Softball 2/19/2018 5:13:00 PM Chris Myers

SEASON PREVIEW – Tougher Cardinals Softball Aims for Greater 2018 Success

2018 Roster
2018 Schedule
2017 Final Stats
WHEELING, W.Va. – As a battled-tested core dots the lineup, the Wheeling Jesuit softball team aims for even greater success on the 2018 diamond this spring.

With nine Cardinals starters back at her disposal, second-year WJU head coach Sara Pelegreen has her program set to make a run at the Mountain East Conference title and more. WJU comes off its third-straight, 20-plus win season at 23-25 and second place regular season MEC North finish.

"We have done a lot of things this year to make us mentally tough to challenge our players," said Pelegreen of the team's preparations. "The vibes on the team is unlike anything I have experienced in my life as our players have a legit concern for one another and make each other better."

The Cardinals coach has three All-MEC players in First Team pitcher Mallory Chapman (New Martinsville, W.Va.) and third baseman Jackie Cramer (Indian Head, Pa.), along with Second Team outfielder Molly Welsh (Bethel Park, Pa.) to lead the team in its pursuit to the challenge of greater success.

The experienced Cardinals crew will gain even more testing in a much harder early season schedule compared to a year ago. Along with the top MEC squads, which includes No. 4-ranked West Virginia Wesleyan (51-10), North Division champion Shepherd (41-22) and two others Atlantic Regional qualifying teams in UVa-Wise (36-19) and Charleston (37-21), WJU has nine other winning programs on its 2018 docket. The much tougher schedule shows two contests against No. 7 North Georgia (48-13) to go with traditional quality programs such as Dominican (NY) (29-22), University of Tampa (29-12) and Columbus State, a Virginia trip against Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference foes in Bloomsburg (31-20), Shippensburg (29-23) and Gannon (28-14). WJU also travels for road doubleheaders at both Indianapolis (33-21) and Indiana (Pa.) (24-19).

Instead of waiting to start the season in the Citrus Classic at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando Friday morning, WJU moved up the first contests to tomorrow, Tuesday (Feb. 19), in a twinbill at Seton Hill in Greensburg, Pa. starting at 1:30 p.m.

"It's a tough schedule we did on purpose. We want to play good games against tough teams. We built the beginning of the schedule to be tough first so we can be ready to compete versus good teams in the MEC," explained Pelegreen. "West Virginia Wesleyan, Charleston, UVa.-Wise and Shepherd make it a tough conference. With this team this year, we want to compete against big teams and not play easy teams just to get some wins."

The WJU rugged schedule, though, does not make the team's season goals any less lofty.

"We want to put away teams that we should beat. Our goal is not to get swept this year and play in the Conference Championship game," stressed the Cardinals coach.

The WJU drive will start in the circle with three-time All-MEC pitcher Chapman. The strong lefty enters her final season in the best shape of her career playing-wise for both her pitching and hitting.

Over the last three years, the New Martinsville, W.Va., native has a 49-36 record over 97 appearances with 67 complete games, 14.5 shutouts, a save, and a 1.88 earned run average over 574.1 innings. Mallory also is only 20 strikeouts away from 500 in her career with 480 compared to only 144 walks.

The 2017 All-MEC First Team pitcher was the workhorse of the Cardinals staff last year. Chapman posted a 1.99 ERA, fifth in the league, with a 16-17 record in 221.1 innings, the most frames in the MEC, over 40 appearances, 27 compete games, and five shutouts. She fanned over 165 batters for the second time with 168, second most in the MEC.

The senior also was one of WJU's top hitters with a .336 average with 38 hits in 113 at bats. Mallory scored 22 runs, while she doubled four times, belted six homers, drove in 24 runners, had a .531 slugging percentage and posted a team-best .421 on-base percentage.

Joining Chapman, the Cardinals have juniors Erin Unterbrink (Raymond, Ohio) and Courtney Rogers (Hurricane, W.Va.) back as the other two pitchers. Stepping it up this year, Unterbrink is working on her consistency in her third season, but she is spinning the ball very well and her pitches are breaking the best in her collegiate career. Erin has a 10-11 two-year record and went 4-8 last season with 37 strikeouts over 75.1 innings.

Rogers gives the Cardinals a good reliever to log innings. She was 3-0 in her first season in the circle over 12 appearances and 27.1 innings.

"We feel our one-two punch will put us ahead of some of other teams as our second pitcher can be just as successful as Mallory," pointed out Pelegreen.

The other part of the Cardinal battery will add more stability in three-year starter Victoria Scott (Willougby, Ohio). The left-handed catcher, Scott does not have a lot of stats defensively due to not being tested on the base paths by runners trying to steal off her. Victoria knows what her pitchers want to throw as she is all you want in a catcher, while she has been working on hitting to be even more successful at the plate. Due to a hand injury during last season, Scott saw her average dip to .250 last season from .309, but she still doubled four times and drove in 14 runs.

Sophomore Ashley Ledbetter (Staley, N.C.) gives WJU another good catching option. The second-year player's batting came around with a good fall season at the plate and has improved her defensive skills as well. Ashley can also see time at first base when Rogers pitches. She lined eight hits with a double and four RBI as a freshman.

Anchoring the infield, Cramer thrived when she was thrown into the third base position last year. Due to an injury, the junior moved across the diamond from second base and showed she can make a lot of plays that other third baseman cannot. Cramer's .373 average placed her seventh in the MEC in her first season as a starter with 50 hits in 134 at bats. She scored 18 runs, doubled one time and drove home 19 runners. Her defense was just as stout with a .949 fielding percentage with only five errors in 98 chances.

Carolyn Blattler (Barnsville, Ohio) will provide a senior backup to Cramer.

Across the infield, Rogers returns her powerful bat as the main starter at first base. With her job of hitting the ball hard, the third-year hitter registered four home runs and was second on the team with 27 RBI, while she hit .333 and four doubles in 96 at bats.

Corner infielder freshman Mercedes McNett (Tontogany, Ohio) provides a good player to go to for Pelegreen at first or third base when called upon.

Returning starter at shortstop, Mikaela Miller (St. Clairsville, Ohio) will move to her left to second base this season. Miller is one of the players who is willing to do what she needs to do for the team to add her biggest value to the team. A year ago, Mikaela hit .244 with 13 runs, a pair of doubles and triples, and homered once, while she drove home 10 Cardinals.

A junior transfer from Mercyhurst Northeast Heather Mueller (Freedom, Pa.) will back up Miller at second.

Projected to take over at shortstop, freshman Heather Pinney (North Canton, Ohio) showed more experience than what she has in the fall. Pinney just plays ball and gets better with each day.

In her second year, utility player Brianna Grimes (Mason, Ohio) will be ready to fill in at either middle infield spot. A top-notch glove, Grimes recorded six hits, two doubles, eight runs and two RBI in only 31 at bats her first season.

The WJU outfield has a good foundation with two-time All-MEC centerfielder Welsh and 2017 All-MEC right fielder Cassie Holstein (Millersport, Ohio) manning two of the three spots. Hitting with the most power she has had, Welsh takes her two-year .372 average (103 of 277) and 22 doubles into her third campaign. The junior led WJU with a team-best 53 hits and seven doubles to go with her .356 average, 22 runs, one home run, 14 RBI, 13 walks, and .416 on base percentage a year ago. Welsh also has a solid .969 career fielding percentage.

Holstein is set for her best year as a senior. The fast leadoff hitter saw her average dip a little to .338 after an even .400 as a sophomore. She had her second 50-plus hit season in a row over 148 at bats last spring with three doubles, and a team-best 13 stolen bases. Like Welch, Holstein is outstanding defensively with a three-year .972 fielding percentage over 143 chances.

The final outfield spot, left field, is a three-player battle between returning starter junior Taylor DiPerna (Coraopolis, Pa.), sophomore Morgan Hodge (Willoughby, Ohio) and freshmanAlaina York (Lower Burrell, Pa.).

Pelegreen stressed, "I am confident in all my outfielders to get the job done. It will definitely be whoever is hitting to see the time in the games. All three make each other better at practice (each day)."

DiPerna recorded a .246 average over 47 games and 69 at bats her first year in the regular lineup. The junior added 14 runs, 17 hits, a double, two triples, four RBI and seven stolen bases. Hodge scored a run in five games of action.

WJU has a pair in sophomore Kayla Schauer (Westfield, Pa.) and freshman Riley LaBoe (Perry, Ohio), who will both add to the team in the future, but missed 2018 due to injuries.

Pelegreen added new graduate assistant coach Taylor Parsons to her staff to help continue the team's hitting prowess this year. The NCAA Division I All-Northeast 10 former St. Francis (Pa.) standout, Taylor looks to increase what was the third-best MEC team batting average of .298.

"Taylor is a great addition to our team. She has the knowledge to help us offensively. She has brought such a positive mind set that the players can understand," said Pelegreen.

With the mix of experience and talented youth, the 2018 Cardinals are set to fly past their second place MEC North Division projection to the top of the league and beyond.

-GoCards-

Print Friendly Version