Softball Set To Open Season Friday At Georgia Tech

STORRS, Conn. (March 2, 2006) - Despite the loss of seven seniors to graduation, the 2006 University of Connecticut softball team will look to a solid core of veterans and a talented freshman class in order to return to the top of the BIG EAST Conference. A focused, talented group, the Huskies will open the 2006 season on Friday at the Georgia Tech Buzz Classic. UConn's first game of the season will be against Marshall at 6:00 p.m. and the Huskies will also face Austin Peay at 8:00 p.m. on Friday.

Pitching
The Huskies will look to senior co-captain Michelle Caoette (Wyantskill, N.Y.) to lead a relatively unproven pitching staff this season. UConn’s top returning pitcher, Caouette’s junior season was cut short due to an ankle injury and Mullins believes that she has the talent to do some special things this season. Said Mullins, “Michelle’s strong leadership on the hill will be critical to the success of this year’s team.”

The senior will be joined on the hill by junior Krista Michalczyk (Salem, N.H.), sophomore Ashley Thody (Middletown, Conn.) and freshman Rachael Crossin (Fairless Hills, Pa.). Although unproven, Michalczyk, who redshirted the 2005 season due to ankle surgery, worked exceptionally hard in the fall to regain her form and confidence and should be a consistent performer for the Huskies this season. Primarily a relief pitcher, Thody is coming off a solid freshman campaign that saw her pick up one win in five appearances. With a strong drop and change of pace look, Thody should continue to improve this season. Rounding out the UConn pitching staff is Crossin, who was an all-state hurler in Pennsylvania. According to Mullins, the newcomer had a fine fall and is expected to add depth to the staff immediately.

Catchers
The Huskies sport plenty of options behind the plate with two returning players and two newcomers who are ably equipped to handle the UConn pitching staff. Senior Kim Castner (Forked River, N.J.) will be counted on both offensively and defensively as the most experienced receiver of the group. She is poised to make her final season in a UConn uniform her finest. Coming off a strong freshman season, sophomore Allie Gendron (Amherst, Mass.) is a knowledgeable player who sees the game well behind the plate. She also provided some clutch offensive performances in her first season as a Husky, finishing the year with a .238 batting average and 29 hits in 122 at bats, the third-highest hit total on the squad. Gendron could also see action in the designated player position.

Two newcomers who are ready to make an immediate impact behind the plate are freshmen Danielle Del Ponte (Tewksbury, Mass.) and Erin Burtner (Jefferson, Md.). Said Mullins, “With a strong arn and powerful bat, Danielle is a great addition to our program while Erin is a welcomed walk-on who displayed lots of potential and poise this fall.”

Infield
A key strength of the 2006 squad will be tough, aggressive infield play. Leading the way around the diamond will be junior Jessica Quan (Stockton, Calif.) at second base. A supremely steady and heads up player, this will be Quan’s third season starting at second following a sophomore season in which she had a fielding percentage of .944 with 99 putouts and 87 assists. Quan has also been a force at the plate in her career thus far, amassing 62 hits in her first two years as a Husky, including seven doubles. She has also knocked in 22 runs and stolen five bases.

After two impressive seasons at third base, junior Holly Calcagno (Cedar Grove, N.J.) is expected to take her strong arm and great range back to her natural position of shortstop. Calcagno is also a clutch hitter with good power who had five doubles and a .242 batting average in 2005. Senior co-captain Erica Pernell (Plainville, Conn.) has shown great promise in her first three seasons and can see action in a variety of positions in the spring. “Erica is our igniter,” said Mullins. “She leads the team in so many ways. She will be a key situational player this year in the third base, designated player or pinch hitter position.”

At first base, the Huskies will rely on sophomore Christine Keeton (Spokane, Wash.), their top returning hitter, or Castner. A strong player with great potential who is in a position to nail down the starting job at the position, Keeton is an intimidating force at the plate for UConn. In just 29 games last season, Keeton hit safely in 18 of her 70 at bats for a .257 average. She also hit three homeruns, second on the team, and drove in 12 runs, also good for second on the team in that category.

Also returning to the infield for Connecticut is sophomore utility player Jessica Balas (Yorktown, N.Y.), who could see action in both the infield and the outfield throughout the season. Said Mullins, “Jessica is a versatile player with a strong arm who can throw runners out at any base and she has worked hard to recover from off-season knee surgery.”

Adding depth and consistency to the infield this season will be freshman Jillian Ortega (Aberdeen, N.J.). An All-State honoree from New Jersey, Ortega could see action at a variety of infield positions in her first season as a Husky. “A dynamic, intense player, Jillian is fun to watch and fun to coach,” said Mullins. “She will have an immediate impact as a freshman.”

Outfield
The Huskies have a talented group of players that will offer a variety of options in the outfield for Mullins this season. After losing all three starters to graduation, the UConn coaching staff will look to three freshmen and one returnee to carry the load in the outfield. Freshman Micah Truax (South Glens Falls, N.Y.) has explosive speed and great offensive capabilities and Mullins will look to build an outfield around her athleticism in center field. Offensively, fellow newcomer Sarah Neuschwander (Chugiak, Alaska) wasted little time in the fall creating a spot for herself in the outfield lineup. With a strong arm, the freshman is a strong candidate to start in right field at the opening of the season.

Also expected to challenge for an offensive position are sophomore Kristina Tolles (Southington, Conn.) and freshman Meghan Tierney (Salem, Conn.). The lone returnee of the group, Tolles was one of eight BIG EAST Scholar-Athlete on the 2005 squad, and she is also an explosive offensive player who will vie for an outfield or designated player position throughout the season. In 2005, Tolles saw action in 36 games, picking up three hits and two RBI while accumulating a fielding percentage of .929 with 13 putouts.

Said Mullins, “The ultimate team player, Kristina impacts the program both on and off the field. Meghan is a gifted athlete and a diligent worker who is well on her way to establishing herself at the collegiate level. I expect her to challenge for a spot in the outfield and provide depth at second base.”

Schedule
UConn opens the 2006 season on March 3 at the Georgia Tech Buzz Classic against Marshall and Austin Peay. While in Georgia, the Huskies will also take on host Georgia Tech and East Tennessee State before heading to Tallahassee, Fla. to play a doubleheader against Florida State. UConn will stay in Tallahassee for the Florida State Tournament on March 10-12 before wrapping up the tournament season at the Florida Atlantic Tournament on March 17-19. Heading back up north, the Huskies will host Boston College for their home opener on March 22 in Storrs.

UConn will open the BIG EAST season on the road with doubleheaders at Villanova and Rutgers on March 25 and 26 before playing one home game against Quinnipiac on March 28. It is then on to Notre Dame and DePaul on April 1 and 2, back to Storrs for a day to host Brown on the 4th before traveling across the state to close out the season series with Quinnipiac on April 5.

UConn then settles in for a substantial home stand on April 8-23 with just one quick break. During the home stand, UConn will host South Florida and Louisville for doubleheaders and single game contests against Hofstra and UMass before heading to Providence for a doubleheader. The Huskies will return home on the 18th to take on Boston University and Dartmouth as well as hosting doubleheaders against Seton Hall and St. John's. UConn closes out the 2006 season on the road with doubleheaders at Central Connecticut on April 26, Syracuse on April 28 and Pittsburgh on April 30 before a single game at UMass on May 7.

Said Mullins of the Huskies 2006 schedule, “Keeping with tradition and the belief that to be the best you must play the best, the Huskies will open the season on the road at three very competitive tournaments. One of our hardest challenges this season will come within our own conference as the newly expanded BIG EAST welcomes DePaul, Louisville and South Florida into the fold.”