For most teams, losing its ace pitcher and three out of four starting infielders would send the program into a rebuilding year. Not for the women's softball team. Despite significant losses, the Jumbos still look to be one of the favorites to win the NESCAC Championship as a pre-season poll ranked them 7th in New England.
After winning the NESCAC Championship in 2002, the women expect to repeat their success this season despite the different outlook of their team.
"We're going to be equally as successful," senior co-captain Nikki Blotner said. "We just have to go about it in a different way."
How different is this year's softball roster? The most notable loss is Jumbo starting pitcher Jodie Moreau. After being the Jumbo's ace her entire career here, Moreau finished her 2002 season with a win-loss record of 20-3 and an ERA of 0.53. Without her on the mound, the Jumbos will have to turn to what Coach Kris Herman refers to as a "revolving door" at the pitching position.
With five pitchers currently on the roster, sophomore Carolyn Grieco brings the most experience to the mound. Grieco saw the most time after Moreau last season with a 7-2 record and a 2.64 ERA. Along with Grieco, the team will carry junior pitchers Maggie McClory, Pam Swidler and freshmen Sarah Conroy and Julia Brenta. While neither of these pitchers brings the experience or dominance, Herman is confident that these girls will perform just as well for the team.
"The jury's still out but that doesn't mean they can't be successful," Herman said.
The main reason that the Jumbos are still confident they can win is because of the solid defense and strong hitting they bring to the table. Herman admits that in order to make up for the difference between Moreau, a strong strike-out pitcher, and her new girls on the mound, the defense must play tighter.
The fact that the Jumbos believe their defense can be strong is impressive as well. They lost 75 percent of their infield to graduation in first baseman Tiffany Trahan, second baseman Emily Ferezza and short stop Jen Mackey. Despite these losses, the coach and teammates alike are confident that their new infield can gel quickly enough to be strong defensively.
"Everyone interacts well with each other," Blotner said. "This is the key element for a good infield."
Strong hitting will be the strength of their team. The Jumbos bring back several strong hitters in sophomore Courtney Bongiolatti who finished last season with a .352 batting average and junior Julie Fox (.350). Also returning to the lineup is two time all-American senior co-captain Lis Drake who batted .336 and led the team with 9 home runs.
"[Lis] hits the ball as hard as anyone around," Herman said.
As the NESCAC is divided into the eastern and western division, the Jumbos believe that they are still the team to beat in the east. Meanwhile Williams, the favorite to win the western division, will be the Jumbos largest road block on the way to their third conference Championship title.
With the cold weather hurting practices lately, the Jumbos will travel to Orange County, California over spring break to begin their season. Facing many of the nation's strongest Div. III teams, the team predicts a successful performance over spring break. Along with getting in game time, it will offer Herman her first chance to witness her new team in action.
"We've set the bar pretty high," Herman said of her expectations for the team's trip. "But all five pitchers will get a chance to play so it will be a little bit of a fact-finding mission."
Playing tough competition throughout spring break and also the season, the Jumbos are confident that they will be prepared for not only the conference tournament but also the NCAA tournament. After going to the World Series in 2000 for the only appearance in school history, Herman believes that this team has the talent to make Tufts' second appearance.
"We want to go to the World Series. We want to win a National Championship," Herman said.
It will be a long road before the Jumbos reach the post season and even then, they must win the NESCAC Championship in order to advance to the NCAA tournament. The team will take their first steps this upcoming weekend in California as they face Saint Mary's of Minnesota and Savannah Art and Design school in a double header this Sunday, March 16.
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