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The 2008 Lady Monarch softball team is back in full swing this season coming off their seventh MAC Freedom Conference Championship in the last eight years and their eighth consecutive trip to the NCAA tournament. Head Coach Lisa Gigliello is heading into her 15 th straight season with the Monarchs and is already eying another mark in the win column.
Leading this year's squad will be senior outfielders Leanne Harvey and Annie Drimones. Harvey not only carries over a batting average of .371 but is a sure hand on the grass with a fielding percentage of .950 and is a hot threat on the dirt stealing 12 of 13 attempted bases last season. Also bringing the pressure of speed is Drimones who completed 26-30 steals in the last two seasons. Drimones and junior Julie Bidwell are expected to rotate in the outfield filling the center field gap left by graduated Justine Maggio. Junior shortstop Abbey Knoblauch also packs a punch coming off a banner season batting a team high .414 with an OBP of 494.
“Some upper classmen separate themselves from the rest of the team,” Harvey said. “But we have always been close to [ the team] so it's easy to take a leadership role.”
Bringing presence to the mound is 6-foot-2 sophomore hurler Lindsay Hoerner. Hoerner earned her keep in the MAC Freedom Tournament last year earning tournament MVP honors as she came to her team's aid and held rival Wilkes University to just four runs in two games. Completing the one-two punch for the Monarchs will be junior Kelsey Shreaves who ended the '07 season with a 1.97 ERA. Shreaves and Hoerner also contribute offensively with respective averages of .300 and .345. Also seeing some time on the mound will be freshman Jacquelyn O'Brien.
“Both of our pitchers performed excellent last year,” Harvey said. “This year we have a new freshman as our third pitcher and I'm sure she'll step up.”
King's will definitely miss the accolades of graduated senior Mari Valonis who ended her final two seasons as Freedom Conference MVP. Posting a .376 BA Valonis will be missed in the four-slot, but with a defensive percentage of .988, she is sure to be missed at first base. Being the Monarch's only graduating infielder, King's coaches now have the tedious task of filling very big shoes.
“Someone will definitely step-up and do a great job,” Drimones said. “But it's going to be a big position to fill.”
King's is looking to take a crack at yet another Freedom Conference title this year and with the experience and talent of the squad they are sure to out shine the competition. In past years, Wilkes University has given the Monarchs a run for their money; taking the conference title in 2006. But with their "golden-arm" Laurie Agresti graduating last year, the Colonels may be on a rebuilding season. It may leave the door open for another team to give the Lady Monarchs a run for their money.
“You never know what team is going to surprise you,” Harvey said. “It all depends on who graduates, but I'm sure we'll see some strong teams.”
The team leaves for Florida to start their Spring Break trip and them continues to the Salisbury Tournament in Maryland on March 7-8. Their season and home opener is on March 18 against Lycoming College .
“You get some animosity sometimes between leaders but our team is really close,” Drimones said. “I definitely see another MAC championship in our future.”
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