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

CONTACT: Jerry Reilly,
Sports Information Director

DATE: Fri., March 17, 2006

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Softball

Vet pitchers surrounded by newcomers

FREDONIA, N.Y. -- An influx of 11 new college players would make it appear the 2006 Fredonia State softball team is in a rebuilding mode.

The return of two veteran pitchers and three other battle-tested upperclassmen could change the first impression.

Reality will begin taking shape during the Blue Devils' annual Florida trip to play in the Gene Cusic Collegiate Classic in Fort Myers and Cape Coral. They open their season March 24 vs. Plymouth State, the first of 10 games in the Sunshine State.

Their home opener is April 1 vs. SUNYIT, the first of 10 SUNYAC doubleheaders. Altogether, the Blue Devils will play 15 doubleheaders during April.

As the only head coach in the 11-year history of Blue Devil softball, Lorrie Corsi has the perspective to be able to see some of the obstacles ahead.

"In order for us to have a successful season," he said, "a lot will depend on how quickly (the 11 newcomers) will develop. This is the hardest working group I've coached at Fredonia, but we do have a lot of question marks."

One of those questions marks would not seem to extend to the pitching department. Junior right-hander Casey Mazurek (Dunkirk/Dunkirk) and senior right-hander Ashley Sullivan (Derby/Lake Shore) form the experience-rich Blue Devil pitching tandem. They have combined to pitch 424 2/3 innings spanning 79 appearances.

Mazurek has done the majority of the pitching work the last two seasons. A All SUNYAC selection as a freshman, she has a 24-18 collegiate record with a 1.64 earned run average over 282 innings. One more victory and she'll become the winningest pitcher in school history. In addition, she's on pace to establish school records for innings pitched and strikeouts early in the 2006 season.

Sullivan, a co-captain and the only four-year player on the roster, has a 10-12 record with a 2.75 ERA in 142 2/3 innings.

"With Casey and Ashley," Corsi said, "they will both be able to keep us competitive. The biggest key factor will be our offensive punch."

The other returning players are senior outfielders Ashley Livermore (Randolph/Randolph) and Staci Weidert (Hilton/Hilton), and junior infielder Lindsey Drum (Wayland/Wayland-Cohocton). All three were starters in 2005. Livermore, the other co-captain, batted .286 last season with 10 doubles, two triples, four homers, and 23 RBI. She either led the team or tied for the team lead in every one of those categories.

Otherwise, the 2005 Blue Devils had trouble hitting in the clutch. They left 242 runners in scoring position over 37 games -- an average of 6.5 per game. Improved run production would have resulted in better than their 14-23 won-loss record.

Among the newcomers who have a chance to start early in the season are junior Lisa Laudan (Kenmore/Kenmore West) at third base, and freshmen Sarah Kiehl (Lancaster/Depew) and Tonja Royce (Forestville/Forestville) at second base and shortstop, respectively. In addition, there will be a freshman catcher -- there are three on the roster -- and a newcomer in the outfield.

The Blue Devils are picked to finished seventh in a pre-season poll of SUNYAC coaches. Corsi believes the team can do better than that in a strong 11-team conference.

"Our goal," he said, "is to end up in the top six spots. You need to do so to have an opportunity to play for the league title."

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