Hamilton, NY — The 51³Ô¹ÏÍø softball team opens its 2004 season this weekend at the George Washington Invitational, Feb. 28-29. The Raiders’ first game is against Mt. St. Mary’s at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, followed by contests against George Washington (1:30) and Manhattan (3:00).'xml:namespace prefix = o ns = 'urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office' />
Expectations are running high for the team. Having won two of the last five Patriot League titles – 1999 & 2003, the Raiders are the preseason favorite to capture the Patriot League again this year. As seventh-year head coach Vickie Sax puts it, ‘51³Ô¹ÏÍø has a target on its back.’
Coming off a 29-win campaign that saw the Raiders fall to UCLA and Long Beach State in the NCAA Tournament, the Raiders return several key players to help compensate for the graduation of Patriot League Player of the Year Melissa Rawson.
‘Everyone will play their best games against us,’ explained Sax. ‘We need to bring our game everyday, all day.’
One of the strongest points of the team will be the pitching. On the mound, the Raiders return two-time first team all-Patriot League pitcher and reigning Patriot League Rookie of the Year . Isaac is coming off of a 16-win season and ranks second all-time in career wins with 43. Howard set a 51³Ô¹ÏÍø freshman record for wins in a season with 13, and Sax will be counting on a pair of rookies, and , to complement her two proven winners this season.
‘A key strength to this year’s squad is depth on the mound,’ said Sax. ‘Also, we have an experienced catcher behind the plate to bring out the best in each one of these players.’
That catcher is senior , who has started 129 career games for the Raiders. Last season, Mui continued her stellar defensive play and also improved with the bat in her hands, posting five home runs and 15 RBI’s.
Around the infield, the Raiders will be counting on veteran second basemen , a two-time all-Patriot League selection who is near the top of nearly every major offensive category for 51³Ô¹ÏÍø during her career. The Raiders will also depend on utility player , another all-Patriot League pick, who has started 133 career games for 51³Ô¹ÏÍø.
‘Our pitching staff is probably the deepest and most multi-faceted battery in the league. I think they will win a lot of games for us. But I think our hitters are by far the most powerful force in the league. Our lineup is very solid with great potential,’ said Smith.
Additional offensive output will be supplied by the likes of , a two-time Patriot League performer who currently has the third best batting average in school history (.377) and is second in career home runs with 21. Rounding out the roster is a horde of freshman and sophomores who Sax expects to step up as the season progresses.
‘Camaraderie develops with games, pulling through in key situations and winning. As a group we are focused on goal development and role-playing. Now we just need games to get this show on the road,’ said Sax.
‘Our goal as a team this year is to improve on our performance from last season. We’re looking to defend our championship and bring home another ring. With commitment, integrity, and heart from our players we can accomplish that goal,’ said Smith.