DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (Feb. 13, 2020) – The Mercy College softball team opens up their 2020 season on Friday, February 14th against Francis Marion University in Florence, South Carolina.
Head Coach Mike Fazio and the Mavericks are coming off what he calls, a "somewhat disappointing season in 2019, (24-26) where we won more than 20 games for the fourth consecutive season but just missed qualifying for the ECC tournament for what would have been the third time in as many years. Last year, walks and errors led to a lackluster performance, Coach Fazio said. Based on the work we put in during the fall, we think those issues are behind us."
The Mavericks return 10 student-athletes from last year's team with four of those being starters. "We have a strong recruiting class for 2020, made up of 5 transfers and 9 freshmen, coming in on the heels of a 2019 class of eight that all saw significant action last year," Coach Fazio said.
Infield
Leading the returners in the infield at second base is junior Hannah Mueller who was a First Team All-ECC, NFCA First Team All-Region and an All American Honorable Mention selection last season after batting .456 with 67 hits, 36 runs and 30 RBIs. Hannah, who was recruited as a second basemen, is expected to start the season in the middle infield following two years where significant injuries forced her into a utility role.
Sophomore Ylannah Bowman who according to Coach Fazio, "has the ability to play any position on the field, will likely share time with sophomore Jessica Brandt at the hot corner." "Bowman and Brandt both have strong arms and good gloves, and both swung the bat pretty well for us as freshmen last year and continue to show improvement this fall." Bowman finished 2019 playing third, batting .261 in 115 AB, with 26 RBIs and three home runs and Brandt who started the 2019 campaign in the outfield, finished up playing first or third, hit .241 in 87 AB with two home runs and 10 RBIs. Two newcomers will complete the starting infield. A freshman, Samantha Franck, is expected to start at first base and junior transfer Danielle Burgos will get the nod at shortstop. According to Fazio, "Sam had a good fall both offensively and defensively. She has good defensive skills and a strong softball IQ. I really like her swing and her approach at the plate." When discussing the shortstop situation, Fazio added, that although a key area of concern for us at the end of last season, Danielle showed us in the fall, that she going to give us some defensive strength and stability there. Adding depth in the infield, will be senior transfer (UT) Samantha Gutierrez (CNR) and freshmen (MIF) Nicole Smart, Christy Falisi and (UT) Hailey Puglia. "We have a lot of options with a talented group of younger players this year. They have shown us they can swing the bat, have some good speed and play with heart. They all play solid "D" so who starts on any given day will likely depend on their ability to contribute offensively," Fazio added.
Behind the dish, the Mavericks will have three solid options this season. Erika Byrne split the catching in 2019 after transferring from San Diego Mesa College, making 28 starts, hitting .273 with 14 RBIs and 12 runs scored. When healthy, the senior has showed that she has a strong arm and the ability to be a middle of the order hitter, said Fazio. Sophomore Alexis Crawford who started 14 games last year as a freshman, batted .316, scored 12 runs, is expected to see more time there this year and fill the leadoff role in the lineup. "She had a solid fall both offensively and defensively, and is settling in to be the player we expected she would be, when we signed her. In addition, freshmen Sydney Johnston, got a lot of time this fall, and performed well. She hits from the left side and has begun to show some confidence as a hitter. I expect her to compete for time catching and at first," Fazio added.
Outfield
Senior Erica Handegard following her best year at the plate last year, where she hit .313 in 96 AB with five home runs and 17 RBIs while scoring 19 runs, will make the transition from the infield to the outfield this year and is expected to see significant time in left field. Junior transfer Alyssa Guzman who hit just over .300 as a reserve outfielder on a strong Mount San Antonio College team in California, will compete for time in left as well.
Senior transfer (UT) Samantha Gutierrez, who was a solid player at CNR before arriving at Mercy, will likely start in CF with returner Casey Akers getting the nod in RF. Sophomores Ariana Ricci, Alexis Crawford, along with freshmen Leilany Rodriguez and Hailey Puglia could see time and add depth in the outfield as well.
Pitching
With the graduation of four veteran pitchers last year, the staff will look to returning sophomores Katelyn Shephard and Sabrina Gonzalez to take on a bigger role and to five newcomers to fill the void. Both saw limited action as freshmen with Shephard going 5-5 while throwing 50 innings and Gonzalez going 2-3 over 42 innings. "Katelyn and Sabs both threw well for us in the fall and have been working hard to this point. I am confident in both to give us quality innings this spring," Fazio said.
Junior transfer Jessica Becchetti is a key newcomer and will be looked to for leadership on a young staff. Coach Fazio has liked what he has seen from her this fall where she has shown the ability to be effective in the circle and to contribute at the plate. "She has good command, velocity and movement. Jess works hard at all aspects of her game and we are confident that she will be a solid performer for us this season," said Fazio.
Also expected to see time in the circle will be freshman Alexi Benson. "Lex is strong, has good velocity and movement, is a hard worker and her confidence is growing every day, says Fazio. I anticipate that she is going to be a key contributor for us in the spring."
Other freshmen expected to contribute will be Angelina Oquendo, Catherine Zucker and Alexa Tenety. "Although Tenety was sidelined with an injury for the fall we hope to have her ready to go for the spring. Ange is continuing to improve each day during her workouts and we have hopes she will be able to fill a role for us in the spring. Catherine a transfer sophomore, had significant experience last season at St. Joseph's College (LI) and I expect her to be able to provide depth both as a starter and in a relief role."
The Mavericks will open with a schedule that is among the toughest they have put together in the ten seasons Fazio has been in Dobbs Ferry. Traveling to South Carolina to open the season, they will face FMU (31-19), Mars Hill (27-18) and Chowan (21-22). In early March the Mavs travel to North Carolina to play at Barton (16-31) Mt. Olive (33-19) and to Maryland to play Bowie State, followed by a doubleheader back in NY against Adelphi (32-20) on March 14 returning south once more to face Eckerd (18-30) and Shepherd (42-18) in Winter Haven, followed by doubleheaders against FIT, (41-12) Embry-Riddle (26-19) and St. Leo's (31-18) before returning home to open conference play against NYIT.
"Although we have a tougher schedule that is going to be more challenging early, than in years past and have lost some key players to graduation, I am optimistic for the spring," Fazio said.
"I am hoping our 14 talented newcomers' blend well early, with our 10 returners. We will need to rely on our young pitching staff to get us big outs when needed and we will need to play better team defense day in and day out, while creating runs when we have to. Only time will tell if all the potential I believe we have on this team is going to lead to the success they are all working so hard to achieve in terms of wins and losses. It should be fun to watch them develop this spring."
