2008 SOFTBALL SEASON IN REVIEW

July 17, 2008

The 2008 spring season was a rebuilding one for the Saints. The Emmanuel squad entered the year with first-year head coach Michelle Morales at the helm. The team had the leadership of three experienced seniors, Stephanie Rege (Chicopee, MA), Jennifer Walsh (West Springfield, MA), and Nicole Ferraro (Lakeville, MA), but struggled with depth at some of the crucial infield positions.

Emmanuel's squad of thirteen made their annual trek to Florida for spring training. The Saints played ten tough non-conference opponents in Orlando's Rebel Spring Games. The team returned from spring break to face thirteen difficult GNAC foes. The Saints struggled early on in the season and did not pick up their first win until early April, when Emmanuel pounded Johnson & Wales University, 14-9 and 12-3, in a conference double-header at Rotch Park. The Saints also defeated Albertus Magnus College on the road in New Haven, CT, wrapping up the season on a positive note with a 10-2 win over the host Falcons.

Emmanuel's offense was led by senior captain Stephanie Rege. Rege hit .357 for the season with 35 hits and 24 runs batted in, while starting in all 36 of the Saints' contests. She also played a variety of integral defensive positions for the Saints, including pitcher, catcher, and 1st base. Sophomore shortstop and catcher Danielle Andruskewic (Orange, CT) was also solid at the plate for Emmanuel. Andruskewic batted .311 and posted a .459 slugging percentage with 7 extra-base hits.

Sophomore outfielder and 1st baseman Erin McSheffrey (Woburn, MA) batted .288 and accounted for a team-high 156 outs for the Saints. Sophomore outfielder Samantha Luther (Carlisle, MA) led the team with 13 stolen bases, while batting .282 on the season. Sophomore infielder Sarah Palmer-Thompson (Dennis, MA) started in 35 of 36 games played, hitting .263, with 25 hits and a .346 on-base-percentage. Senior 3rd baseman Jennifer Walsh finished up second on the team in runs batted in with 18 for the season.

Despite losing Rege, Walsh, and Ferraro to graduation, Coach Morales will return 10 veterans to the squad for the 2009 season. She will look to add some young talented recruits to the program as the team looks to make some waves in the GNAC next spring.