LIVE STATS
WEST HARTFORD, Conn. - Despite the abnormally mild, and snowless, winter months, it has been a long offseason for the Hawks and they are anxious to return to the field in 2012. Hartford kicks off its campaign with a twinbill on Sunday at neighboring rival Central Connecticut State University, with the opening pitch of the season slated to be thrown at 1:00 p.m.
Eleven members from last year's squad, including six starters, join six newcomers and will look to improve upon last year's record while lead the University of Hartford softball team to its first postseason appearance since the 2008 campaign.
Hartford returns a bevy of offense, with four of its top six hitters in batting average coming back in 2012, led by senior Shannon Simpkins and junior Kate Wacyk. Defensively, the Hawks will look to thrive off the depth and speed provided to the line-up.
Second-year head coach Diana Consolmagno believes that besides boasting depth down the line-up, two factors will play a major role in the Hawks' success this season. First, the student-athletes have made tremendous strides physically, putting in countless hours in the weight room while improving conditioning, both actions that will translate on the field on the offensive end as well as defensively.
The second factor not on the physical aspect of the game; it's the mental aspect. Consolmagno believes that her team has developed a better understanding of the game of softball, and has drastically become more confident, which will translate on the field when it comes down to decision making.
INFIELD
The 2012 infield will be built around familiar faces who have already spent a year together inside of the diamond while a strong core of newcomers will add depth and versatility. Four Hawks return from last year's roster while a pair of rookies will be added to the mix.
Manning first base for the second-straight year will be sophomore Chelsey Mooney. A left-handed power-hitter who has stepped up with a consistent bat, Mooney has also proven to own a reliable glove, committing just eight errors in 350 chances for a .981 fielding percentage in her rookie campaign, a year that she started and played in all 44 games for the Scarlet and White.
Complimenting Mooney on the right side of the diamond will be sophomore Amber Andrews, a player who has exhibited extreme consistency both on the field and inside of the batter's box. An intellect of the game, Andrews is expected to step up and perform in clutch situations. Last season, she collected 23 hits, including four doubles, and knocked in eight runs.
Kate Wacyk and Melani Maxwell, a pair of juniors, return to anchor the left side of the diamond, and will both share time at shortstop and the hot corner. Wacyk's solid range gives her the ability to play both the shortstop and third base position, adding flexibility to the Hawks' defense. The leader in the infield, she has already proven that she can perform at the plate as she belted out four doubles, and a team-best three triples and four homers, while finishing with 20 walks.
After starting and playing in every game last year, Maxwell enjoyed a breakout season with 24 hits, six of which went for extra bases, while recording 13 runs batted in. Maxwell has worked hard during the offseason, becoming much stronger, and will provide a powerful presence at the plate for the Hawks in 2012. She also adds a great awareness in the infield as well as a strong arm to her resume.
Freshman Jackie Kelly will also see time in the left side of the infield. A hard-nosed and tough player out of Staten Island, N.Y., Kelly brings a strong, accurate arm to the infield and will add power to Hartford's batting line-up.
Betz will see time on both the corners as well in the Hawks' outfield. A great contact hitter who will add power to Hartford's line-up, the Ashburn, Va. native batted .350 as a senior and boasted a slugging percentage of .456.
Splitting time behind the plate will be junior Jordan Haines and newcomer Peyton Fisher. The duo will provide a defensive spark behind the plate and will both be integral parts of the pitching staff's success in 2012.
Haines was no slouch defensively, committing a single error in 160 chances for a team-best .994 fielding percentage. A year ago, she scored 12 runs, added 14 runs batted in and led the team with four home runs. Haines, who has been swinging the bat well during the preseason, is expected to be an offensive threat at the plate this season.
A newcomer out of Kelowna, British Columbia, Fisher also brings a wealth of intelligence behind the plate and will be a powerful addition to the Hawks' batting line-up. At the plate, Fisher has the ability to knock the ball out of the park in addition to a well-tuned short game, and will add speed on the base paths as well.
OUTFIELD
Senior captain Shannon Simpkins will again be returning to a starting role in the outfield, serving as the leader of the unit in centerfield. The team's top returning hitter, Simpkins was productive last year batting as the lead-off hitter last season. As a junior, she batted .294 while leading the team with 22 runs, nine sacrifices, nine stolen bases and 13 multiple-hit games. A slap-hitter who's game is built around her tremendous speed, Simpkins provides additional options in the lineup with her ability to rip the ball through the middle of the infield or lay a bunt down to get on base.
After sitting out 40 games last season due to an injury suffered early-on in the season last year, Erica Phelps, a red-shirt junior, will see time in the outfield in 2012. Phelps boasts one of the strongest arms in the outfield and has been swinging the bat well in the preseason. She also has significant speed to both cover ground in the outfield and is both a dynamic and smart base runner.
Also returning to Hartford's outfield is sophomore Genevieve Morneau-Vaillaincourt. A former baseball player, Consolmagno expects her to reach base and score runs for the Hawks. One of the team's hardest workers, Morneau-Vaillaincourt has significantly improved her game during the offseason and will make tremendous strides in 2012.
Consolmagno adds Devynne Butler, a left-handed slap-hitter, as another option in the outfield. A freshman from Moreno Valley, Calif., Butler's speed will allow her to cover from gap to gap in the outfield and will cause havoc for Hartford's opponents on the base paths.
Sophomore Kimberly Eisen and Betz will also vie for time in the Hawks' outfield. Eisen brings tremendous speediness to Hartford's line-up and benefits from her extensive knowledge of the game.
PITCHING
Hartford's rotation inside of the pitching circle will be the deepest it has been in the recent years with a good mix of experience and youth coming together. Anchoring the rotation will be senior captain Siera Sheehan and Kaitlyn Meade, and they split the duties with freshmen Eve Clausen and Ana Alberti.
Sheehan, the Hawks' most experienced hurler, is Hartford's leader inside of the circle. A fierce competitor, she has gained valuable experience over the past three years and is will once again be the anchor of Hartford's pitching.
Despite being a sophomore, Consolmagno describes Meade as a veteran pitcher whos tireless work ethic and composure will add to her success inside of the circle. She has 22 appearances under her belt and led the Hawks with a 4.87 earned run average last season.
Adding depth to Hartford's pitching staff is Ana Alberti, a freshman from New Port Richey, Fla. Alberti will rely on location and movement to be effective up and down the lineup. An intelligent addition inside of the circle for the Hawks, Alberti boasted an ERA of 0.41 coupled with a batting average of .485 during her final season at River Ridge High School.
Rounding out the Hawks' hurlers is newcomer Eve Clausen who comes to Hartford from The Peddie School in New Hersey. Clausen, who has what it takes to help bring the Hawks to the next level, garnered All-Prep First Team honors as a sophomore after leading the league in strikeouts that season.
