Princeton University Athletics
Back-to-Back Ivy Champion Softball Adds Five for Class of 2010
August 18, 2006 | Softball
The back-to-back Ivy League champion Princeton softball team will have some important parts to replace for a successful title defense in 2007.
Maureen Barron, who has guided the program to four NCAA tournament appearances in the last five seasons, has announced the addition of five members of the Class of 2010 as the Tigers seek to replace four seniors that accounted for half the infield as well as back-to-back Ivy League Pitcher of the Year Erin Snyder.
“We are extremely excited about the addition of our freshmen class,” Barron said, speaking on behalf of assistant coaches Trina Salcido and Jodie Ricciardi as well. “They are a bright and talented group of young women who will further enrich our roster with power, speed and tremendous work ethic. They all come from successful and winning programs and will be a great fit with our returning players.”
Barron has recruited a pair of pitchers, including Jamie Lettire and Casey Melvin, to complement rising senior Calli Jo Varner and rising junior Kristen Schaus, a two-time first-team All-Ivy player and 2005 Ivy Rookie of the Year.
Lettire comes to Princeton from Presentation High in San Jose, Calif., where she was a two-time West Catholic Athletic League Pitcher of the Year and four-time first-team all-league player. She posted a 24-2 record with an 0.42 ERA as a senior with 274 strikeouts in 168 innings while allowing only seven walks. At the plate, Lettire hit .355 with 10 extra-base hits and drew enough walks for an on-base percentage of .467.
“Jamie Lettire is a tall, athletic, right handed pitcher with great speed and movement,” Barron said. “She comes from a very successful and winning program and will only continue to improve at the college level. In addition to her talent on the mound, she is a great hitter and plays a solid first base as well. Jamie is a great competitor and will undoubtedly be a great asset to our bullpen and program.”
Melvin attended Vincentian Academy near Pittsburgh, Pa., compiling a 53-15 record as a four-time all-section pitcher. As a junior and senior combined, Melvin struck out 481 batters in 286 innings, earning a 35-8 record and 0.56 ERA as a result. She shined at the plate as well, hitting well over. 400 all four years and over .500 her last three years. As a senior, she hit .605. For her career, 74 of her 129 hits went for extra bases, leading to a career slugging percentage of 1.099.
“Casey Melvin is a fierce competitor and talented athlete,” Barron said. “She is a hard-throwing right-handed pitcher with good movement. She is also a utility player with a great bat. When not pitching, she could see time on the corners or in the hitting lineup.”
With the graduation of dependable shortstop Cristina Cobb-Adams, corner infielder Amanda Erickson and part-time second baseman Lindsay Motal, Barron will have to reassemble the Tiger infield around rising sophomore Jackie Araneo, a second-team All-Ivy player at second base last year. Snyder and Erickson split time at first base and Erickson manned third along with rising senior Tiffany Andras and Araneo.
Collette Abbott, from La Jolla High School in San Diego, Calif., will be in the mix as a middle infielder. She was a four-time All-Western League player and was named first-team all-league her last three years. She hit .650 as a sophomore in 2004, leading to a first-team all-section honor. She finished her career hitting .500 as a senior.
“Collette Abbott is a middle infielder who will add tremendous depth to our infield and to our offensive line up as well.” Barron said. “She has great hands and a strong arm and brings power to the plate. She is a talented athlete who could play anywhere on the field, though we expect to see her in the middle infield.”
Ellen Scott, a graduate of Deerfield Academy in western Massachusetts, will be a candidate for time in the outfield and at second base. She was a three-time all-star in the Western New England Prep School Softball Conference, carrying a career batting average of over .400. She also pitched for Deerfield, totaling a 27-9 record and 0.40 ERA.
“Ellen Scott is extremely hard working and will be a great addition to our program,” Barron said. “She is a utility player who pitches, plays outfield and second base. She has solid fundamentals and is very athletic. Offensively, she is a triple threat, hitting, bunting and slapping from the left side.”
The Tigers return all three starters in the oufield, including Ivy League Rookie of the Year Kathryn Welch in left and a pair of second-team All-Ivy players in Stephanie Steel and Beth Dalmut in center and right-field, respectively. Barron will add Kelsey Quist from Francis Parker School in San Diego to the outfield. She earned all-section honors three of her four years and was the San Diego Section pitcher of the year in her school's class and league. She holds a sectional record for no-hitters in a season, throwing nine in a year, and hit three home runs in a game on two occasions while posting a career batting average of .594 and slugging 1.245. Quist also pitched at the high-school level, striking out 529 batters in 358 innings.
“Kelsey Quist will join former [club team] San Diego Breaker player, Stephanie Steel, in our outfield,” Barron said. “We have had great success with 'Breakers' in the past [Snyder and Steel] and expect that Kelsey will be equally successful as a Tiger. Kelsey is extremely athletic and has a great head for the game. She is fast and powerful and in addition to playing a great outfield, can pitch as well.
The five-member Class of 2010 and their veteran teammates will begin the 2007 campaign in March.