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With seven out of nine starters returning and a freshman
recruiting class that will see significant playing time, the
2005 Christian Brothers University Lady Buccaneer softball
team looks to be in good shape for a very successful season.
Head Coach Donna Crone
can't be more pleased with the way this team has progressed
through the fall and into their spring season. Senior's Megan
Sharp, Jennifer Longo
and Melissa Eilers all return
to their familiar positions and will provide solid leadership
for the relatively young squad.
Last year's team saw records fall, but still a disappointing
end to the season. Longo set the single-season home run record
with four and graduating senior Megan Pilkington
continued to destroy most every career offensive record the
school has to offer. Pilkington will return this year as the
team's assistant coach.
Pitchers
Sharp returns as the team's top pitcher
for the third straight season. After having a somewhat down
year in 2003, Sharp rebounded to win 13 games and strike out
a team-high 90 batters in 2004. She had a 3.23 ERA and continued
to pad her own school records in many different pitching statistics.
Sharp had the best season a pitcher has ever had at CBU her
freshman campaign when she won 15 games, had a miniscule 2.07
ERA and struck out 168 batters while walking just 42. The
15 wins and 168 strikeouts are both records at CBU. Kathryn
Bomar suffered through an injury-plagued
season last year making 21 appearances. She had one save and
struck out 19. Bomar should team with Sharp to be one of the
conference's best one-two punch. Angela Dunn
split time between the outfield and pitcher last season and
will provide some much-needed depth to this year's staff.
Dunn pitched in 16 games, starting eight and had a 4.96 ERA
while striking out 13 batters. Freshman Mandy
Presson, an Immaculate Conception High School
product may seem some spot time on the mound while developing
her skills.
Infield
This year's Lady Buc infield may be the most experienced
in all of the Gulf South Conference. Longo,
Jenny Bernard and Paula
Cerrito have all been playing their positions
for the last two years, and the addition of freshman Netia
Shores will prove to be one of the most reliable
infields the school has ever seen. Longo returns for her third
season at third base. Last year, Longo hit four home runs,
a new CBU record, and drove in 15 runs, good for second on
the team. She should be the team's clean up hitter. Bernard
has been the Lady Bucs starting shortstop and leadoff hitter
every game she's played and didn't disappoint last season.
After leading CBU in batting average her freshman campaign,
she rebounded last year to hit .292 with a team-high 21 runs
scored four doubles, and 12 RBIs. She was named a second-team
All-GSC selection. Cerrito returns for her third season at
first base. One of the best fielders in the entire conference,
Cerrito once again posted the team's best fielding percentage
with a .982 mark last season. Serving as the number two hitter,
she led the team in sacrifice bunts last year with 13 and
will continue that role this season. Shores is a freshman
from Germantown High School. Last year with the Red Devils,
she was named one of the Commercial Appeal's Best of the Preps
as well as being named an All-Metro selection. A solid hitter
at the plate, Shores may give the Lady Bucs the power threat
they have been looking for.
Outfield
Eilers and Hannah Shackelford
return as the starting left and center fielders. Shackelford
was a freshman last season, but came on late at the plate
raising her average nearly 50 points in the final month and
securing her role as the team's number three hitter in the
lineup. A solid fielder, she led the team with six outfield
assists last year. Eilers improved every game last year starting
in all 39 she played in. Second on the team with five outfield
assists, she was fourth on the team with 12 RBIs and scored
10 times. Dunn will return to the outfield
and platoon with freshmen Lauren Hearn
and Presson. Dunn started in 16 of the 21
games she played in last season driving in six and scoring
five times. Hearn is a talented freshman from Millington High
School. She hit .396 with 44 hits, three home runs and 29
RBIs her senior season. She was a 2003 and 2004 Commercial
Appeal Best of Preps selection and named to the All-Metro
team both seasons. Presson was a first-team All-Region selection
at IC and will provide speed and depth to this talented outfield.
Catcher
Sophomore Lauren Zavelli
and freshman Samantha Maness
will platoon at catcher this year for the Lady Bucs. Zavelli
split time with senior Sara Szpekowski
last year behind the plate starting in 16 of her 21 games
played in. She hit .292 with 14 hits and six RBIs. An excellent
pitch caller, Zavelli will be an excellent teacher for Maness.
Maness joins the Lady Buc softball team after spending the
fall as the starting libero for the Lady Buc volleyball team.
A Gallatin (TN) High School product, was an All-County selection
her junior and senior years.
Designated Player
When not pitching, Bomar will be the Lady
Bucs' designated player this season. Last year, she had four
hits including a double and two RBIs. Just as talented at
the plate as on the mound Bomar will hope to be a rally starter
for the Lady Bucs this year.
With a schedule that includes 16 games at home, the Lady
Bucs feel poised to make their first trip to the GSC Tournament.
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