching three singles to score twice and take a 5-4 lead, which they were able to protect.

 

Sophomore Janelle Graves pitched a strong outing for the Saints despite taking the loss. The Fort Ann, NY native allowed only six hits.

 

In their second game of the day, it was again St. Lawrence who scored first when Yralee Mendez hit a hard grounder through the shortstop to allow Bottego to score from third to put the Saints ahead 1-0 in the second inning. Bottego had walked to lead off the inning, then advanced on a fielding error and on a sac bunt by first year student Jenna Padeni.

 

The Saints were able to hold Trinity to three scoreless innings before their opponents tied the game in the fourth. Sara Dougherty scored from second on a two-out single by Stacy Hathcox.

 

Trinity then posted three runs in the fifth on their way to the 9-1 victory. Jessica Tait singled to center and would later score on a single off the bat of Stacy Hills. Ariana Mullins followed with a two out single to score two runners, and Trinity picked up five runs in the sixth to close out the scoring. Pickering took the loss, allowing six hits in the contest.

 

 

SAINT SOFTBALL OFF TO 2-1-1 START

Mar. 20: St. Lawrence University’s softball team is off to a 2-1-1 start on its Florida trip after the first two days of competition.

 

The Saints opened the season with a 3-1 win over the University of Wisconsin-Superior, were beaten by Trinity College 16-2, but bounced back with a 13-3 win over D’Youville before playing Bethel to a 7-7 tie in nine innings in game four.

 

The game with Wisconsin-Superior was scoreless through four before the Saints scored two in the top of the fifth on a run-scoring single by Jessica Manderfield and a two-out single by Meg Richardson.

 

Wisconsin-Superior got one back off Saint starter Ava Pickering in the bottom of the fifth, but the Saints added an insurance run in the top of the seventh as Manderfield led off with a single and went to third on an error and a fielder’s choice, scoring on Pickering’s ground out.

 

Pickering allowed six hits and struck our four for her first win of the year.

 

Trinity jumped on the Saints for five runs in the first inning and while the Saints got two runs back when Melissa Pittelli, Richardson and Manderfield strung together consecutive singles and Nicole Bottego singled to center to drive in two, the bats were silent the rest of the way in the 16-2 Trinity win.

 

The Saints got another strong pitching performance from Pickering in their 13-3 win over D’Youville which was called after five. She gave up just four hits and struck out eight in the five-inning win and blasted a solo home run to spark a six-run third inning. Pittelli and Amy Atkins both went two for three in the game for the Saints.

 

Pickering came right back on the mound in game two on Tuesday and struck out nine in the 7-7 tie with Bethel.

 

Yralee Mendez gave the Saints a 2-0 lead with a run-scoring single in the second, but Bethel came back with three runs in the top of the third with the help of a couple of Saint errors. Pickering then shut the door for three scoreless innings and the Saint bats came alive against in the bottom of the sixth.

 

Manderfield reached on a one-out hit to left and Pittelli walked. Bottego ripped a triple to the right center gap and scored on Pickering’s grounder to put the Saints back in front.

 

Bethel went back in front on the top of the seventh on a hit and a Saint error for a 6-5 lead, but the Saints came back to tie it as Mendez walked, Julia Humphries sacrificed her to second and after Jenny Girard beat out a grounder to keep the Saints alive, Manderfield ripped a base hit to right to score Mendez with the tying run with two outs.

 

Bethel scored a run on two hits in the eighth in the tiebreaker, but the Saints came back with a run when Katie Dreher hit a line drive to score Pittelli with one out in the bottom half of the eighth. Neither team was able to score in the ninth and the game was declared a 7-7 tie under local rules for the Florida tournament.

 

The Saints are scheduled to play NESCAC teams Bowdoin and Trinity in games on Wednesday.

 

SAINTS LOCKED AND LOADED FOR

SUCCESSFUL 2007 CAMPAIGN

Mar. 13: As the winter temperatures begin to give way to the highly anticipated days of spring in the North Country, the St. Lawrence University softball team is prepared for their upcoming 2007 season. The Saints’ campaign begins on Saturday, March 17th in Fort Myers, FL against Wooster.

 

St. Lawrence returns only five upperclassmen this season, none more critical than their trio of captains. Yralee Mendez, Melissa Pittelli, and Ava Pickering will lead the Scarlet and Brown in 2007, with each bringing significant game experience into their senior years.

 

Pickering has been one of the team’s most reliable arms during her tenure at St. Lawrence, while Pittelli has been a solid force directing the defense from behind the plate throughout the past three seasons. Besides sharing those responsibilities this season, both players will also platoon the Saints’ outfield, joining Mendez who was the team’s go-to centerfielder last year. The New York, NY native was solid in center last season, and with a year of experience under her belt, Mendez is likely to have another fantastic season.

 

“All three of our captains have done an excellent job in bringing our team closer together,” said Head Coach Fran Grembowicz, who has coached all eight seasons of Saint softball since the program began in 1999. “Their leadership skills will be an integral component to our team’s success this season.”

 

Joining the three seniors as upperclassmen are juniors Sheila Rodriguez of Rochester, NY and Nicole Bottego of Manlius, NY. The Saints also welcome junior exchange student Asuka Nakayama of Kanagawa, Japan to the lineup this season. The trio will add depth to the batting order, and Nakayama offers another strong arm to the pitching rotation.

 

Perhaps the biggest question mark heading into the 2007 season for Coach Grembowicz is experience, as 11 of the team’s 17 roster spots are filled by underclassmen. However, the squad’s youth and excitement, according to Grembowicz, is exactly what her program needed.

 

The Saints bring back a trio of sophomores that includes Janelle Graves, Katie Dreher, and Lilah Brown, who all will play a significant role this season. Graves will be a vital part of the pitching staff, sharing time on the mound with Pickering and Nakayama, while Brown adds a strong and steady bat to the Saints batting order and Dreher serves as a consistent infielder. The Saints also landed Colton, NY native Meghan Richardson, who comes to St. Lawrence as a sophomore. Richardson adds a solid glove at the middle infield and is likely to find herself in the Saints lineup in her first season.

 

“Our juniors and sophomores add excellent depth in both the field and batting order,” added Grembowicz. “They also bring additional experience which we’ll need with a very young squad.”

 

The youth that Grembowicz is referring to lies in her seven first year students, who join the squad looking to have an immediate effect on the program. The group brings both energy and skill to the table, with Molly Swan, Alexandria Wajer, and Jessica Manderfield joining the infield unit and Jennifer Girard and Jenna Padeni will see time behind the plate as well as in the outfield, with Padeni also seeing time at first base. Meanwhile, Julia Humphries of West Lake Village, CA and Amy Atkins of Westerlo, NY will see time in the outfield. The group of seven will likely impact the batting order immediately with their combination of speed, power, and consistency.

 

“We’re definitely excited to see what this group can do in game situations,” said Coach Grembowicz. “I look forward to watching them mature on the diamond at the collegiate level as the group has excellent softball instincts and a passion for the game.”

 

The Scarlet and Brown will open their 2007 season during their Spring Break trip to Fort Myers, FL, as the team is scheduled to play a total of twelve games during their time away from the North Country. The Saints will open up at home on Sunday, April 1st as they welcome St. John Fisher to Canton, NY for a doubleheader beginning at 1:00pm.

 

 

YOUNG SAINTS SQUAD PREPARED

FOR TOUGH 2007 SCHEDULE

Feb. 15: The St. Lawrence University softball team is prepared to tackle a demanding 2007 schedule that includes three NCAA Tournament teams from a year ago as well as the 2006 ECAC Upstate Division III Champions. The Saints, who will be led by seniors Ava Pickering, Yralee Mendez, and Melissa Pittelli, will open the season on Saturday, March 17th in Fort Myers, FL on their Spring Break trip.

 

The Scarlet and Brown will square off with Wooster in the season opener, followed by a game with Division II opponent Franklin Pierce. The Saints, who face a total of nine different teams during their trip from March 16 th-24 th, also draw several Division III powerhouses including U.W. Superior, Bethel, and Western New England. Other opponents in Fort Myers include Bowdoin, Trinity, D’Youville, and Buffalo State.

 

“We are looking forward to getting the season started successfully in Fort Myers,” said Saints head coach Fran Grembowicz. “Though we’re a pretty young group, we will be facing several outstanding teams that will get us ready when we return to Canton.”

 

The Saints return only five upperclassmen this year, while twelve underclassmen round out the 2007 roster. However, Coach Grembowicz doesn’t believe the Saints’ inexperience will hinder the team’s goals.

 

“The newcomers are a very talented and exciting group. They’re very enthusiastic about the upcoming season,” said Grembowicz. “I believe they will definitely be a class that impacts our program.”

 

After returning from Florida, the team has one week before they take the field for their home opener on April 1 st against St. John Fisher. The doubleheader will be a true test for the team, as the Cardinals are the defending ECAC Upstate Division III Champions. However, Grembowicz hopes the experience that Pickering, Mendez, and Pittelli have will help keep the Saints stabilized.

 

“Though St. John Fisher is a very talented squad, I think Ava, Yralee, and Melissa can be a stabilizing force thanks to the game experiences they’ve had and their leadership qualities,” added Coach Grembowicz. “They are the middle of our defense, and we hope to have them guide the team through critical game situations.”

 

After taking on North Country rival Potsdam State on Tuesday, April 3rd, the Saints hit the road for the first time for a doubleheader against Plattsburgh State. The Cardinals were an NCAA team last season, and will test the Saints in their first away contests.

 

In their second home series of the season, St. Lawrence will welcome Russell Sage on Friday, April 13th and NCAA qualifier Rensselaer on Saturday, April 14th in a pair of doubleheaders. After visiting Clinton, NY to take on Hamilton College on April 18th, the Scarlet and Brown return home for their final regular season home stand against Elmira College and the University of Rochester on April 20th and 21st.

 

The Saints will finish their 2007 regular season schedule with a pair of road games versus Liberty League foes. On April 28th, St. Lawrence will visit Skidmore College, followed by a trip to Schenectady, NY for a doubleheader with 2006 NCAA Tournament competitor Union College.

 

“We need to be very sharp and prepared for every team on our schedule this season,” said Coach Grembowicz, whose team is coming off of a 9-23 season in 2006. “But I know our team is ready to compete and has an excellent outlook on where we want to be at the end of this season.”