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Softball Coach Maureen Barron Chats on 2007 in Season Preview Q&A
February 26, 2007 | Softball
Q: How will the team respond after losing Erin Snyder, the back-to-back Ivy League Pitcher of the Year?
A: We will definitely miss Erin Snyder. She was a pivotal player for us all four years, not just in the pitching circle but at the plate, at first base and as a personality on our team. Luckily, we have three very talented pitchers in our bullpen this year. We will be led by Kris Schaus, who has done a tremendous job for us the past two years. She has been our workhorse, and we are looking for her to really shine this year.
Then there is Calli Jo Varner. We have high hopes for Calli this year, as she was plagued with injuries last season. She is healthy and strong and will hopefully have many more innings in the circle this season.
The new face in our bullpen is Jamie Lettire. Similar to Erin Snyder, Jamie is not only a talented pitcher but also a player who can hit and play a great first base too. We have great expectations for Jamie. She has unbelievable potential and will be one to keep your eyes on.
Q: Princeton loses three of its four infielders to graduation, including both corner infielders and shortstop Cristina Cobb-Adams. How will the infield look in 2007?
A: We're going to have a new look in the infield for sure. We will see Kathryn Welch, who played leftfield so well for us last year, in the infield. Jackie Araneo, who was deserving of the All-Ivy honors she received at second base last year, can play anywhere. Collette Abbott, a freshman, can pay middle infield or third base, and we will have Lauren Bierman back, too.
At first base, Jamie Lettire and Beth Dalmut will split time depending on who is pitching. We are really looking for someone to step up as a leader in the infield. We'll have to fill in the pieces, but we have great depth and versatility on our roster that so many players are capable of playing the four infield positions.
Q: With Kathryn Welch moving to the infield and Beth Dalmut contributing at first base, how will the outfield look this season?
A: Every spot on the field is still up for grabs, and much will depend on who is in the circle for us. We have Stephanie Steel returning, leading us in centerfield. Beth Dalmut will see time when not playing first base. She will be joined by power-hitting freshman Kelsey Quist and slapper Brianna Moreno. Others competing for spots in the outfield are Betsy Allaway, Erin Miller and Ellen Scott.
Q: What contributions will you expect out of the five-member freshman class?
A: As always, our goal is to put the best nine on the field on any given day. Our freshmen class has done a great job thus far in pushing themselves and our returning players. It is going to be hard for me to make a lineup – I guess that is a good problem to have! This class of freshmen is talented, and they also have tremendous upside. I expect that Collette Abbott, Jamie Lettire and Kelsey Quist will be of immediate impact and will likely earn spots for themselves on the field. Ellen Scott and Casey Melvin have shown great improvement, and time will tell what roles they take on.
Q: With the new Ivy League scheduling format, how will Princeton and other teams use their pitching staff now that half the league will see one another four games each?
A: I think it will depend on how much depth teams have in the bullpen. If you have one pitcher who is a workhorse, you might pitch her all four games.
We are fortunate to have depth on our pitching staff so that if one pitcher doesn't have her best stuff one day, a teammate will step up for her. We will continue to throw our No. 1 pitcher in the first game and No. 1A pitcher in the second game. Scouting reports will also factor into the decision of whom to pitch in our league games. We will be pitching to other teams' weaknesses.
Q: With the high bar of success set in recent seasons, what will make this season a success for the Princeton program?
A: We have a great group of players who love to play this game. There is no question that this is a talented group. But we all know that talent is not enough. We need heart and the drive and determination to be better than we have been. If we rest on our laurels, we will be beaten. So we focus on the small things and on getting better every day. It is our daily hard work that will determine the outcome of our season. Our ultimate goal is to win the Ivy League and advance to postseason play. Like past seasons, we have a pre-conference schedule that should prepare us for success when the Ivy League season begins. Ultimately, it will come down to how much this team wants it and how they work together to get it.
A: We will definitely miss Erin Snyder. She was a pivotal player for us all four years, not just in the pitching circle but at the plate, at first base and as a personality on our team. Luckily, we have three very talented pitchers in our bullpen this year. We will be led by Kris Schaus, who has done a tremendous job for us the past two years. She has been our workhorse, and we are looking for her to really shine this year.
Then there is Calli Jo Varner. We have high hopes for Calli this year, as she was plagued with injuries last season. She is healthy and strong and will hopefully have many more innings in the circle this season.
The new face in our bullpen is Jamie Lettire. Similar to Erin Snyder, Jamie is not only a talented pitcher but also a player who can hit and play a great first base too. We have great expectations for Jamie. She has unbelievable potential and will be one to keep your eyes on.
Q: Princeton loses three of its four infielders to graduation, including both corner infielders and shortstop Cristina Cobb-Adams. How will the infield look in 2007?
A: We're going to have a new look in the infield for sure. We will see Kathryn Welch, who played leftfield so well for us last year, in the infield. Jackie Araneo, who was deserving of the All-Ivy honors she received at second base last year, can play anywhere. Collette Abbott, a freshman, can pay middle infield or third base, and we will have Lauren Bierman back, too.
At first base, Jamie Lettire and Beth Dalmut will split time depending on who is pitching. We are really looking for someone to step up as a leader in the infield. We'll have to fill in the pieces, but we have great depth and versatility on our roster that so many players are capable of playing the four infield positions.
Q: With Kathryn Welch moving to the infield and Beth Dalmut contributing at first base, how will the outfield look this season?
A: Every spot on the field is still up for grabs, and much will depend on who is in the circle for us. We have Stephanie Steel returning, leading us in centerfield. Beth Dalmut will see time when not playing first base. She will be joined by power-hitting freshman Kelsey Quist and slapper Brianna Moreno. Others competing for spots in the outfield are Betsy Allaway, Erin Miller and Ellen Scott.
Q: What contributions will you expect out of the five-member freshman class?
A: As always, our goal is to put the best nine on the field on any given day. Our freshmen class has done a great job thus far in pushing themselves and our returning players. It is going to be hard for me to make a lineup – I guess that is a good problem to have! This class of freshmen is talented, and they also have tremendous upside. I expect that Collette Abbott, Jamie Lettire and Kelsey Quist will be of immediate impact and will likely earn spots for themselves on the field. Ellen Scott and Casey Melvin have shown great improvement, and time will tell what roles they take on.
Q: With the new Ivy League scheduling format, how will Princeton and other teams use their pitching staff now that half the league will see one another four games each?
A: I think it will depend on how much depth teams have in the bullpen. If you have one pitcher who is a workhorse, you might pitch her all four games.
We are fortunate to have depth on our pitching staff so that if one pitcher doesn't have her best stuff one day, a teammate will step up for her. We will continue to throw our No. 1 pitcher in the first game and No. 1A pitcher in the second game. Scouting reports will also factor into the decision of whom to pitch in our league games. We will be pitching to other teams' weaknesses.
Q: With the high bar of success set in recent seasons, what will make this season a success for the Princeton program?
A: We have a great group of players who love to play this game. There is no question that this is a talented group. But we all know that talent is not enough. We need heart and the drive and determination to be better than we have been. If we rest on our laurels, we will be beaten. So we focus on the small things and on getting better every day. It is our daily hard work that will determine the outcome of our season. Our ultimate goal is to win the Ivy League and advance to postseason play. Like past seasons, we have a pre-conference schedule that should prepare us for success when the Ivy League season begins. Ultimately, it will come down to how much this team wants it and how they work together to get it.
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