University of Massachusets Athletics
UMass Sets Lofty Goals In Softball
February 23, 2007 | Softball
Feb. 23, 2007
UMass Sets Lofty Goals In Softball
by Matt Vautour, Daily Hampshire Gazette
AMHERST - After coming within two innings of going to the Women's College World Series in 2006, the University of Massachusetts softball team has listed a trip to Oklahoma City for a chance to play for a national championship as a goal this season.
"We're going for the World Series. Last year we got a taste at Super Regionals of what we need to do to get there. We're all just keeping that in mind," said senior center fielder and cocaptain Candice Molinari.
She said that playing in the Super Regional last year against eventual national runner-up Northwestern provided valuable experience. "You can't practice feeling that way. You need to be in those situations with the game on the line."
Key players returned
The Minutewomen bring back key pieces from the 2006 team that won the Atlantic 10 regular season and tournament titles and swept through an NCAA regional in Amherst. With almost no outdoor practice time, the Minutewomen went 2-2-1 in a tournament in San Diego from Feb. 9-11, including a 1-0 win over No. 10 California. The last game against Kansas ended in a 1-1 tie when it was stopped by rain.
"They went to California and did the things they could do up to this point and did them pretty well," UMass coach Elaine Sortino said. "I think we took the information we got from the first trip and made some good adjustments. I fell good about that."
The Minutewomen will try to use those adjustments this weekend in Columbus, Ga., at the NFCA Leadoff Classic, an event that features national heavyweights including Baylor, Florida and Georgia Tech. UMass is scheduled to play twice today, against Baylor at 2:30 and Florida at 5.
In addition to Brandice Balschmiter, the team's No. 1 pitcher, seven starters return including the entire infield. Sophomore third baseman Whitney Mollica is back after earning Atlantic 10 player of the year honors as a freshman. She focused on improving her defense during the off-season. "I really worked on my footwork and trying to get my release quicker," Mollica said.
Morin will set the table
Senior Amanda Morin returns at first base and will lead off.
Samantha Salato will try to build off a strong freshman season at short and is joined up the middle by Stacy Cullington, who will play mostly second base after starting games at both middle-infield spots a year ago.
In the outfield Molinari and left fielder Lauren Proctor both return, while Davina Hernandez battles freshmen Whitney Williams and Carly Normandin in right field.
Balschmiter, the Atlantic 10 pitcher of the year who relied mostly on her outstanding velocity last season, has improved her riseball, her dropball and her change-up.
"I have a bigger repertoire," she said. "I'm trying to move some different pitches around and change speed."
Sortino has been impressed so far.
"Brandice has been able to move the ball around a lot better and not put so many balls on the plate which is going to help her out," Sortino said. "We relied on just one pitch last year and hoped it went where we wanted it to go."
Balschmiter will take turns in the circle with freshman Bailey Sanders, a 6-foot-2 freshman from Durham, Conn.
Sanders was boxed around a bit in her first outing, giving up eight runs on nine walks and eight hits in an 8-6 loss to Cal-Santa Barbara Feb. 9. But she bounced back to pitch well and earn a win against San Diego State Feb. 10.
"Her first game was a nightmare. But I thought she held great poise and 24 hours later she did a much better job against San Diego State," Sortino said. "I think she's going to be quite a good pitcher. She's got all the tools. She's a smart kid - came to UMass with 46 advanced-placement credits."
Balschmiter said the two pitchers have worked well together.
"We have a close competitive experience between us and can help each other. We're close on and off the field," Balschmiter said. "We complement each other well. She has a lot of movement - I have a lot of power."
Who they will be throwing to is not yet certain. The graduation of catcher KJ Kelley (now an assistant coach) left the Minutewomen with a vacancy behind the plate. Sophomore Emily Wehr will get most of the work this weekend as a finger injury has sidelined freshman Jessica Serio. But Sortino said the competition is still open.
"We need the best catcher behind the plate based on three things: 1. blocking and stopping the ball, 2. being able to throw the runners out, and 3. being a part of the battery and handling the pitcher and being calm enough to run the defense," Sortino said. "After that if it's equal, it's going to be who has a better bat."
UMass will play in two more tournaments - the Spring Break Invitational in Clearwater, Fla., March 8 to 11, and the Florida Atlantic Parents Weekend Tournament in Boca Raton, Fla., March 16 to 18 - before opening league play at home March 25 with a doubleheader against St. Bonaventure.
"We have a long way to go, but it's exciting to see them improve," Sortino said. "We still haven't been outside at home. I can't wait to get on our field."
Matt Vautour can be reached at mvautour@gazettenet.com. For more UMass coverage including a frequently updated UMass sports blog, go to www.dailyhampshiregazette.com/umsports.