Softball 2/25/2016 3:56:00 PM Chris Myers

Cardinals Softball Depth Key for Continued Upward Title Drive

Softball 2/25/2016 3:56:00 PM Chris Myers

Cardinals Softball Depth Key for Continued Upward Title Drive

2016 WJU Roster
2016 WJU Schedule
2015 WJU Season Stats
WHEELING, W.Va. – A good foundation and depth throughout the team, the Wheeling Jesuit softball team enters the 2016 season with a great amount of anticipation and optimism to continue its upward drive for a Mountain East Conference title.

The Cardinals aim to not only surpass the 20-win mark, but challenge for the MEC North Division and MEC Tournament title. Fourth-year head coach Kelli Williams guided the program to its first non-losing season (20-20) in six years last spring and has her squad picked to win the MEC North in the league's Preseason Coaches Poll.

"We will have strength in numbers and have depth everywhere. This makes our players work harder to get better," said Williams on her team.

The Cardinals has their work ahead of them to be able to make the North Division title come true. Defending MEC Tournament champion and NCAA Atlantic Regional team Notre Dame College is right behind WJU. The league also features No. 15 and clear South Division favorite West Virginia Wesleyan.

"The MEC is getting better each season. We have West Virginia Wesleyan as a team ranked in the top 25, but any team can beat anyone, which was proved last year with Notre Dame College winning the tournament. This is why we have to be a consistent team," said Williams.

The WJU season schedule has some added strength to it this spring as well. Starting in the season-opening Florida trip, the Cardinals face both No. 8 Missouri-St. Louis and No. 5 Indianapolis along with games against four other 23-plus win clubs in Gannon, Kentucky Wesleyan, Findlay and Tiffin.

Before starting its MEC schedule, WJU also takes on perennial Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference power Kutztown, 30-18 a year ago, as well as PSAC members Shippensburg and Gannon again along with 26-win Chowan in Salem, Va., in its second south trip.

"We made our schedule tougher. For us to be the best, we have to beat the best, and we want to play the best," pointed out the Cardinals coach.

Turning back to the important improved team depth, Williams has many options to turn throughout every position this year to accomplish the club's goals.

"We will have a lot of good bats and have great defensive players, but we have to make sure we put together everything consistently, play as a team and have our players accept the roles they are given."

One WJU player, who will have no problem accepting her role, is returning All-MEC First Team pitcher Mallory Chapman. The sophomore is one of the top young DII and Atlantic Region pitchers.

"She gained a lot of experience her first year. When she is hitting spots, Mallory is one of the best pitchers in the country and one of the best pitchers I have seen," stated Williams.

Chapman posted a 15-8 record and won three-fourths of WJU's 20 wins. The New Martinsville, W.Va., native led the conference in earned run average (1.36) and innings pitched (165.0), while she was second in wins (15) and opponent batting average (.210) and third in strikeouts (143).

Chapman did not allow an earned run in 13 of her 26 appearances with a streak of 29-straight innings without an earned run covering five games. She averaged 2.65 strikeouts for every walk – 143 strikeouts to 54 walks – with a season-high 10 strikeouts at Urbana on March 21. In her first year, Mallory also fanned nine hitters three times and eight batters in three other contests. At the plate, Chapman helped her own cause with a .284 average with 21 hits, five runs, three doubles, four home runs and 12 RBI in 74 at bats.

The Cardinals' mound ace will enjoy some of the new found team pitching depth. Joining Chapman, senior Ali Smith (Frazeyburg, Ohio) and the trio of freshmen – Courtney Rogers (Hurricane, W.Va.), Kori Locke (Nashport, Ohio) and Erin Utterbrink (Raymond, Ohio) – make for a solid five-pitcher staff.

"Our pitching staff is very versatile," noted Williams. "I can probably pick anyone to start at any time and have complete faith that they will get the job done. With the depth in the circle, I don't have to rely on two pitchers all the time."

Smith was the second of the two Cardinals pitchers last season. The veteran leader, who has great poise and is lethal when hitting her spots, garnered the team's other five pitching wins a year ago. Ali logged 103 innings with 13 complete games and a pair of shutouts, while she fanned 37 batters.

With experience of winning and pitching in the West Virginia state playoffs, Rogers brings her pitching repertoire to WJU. She was a four-time All-MSAC First Team player and 2015 MSAC Player of the Year. The three-time All-West Virginia player also belted 40 home runs over her scholastic career.

Locke brings a different spin on her pitches. She received All-Ohio Second Team status two years and registered a 1.69 career earned run average.

A player with great determination and work ethic, Utterbrink led Marysville High to a 24-5 record, while she received All-Ohio First Team acclaim in the circle.

The catching part of the WJU battery will be in good hands to catch the new five-pitcher deep pitching staff. Returning sophomore starter Victoria Scott is ready to again be a solid position leader with redshirt junior Rachel Conrad and freshman Chase Brumfield set as backups.

"I like that we have depth (at catcher). We had to depend on one player (Scott) last year, and now there are three that can get the job done at this time," stated Williams.

Scott from Willoughby, Ohio, produced a solid first year. The sophomore hit .298 with 31 hits in 104 at bats over 40 games. The lefty-hitter added five doubles, 16 RBI and drew 14 walks. Scott lined a pair of hits in nine games.

After having to sit out last year due to injury, Conrad (Latrobe, Pa.) aims to return to her 2014 form. Two years ago, the junior hit .294 (32 of 109) with five doubles, three homers and 17 RBI.

Brumfield out of Westerville, Ohio, adds a second lefty-lefty backstop. She does a great job of framing pitches and helping the pitchers hit their spots.

In the Cardinals infield, the lineup options and coaching decisions on who to pencil into the lineup continues.

"We will have depth at each infield position. It will be a real struggle with so many good bats and athletes to determine who will be on the field as anyone could get the job done at any time," Williams pointed out.

Starting at first base, WJU has three veteran options in juniors Dana Achille and Amy Rotriga and senior Darci Lake.

After seeing some time in the circle each of the past two years, Achille turns her attention full-time to first base this season. The junior from South Park, Pa., brings power to the WJU lineup and paced the team with five home runs last spring. In 35 starts, Achille registered a .279 average with 29 hits, six doubles, three triples and a .538 slugging percentage.

Lefty Rotriga (Moundsville, W.Va.) possesses a great defensive glove. The third-year Cardinals player did not commit an error in 75 chances, while she hit .286 with a homer over 15 at bats.

Lake (Zanesville, Ohio) adds a third good bat to the first base mix. She had a single in limited action last season.

Conrad could also see some time on the first base corner.

At second base, junior returning starter Morgan Stohlman (Willoughby, Ohio) is projected to continue to hold down the position. She will have sophomoreEmily Garvin (McDonald, Pa.) and freshmen Jackie Cramer (Indian Head, Pa.) and Rachel Rittelmann (Aliquippa, Pa.) challenging for their time.

"Morgan played there (second base) last year and did a great job. I can stick her anywhere and she can get the job done," said the WJU coach.

Over her first two years, Stohlman holds a .297 average (55 for 185) with 12 doubles and 26 RBI. The junior is the Cardinals' top returning drawer of walks (20) and was able to get on base at a .406 clip. She hit safely in 25 of 37 games last spring.

Garvin has a bat that can help her work her way into the Cardinals' lineup. The sophomore sliced four hits, scored six times and drove in five runs her first campaign.

The quick Cramer is very good defensively. She earned All-Section First Team and All-County honors for Connellsville High.

Rittelmann is also a good defensive glove, who was an All-Section First Team pick and led Bishop Canevin High in extra base hits.

Making the full-time switch from the hot corner, Kelci Thompson will take her great infield range to anchor the WJU short stop position. A junior from Hebron, Ohio, has a powerful arm to make the transition an easy one.

Thompson led WJU with 45 hits as the leadoff hitter and she finished with a .319 average (45 of 141 at bats), six doubles, two triples and two home runs. The short stop drove in 12 runners and had a .433 slugging percentage.

Freshmen Michaela Miller and Taylor DiPerna give coach Williams a pair of young left side infield options. Local St. Clairsville, Ohio product, Miller is very quick and has one of the best glove transitions the Cardinals coach has seen in a long time. The All-Ohio Honorable Mention and All-Ohio Valley Athletic Conference First Teamer posted a .447 career average with six homers.

DiPerna (Coraopolis, Pa.) is also quick and reads the ball very well. The four-time All-Section pick registered a .560 batting average as an Our Lady of the Sacred Heart High senior.

Rounding out the infield, Locke is slated to handle the third base duties when she is not in the circle. The strong-armed and strong-bat freshman was a two-time All-Ohio Second Team honoree. She reads the ball of the bat well and hit .590 at the plate in her final high school season at Licking Valley High.

Stohlman and sophomore Kelly Albers (Wheeling, W.Va.) are poised to handle the left corner when Locke is pitching. Albers, who has a great arm, lined a hit and scored a run her first year.

The WJU trend continues in the outfield ranks. The lineup options will not be at a loss with the talent at the head coach's disposal.

"This is probably the best outfield I have had here in my four years," pointed out Williams. "The group is quick and reads the ball well. It will be tough to pick just three to play in the games with so many capable (of being out there)."

Talented-freshman newcomer Molly Welsh has the inside track in center field. The strong lefty-hitter is probably the fastest WJU outfielder. The Bethel Park, Pa., native has a great arm and completed her Our Lady of the Sacred Heart career with a .464 batting average.

Coming off an injury, sophomore Amanda Mangelo is in the center field mix. The Geneva, Ohio product has a bat that can get her some innings. Amanda was limited to eight at bats last year, but she made the most of them with four hits and two runs.

Senior Marissa Cangelosi (Highland Heights, Ohio) looks to continue starting in left field, while senior Brittany Prager (Wheeling, W.Va.) and freshman DiPerna challenge her. Cangelosi brings an experience leader who does a good job covering the outfield ground. She totaled 13 hits and scored eight times a year ago.

Prager possesses a great arm and also covers a lot of ground, while utility player DiPerna is quick and could play center field too.

The final outfield spot, right field, will see a choice between sophomore Cassie Holstein (Millersport, Ohio) and freshmen Mindy Blosser (Somerset, Ohio),Karlie Wilbur (West Liberty, Ohio) and Brumfield.

Always making needed adjustments, Holstein is a quick, mental player who can get anything done. The left-handed hitter has the Cardinals highest batting average (.343) of all the returning players. The second-year player slashed 24 hits in 70 at bats and scored 12 times. She also stole a team-high six bases.

Blosser, a young and eager to work athlete, was a two-time All-Muskingum Valley League performer. She finished her Sheridan High career with a .392 batting average, while the team leader in both home runs and RBI her final two seasons.

The left-handed thrower Wilbur is an aggressive defender, who will do anything to make the catch, including laying out. She has an incredible work ethic and belted 17 career home runs for West Liberty-Salem High.

Along with being a backup catcher, Brumfield could work her way into some time as a right fielder.

With the quality talent at every lineup spot, WJU has the right to have high expectations.

The Cardinals will try to turn the improvement – in the circle, at the plate and overall experience wise – into their best campaign in quite some time and the strongest push for their first MEC title.

-GoCards-

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