Season Preview
success top “option” for softball team

The Muhlenberg softball team is abandoning its single platoon system for an option attack in 2008.

The Mules have been

Rosenthal has four career home runs.

hampered by a lack of depth in past years, sometimes dressing as few as 10 or 11 players for late-season games when injuries took their toll. But an infusion of talented freshmen should change that.

Muhlenberg heads into the campaign, which begins at the Rebel Spring Games in Florida against Wartburg on Sunday, with 16 healthy bodies. The newcomers not only give the team depth, but they also provide diversity, as many can play multiple positions.

“They’re all really talented, and they should contribute a lot,” said senior pitcher Katie Vecchione of the freshmen. “I think we have a

Vecchione earned wins against Wittenberg and Gettysburg last year.

lot of options, which is different from past years.”

Those options should keep the team fresher for the long haul. Last year, the Mules were 5-3 after their first eight Centennial Conference games, including a split with eventual CC champ Gettysburg, but tired down the stretch. They finished 6-10 in the league, missing the playoffs for the third straight year, and 9-23 overall.

Vecchione (two wins) and junior Lara Kestenbaum (three wins, two saves) are joined by two freshmen on the pitching staff. They will be throwing to junior RiRi Ferrigno, who hit .280 and led the squad in RBI (21) and doubles (seven) last year.

In the field, Muhlenberg will look to younger players to make up for the loss of three starters up the middle. The infield returns the corners in sophomores Allie Saltstein at first and Jenna Van Waalwijk at third. Sophomores Alexa DeMiglio and Katie Smithson also saw action at first and second, respectively.

Senior Jennifer Rosenthal, a .274 hitter in 2007, played some first base but saw more time as the designated player.

The returning corner outfielders are juniors Samantha Crist (.287, six stolen bases) in left and Michelle Consiglio (.241) in right.

“I think all around our team is pretty solid,” said Vecchione. “I don’t think there is one particular position where we’re strongest. We all work really well together.”

Work is something the Mules took to heart in the offseason, according to Vecchione. “From the fall to now, we never stopped practicing.”

Muhlenberg will put its work ethic and new-found depth to the test in Florida, where it is scheduled to face three of the top 25 teams in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association preseason poll – No. 2 Wartburg, No. 18 Muskingum and No. 24 Washington (Mo.) – in its 10-game trip. The Mules have their home opener slated for Wednesday, March 19, against Hunter.