Softball | Pick your poison: Lineup depth is Jumbos' biggest asset

Coming off a strong season in which they topped the NESCAC East Division with a conference record of 9-3, the Jumbos now have their sights set on a conference title - something that has eluded the team in its past two campaigns.
The departure of graduated seniors IzzieSantone (E '11) and Kim Miner (LA '11), who played integral roles in the team's success last year, has left some doubts about the Jumbos' potential to outdo their 2011 effort, but this year's squad appears to have the talent to get the job done.
"Our first and primary goal is to win the NESCAC," senior tri-captain first baseman Lena Cantone said. "We won it my freshman year, and we haven't won since, so it would be really nice to do it this year. But with this team, we are also confident that we can go a lot further."
Last year's team built its success around pitching and defense. Tufts finished third in the NESCAC with a .955 fielding percentage, behind only Hamilton and Middlebury, in 2011, and its entire infield and much of the outfield remains intact.
"Our team is much bigger this year," sophomore catcher Jo Clair said. "We have 19 girls now, and last year we only had 14. Because the freshmen play many different infield positions, I think coach [Cheryl Milligan] will be able to mix and match players in order to find the best defense. Our depth will definitely help us."
Despite the loss of Santone, the Jumbos enter this season with a strong pitching rotation anchored by junior Rebecca DiBiase, who established herself as a workhorse last year, logging a team-high 110 1/3 innings. DiBiase posted a 2.47 ERA, and opponents batted a lowly .258 against her in her 24 appearances. Junior AlyMoskowitz and sophomores Kayla Holland and Lauren Giglio will round out the rotation. Moskowitz posted a 3.88 ERA in nine appearances last season, while Giglio posted a 5-3 record, including two complete-game performances, in her 16 outings.
"One of the problems last year was that we had the talent but we didn't have the depth," Clair said. "Rebecca is a great leader, and Aly and Lauren now have some more experience under their belt. They will help [freshman pitcher] Allyson [Fournier] grow. They all have great work ethics."
Offensively, the Jumbos will present challenges for opposing pitchers throughout their lineup. In her first season at the collegiate level, Clair established herself as one of the premier individual talents in the NESCAC and all of Div. III, exploding for a team-high 42 RBIs while shattering the school's single-season home run record with 16 dingers. With a year of experience under her belt, there is no telling what kind of damage Clair can produce from the clean-up spot.
But what could truly make the Jumbos great this year is their balanced attack from one to nine. Cantone is coming off a terrific junior season in which she hit .435 and collected 34 RBIs. Junior second baseman Emily Beinecke hammered opposing pitchers last year for a .374 batting average while posting 23 RBIs. Senior tri-captain shortstop Mira Lieman-Sifry is coming off her best year as a Jumbo, having batted .306, forced 15 walks and stolen 12 bases. Finally, senior tri-captain center fielder LizzyIuppa hit for a .328 average, stole a team-high 20 bases and patrolled the outfield with a .952 fielding percentage.
While the game is not played on paper, the squad has talent in bunches.
"We're going to have a lot of depth this year, which takes pressure off individual players," Cantone said. "Offensively, it's not top or middle or bottom, but the whole lineup has the potential to do great things. The pitcher basically has to pick her poison."
This year's team also has a handful of promising young players. Clair worked firsthand throughout much of the fall with Fournier, and she is optimistic about her potential.
"She will be on the radar of other NESCAC teams before long," Clair said of the freshman righthander. "She has the talent to be really good, not to mention a great work ethic."
"All the incoming freshmen are really talented," Cantone added. "I wouldn't say there is one standout just yet, but they all collectively bring a lot of talent, and I think they will contribute right away to the success of this team."
The Jumbos will open their 2012 campaign with their annual trip to Clermont, Fla., for the NTC Spring Games from March 17-24. The tournament will offer the players and coaches an opportunity to build chemistry as they prepare to make another run at the NESCAC title.
"That week is when the team truly comes together," Clair said. "We live together and basically do everything together, so it's a really good time to become even closer with everyone both on and off the field."