ERIE, Pa. - In its first season in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC), the Gannon softball team struggled, going 5-11 in league play. Under first-year coach Tom Jakubowski, the Lady Knights found themselves in a season of change. New conference, new coach, new players-Gannon needed consistency. With the program headed in the right direction under Jakubowski, the Knights could be ready to compete for a conference championship in 2010.
The team will likely feature six freshmen playing prominent roles, with several sophomores also in the lineup. Seniors
Kelsey Brickman (Sylvania, Ohio/Notre Dame Academy) and
Casee Piquet (Newton Falls, Ohio/Newton Falls) will be co-captains for the youthful squad.
Ashley Petrone (Uniontown, Pa./Albert Gallatin) and
Carol Kienzl (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin) will step into larger roles as the team’s top hitters. Taking a look at the Lady Knights in 2010-
Pitching staff
Brickman will begin the season as the team’s top starter. The diminutive righthander went 8-8 with a 2.10 ERA in 100 innings last season. She struck out a team-high 115 batters while holding the opposition to a .235 batting average. Freshmen
Megan Dragon (Ashtabula, Ohio/Edgewood) and
Erica Bartholow (Connellsville, Pa./Connellsville Area) will fill out the staff for the Lady Knights. Dragon threw a perfect game in GU’s 2009 fall campaign. She struck out 17 of the 19 Washington & Jefferson hitters she faced in the game.
Catcher
Freshman
Tiffani Danks (Spartansburg, Pa./Corry Area) will be given the first chance to replace Kara Hensley and Holli Michaels, who both graduated.
Courtney Schwenk (Erie, Pa./Mercyhurst Prep) will compete for playing time as well.
First base
Tiffany Joyce (Erie, Pa. Mercyhurst Prep) and
Kelly Trace (Columbus, Ohio/Bishop Hartley) each saw time at first last year and a similar platoon is expected in 2010. Joyce, a senior, started 30 games in 2009. Trace, a lefthanded batter, appeared in 15 contests.
Second base
Piquet returns after starting all 43 games at second last season. The senior captain finished second on the team with seven doubles. “Casee is a great leader and a terrific hitter,” said Jakubowski.
Toni Caruso (Buffalo, N.Y./Maryvale) will serve as the team’s utility infielder.
Third base
Petrone is back after starting 41 games as a freshman last season. The Knights’ top returning hitter batted .308 with six home runs, 26 RBIs, and a .523 slugging percentage in 2009.
Shortstop
Freshman
Sam Scott (New Baltimore, Mich./Anchor Bay) will have the first shot to replace Hannah Koenig at short. Scott led her high school team to consecutive state semifinal appearances.
Left field
Kienzl will start in left after seeing the majority of the time in 2009. She hit .291 with four doubles. “Carol should be our most consistent hitter this year,” said Jakubowski.
Lindsay Corbett (Erie, Pa./McDowell) and
Kristin Schalk (Pataskala, Ohio/Watkins Memorial) will compete for playing time also.
Center field
This position is wide open coming into the season, as three players will compete for time.
Katie Killian (Akron, Ohio/St. Vincent-St. Mary) appeared in 17 games last year. Freshman
Kels Fedell (Wexford, Pa./North Allegheny) has impressed early and should see plenty of time. “She was our leading hitter in the fall season and has tremendous upside,” said Jakubowski.
Chastity Guerrero (Toledo, Ohio/St. Ursula Academy) started all 43 games in 2009 and will play across the outfield for the Knights this season.
Right field
Sarah Rinks (Fenton, Mich./Lake Fenton), a freshman, will immediately step into the lineup in right. “Sarah has a cannon for an arm,” said Jakubowski. Shannon Zoltowski (Erie, Pa./Mercyhurst Prep) and
Elaine Golz (Rocky River, Ohio/Rocky River) will compete for time here.
The Knights have a tough schedule, beginning at the Rebel Games February 28, in Orlando, Florida. “We’ll know how good we are by the time we come back from there,” said Jakubowski. Defending Division II national champion Lock Haven visits Erie March 27 and GU faces reigning PSAC West champion California (Pa.) four times in April.
In 2009, Gannon went 22-21, marking its second straight season over .500. In order to keep that string going, the Knights need to replace leadoff hitter Hannah Koenig, who graduated, and work through the overall inexperience of the group. However, if the team can come together early in the season, the Knights could be in playoff contention late in the year. “Our goal is to make the PSAC playoffs and the NCAA Tournament,” said Jakubowski, “That’s what Gannon softball is all about.”