YOUNG EAGLES SET FOR 2006 SEASON; CLARION SCHEDULED TO OPEN TUESDAY AT WEST LIBERTY

            A young, talented Clarion University softball team is set to break out the bats, gloves and balls for its 2006 season opener Tuesday (March 7) at West Liberty.

            “We are excited to get out on the field and play,” Clarion’s fourth year head coach Natalie Martin said. “Any time you can get outside and play this early in the season, it is exciting.”

            It will be a young and inexperience Golden Eagle team that takes the field with only four returning players from last year’s squad that went 6-24-1 and 3-13-1 in the PSAC-West.

            “I think the biggest thing with having only four returning players is that we have to approach practice differently,” Martin said. “We have to go through a lot more fundamental-game knowledge with the players.”

            According to Martin, the goal with such a young team – nine of the 13 players are freshmen (8) or sophomores (1) and one of the upperclassmen is in her first year of collegiate softball – is to improve each day throughout the season.

            “Our goal is to continue to progress and perform the way we are capable of,” Martin said. “Youth doesn’t mean a lack of skill. At the same time, the only college experience many of our players have is in the game played during Fall softball. We will work hard to win every game. That is all we can ask for.”

            Clarion’s four returning players – seniors Katie Forsyth (Binghamton, NY/Chenango Valley) and Leah Naiditch (Carlisle/Carlisle), junior Karla Kaczmarek (McKean/General McLane) and sophomore Allison Schaefer (Camp Hill/Cumberland Valley) will be looked upon to provide leadership.

            “A lot of responsibility will be put on the upperclassmen from a leadership standpoint and a mentoring standpoint,” Martin said. “They are going to have to step up their games this year.”

            All four returnees expect to play key roles for Clarion.

            Forsyth, a catcher and outfielder, will be expected to see a lot of time catching early in the season. Last year, she was the fourth leading hitter for Clarion with a .275 batting average while tying for second on the team in RBI’s (10).

            “Early on in the year, she will catch quite a bit,” Martin said. “She will have to provide leadership for a pitching staff that is all freshmen as well as to the other freshmen catchers. I put a lot of responsibility on my catchers, because they call the game themselves. Having a senior who knows our expectations and our game plan is a great help.”

            Naiditch is a versatile player who will see time in right field and second base for Clarion. A year ago, she appeared in 15 games with eight starts and was 2-for-7 at the plate with a run scored and an RBI.

            “She should see more game time this year,” Martin said. “She sets an example for hard work and is an outstanding teammate and leader.”

            Kaczmarek, primarily a second baseman her first two years, will split time between second and shortstop this year. Last year, she hit .206 in 27 games with 15 starts and had five runs scored and three RBI’s. She was nearly flawless defensively committing just five errors.

            “We are looking for improved offensive production from Karla,” Martin said. “She is an outstanding base runner and team leader.”

            Schaeffer saw limited action last season appearing in four games with three starts. This year, she could see more time in the outfield especially in left and center fields.

            “She is a solid base runner who we are looking for consistent offensive production from,” Martin said.

            The remainder of the Golden Eagle line-up will feature players seeing their first action in college softball.

            That group includes a young pitching staff that is comprised of four freshmen.

“The biggest challenge for a pitching staff of four freshmen is they don’t have anyone to mentor them,” Martin said.

            Lindsay Vevers (McKees Rocks/Sto-Rox) is probably the pitcher who is the furthest along at this early point, according to Martin.

            Vevers was a member of three straight WPIAL Championship teams (2002-04) at Sto-Rox and was a Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Terrific 10 award winner as a senior.

            Joining Vevers on the mound will be Valorie Rankin (Port Allegany/Port Allegany), Stephanie Estok (Fairview/Fairview) and Jenelle Hallowell (Emporium/Cameron County).

            Joining Forsyth behind the plate for Clarion will be freshmen Kate Gilboy (Pittsburgh/Mt. Lebanon) and Natalie Zimmerman (State College/State College).

            Gilboy was a Post-Gazette All-Section selection, while Zimmerman was an All-Mountain League All-Star who hit .512 as a senior.

            Four players are vying for playing time at first base including first-year junior Heather Battaglia and freshmen Dannielle Welsh (Pen Argyl/Pen Argyl), Estok and Rankin. Welsh was a first team All-League player at Pen Argyl.

            Joining Kaczmarek and Naiditch at second base will be freshman Chelsey Grabigel (Pittsburgh/Highlands), who also played basketball for Clarion.   

Vevers, when she isn’t pitching, will be at the shortstop spot, while Kaczmarek will slide over to short when Vevers is on the mound.

            Zimmerman, Grabigel and Hallowell will battle for time at third base.

            The outfield will have some combination of Schaefer and Gilboy in left, Forsyth, Gilboy and Schaefer in center and Naiditch and Hallowell in right.

            “With only 13 players, health is going to be an important key,” Martin said.

            The batting order for the Golden Eagles will see Kaczmarek and Vevers at the top of the order with Zimmerman, Forsyth and Gilboy in the middle.

            “One of the things we need to continue to work on is our offensive execution, especially in the short game” Martin said. “But this is a close knit team and a hard-working team. They expect a lot out of themselves.”

            GOLDEN EAGLE NOTES – Martin is 34-62-2 in her three years at Clarion. She led the Golden Eagles to a 12-18 overall and 8-12 mark in the PSAC-West in 2004. That was team’s second best winning percentage in 20 years, its fourth highest overall win total since 1980 and its second highest total of PSAC-West wins since at least 1985 … Clarion will play six games in South Carolina from March 10-12 before opening its home season March 25 with Seton Hill. The PSAC-West opener is slated for March 31 at California and the PSAC-West home opener is set for April 8 against Edinboro … Clarion had eight National Fastpitch Coaches’ Association All-Academic players last year (3.5 GPA or better). The Golden Eagles’ team GPA last year was 3.5, the top mark in the PSAC and the 23^rd best mark in the nation.

Sr. Kate Forsyth

Sr. Leah Naiditch