Sports Information Department – 112 Dods Hall
Phone (716) 673-3100 / Fax (716) 673-3136

CONTACT: Jerry Reilly,
Sports Information Director

DATE: Thurs., March 13, 2008

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Softball

Blue Devils set to start season with Florida trip

FREDONIA, N.Y. -- A rebuilding program which began in 2007 resumes in 2008 with six players returning. The pitching staff is revamped, while several freshman position players are expected to make immediate contributions.

All SUNYAC outfielder Samantha Voncina (Derby/Lake Shore) is the top player back. A sophomore center fielder, Voncina burst onto the scene as a freshman with a team-leading .323 batting average, 19 RBI, and eight homers. The eight homers set a single-season team record and fell one short of the all-time career mark.

Another freshman was among the leading hitters throughout 2007. Now a sophomore, Andrea Devon (Elmira/Notre Dame) finished second on the team with a .281 batting average. She will be making a position change in 2008, and not just any switch. Used exclusively at shortstop last season, Devon will move to the pitcher’s circle, where she has looked good during preseason drills. She will also play first base.

Junior left fielder Brittany Connell (Geneva) is the only player returning for her third season. She will be counted on for leadership -- she and Devon are co-captains -- as well as middle-of-the-order at-bats. She is the only junior on the roster, which is devoid of a single senior.

Two more sophomores, Bree Crossett (Wayland/Wayland-Cohochton) and Samantha Kinkema (Lake City, Mich./Northern Michigan Christian), are slated to start at catcher and third base, respectively. Crossett saw regular duty as a freshman while Kinkema hit .300 in a reserve role. Sophomore outfielder Malysa Mosier (Dunkirk) is the sixth returning player. She was used almost exclusively as pinch-runner last season.

The Blue Devils have added a talented freshman class. Head coach Lorrie Corsi feels Kristy Sheridan (Buffalo/Mount Mercy) is one of the best shortstops he has recruited over the years. She will most likely start alongside Jessica Thompson (Falconer), a member of Class B state championship teams at Falconer. In the outfielder, Maria Siderakis (Webster/Webster-Thomas) and Amy Coniglio (Dunkirk) will see plenty of playing time as both have been impressive in preseason drills.

Three other freshmen will push for playing time. Jessica Cole (Hobart/South Kortright), mainly an outfielder in high school, has stepped in as the No. 2 catcher. Kelsey Sherwood (Forestville) has been playing solid defense at third base in the preseason. Meanwhile, Adriana Connell (Geneva) -- Brittany’s younger sister -- will be part of a three-person pitching staff as well as a back-up infielder.

The third pitcher is Cristina Reale (Geneva), a transfer from Mercyhurst North, who has the collegiate background to step in and help right away. The three pitchers should benefit from a solid defense behind them, something Casey Mazurek didn’t always get in her four seasons in the circle. Instead, Mazurek relied on her stuff to record 566 strikeouts in 522 innings -- the 29th best strikeout-to-game ratio in NCAA Division III history.

“You just don’t lose someone as talented as Casey and not feel it.,” Corsi said. “She had an outstanding career for the Blue Devils and will sadly be missed, but the fortunate part is she remains in the program to help with the pitching staff.”

The Blue Devils open the season March 21 with two games at Cape Coral, Fla., in the Gene Cusic Classic. They will play eight more times in Florida through March 26, then return north for SUNYAC doublheaders at Morrisville State (March 28) and at SUNYIT (March 29).

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