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Princeton Softball Begins 2009 Season This Weekend in Chattanooga
February 23, 2009 | Softball
PRINCETON -- The 2009 season will begin this weekend for the Princeton softball team in Chattanooga, Tenn. at the Frost Classic, hosted by the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.
Princeton went 25-24 last season overall and 18-2 in the Ivy League, winning its 17th Ivy League title and earning its eighth NCAA Tournament bid. The Tigers will return most of their starting fielders from last season while adding two freshmen. Princeton will also return two of its three pitchers, but not 2008 innings leader and the program's career strikeout record holder Kristen Schaus '08, who won the Ivy League Pitcher of the Year in her final campaign.
The pitching staff will consist of Jamie Lettire, a junior who will again split time at first base, along with sophomore Michelle Tolfa, an All-Ivy honorable mention last season, and Kelsey Quist, a junior who pitched in high school and made two appearances as a freshman.
But where Quist's impact will likely be felt most is at the plate. Quist hit a team-best .360 last season and co-led the team with 14 home runs as part of a team-record 55. That mark shattered the previous team-best of 38 set in 2005 and was just short of the all-time Ivy mark of 57 set by Cornell in 2004. Quist, an outfielder who earned first-team All-Ivy and first-team all-region honors from the NFCA last season, leads an outfield that returns intact from last season and includes senior Brianna Moreno and sophomore Brittney Scott.
With Ontiveros joining the fold, however, Scott could move behind the plate, filling the role into which Beth Dalmut '08 stepped last season after Princeton lost both its catchers. Dalmut went on to earn All-Ivy honorable mention in her first full season catching at the college level.
The infield will be back, headlined by Lettire, who was a third-team All-America, the Ivy League Co-Player of the Year, first-team All-Ivy and first-team NFCA all-region after hitting 14 home runs and carrying a .340 batting average. Lettire returns with junior and 2008 All-Ivy honorable mention Collette Abbott, senior and first-team All-Ivy honoree Kathryn Welch and sophomore and second-team All-Ivy honoree Megan Weidrick. Abbott played second base last season while Welch was at shortstop and Weidrick at third, though with freshman Kelsey VandeBergh entering the mix and a new season ahead, new spots are a possibility. The Tigers will also return sophomore Kristin Arguedas, an Ivy League honorable mention last season who spent time at third base and designated player last season.
As is the case with most seasons, the Tigers will be starting their season against competition that has already played a weekend or two while Princeton has only practiced indoors. Princeton will have three weekend tournaments this season before beginning its Ivy League title defense at the end of March.
Here is a look at Princeton's opponents for its opening weekend:
Dayton (2-7)
Friday, 12:30 p.m.
Conference: Atlantic-10
All-Time Series: Princeton leads 1-0, won 2-0 in 1998 in a Winthrop-hosted tournament
Key player: Junior Molly Meyer leads the team with a .448 batting average in nine games.
Key stat: The Flyers' team ERA is 7.55, compared to a 3.11 opponent ERA.
Chattanooga (5-11)
Friday, 5:30 p.m.
Conference: Southern
All-Time Series: Tied 1-1, splitting a 2003 doubleheader
Key player: Sophomore Michelle Fuzzard leads the team with a .349 average in 16 games.
Key stat: The Mocs will be looking to break out in their second home tournament after dropping 10 of their last 11 games follwoing a 3-0 start.
Toledo (0-0)
Saturday, 12:30 p.m.
Conference: Mid-American
All-Time Series: First meeting
Key player: Junior Lacey LeVier is Toledo's top returning hitter from last season with a .322 average.
Key stat: The Rockets are the only team Princeton will be playing this weekend that hasn't already played in 2009.
East Tennessee State (6-3)
Saturday, 3 p.m.
Conference: Atlantic Sun
All-Time Series: First meeting
Key player: Junior Darci Gilbert tossed a two-hit shutout in a 3-0 win over Furman Feb. 18.
Key stat: The Bucs carry a team ERA of 1.91 through their first nine games.
Tennessee Tech (5-9)
Sunday, 10 a.m.
Conference: Ohio Valley
All-Time Series: First meeting
Key player: Sophomore Lacie Coquerille leads the team with a .333 batting average.
Key stat: Opponents have drawn 46 walks to 26 for the Eagles.