Trinity Softball is poised to start a new season. Last year they went 21-16 and achieved their second consecutive regional title. The team lost seven starting players to graduation, but that doesn’t faze fourth year softball coach Bob Osborne as he looks at this year’s Blazers team. “We want to continue that winning tradition. I think we will surprise some people. This year is not so much a rebuild but a retool.”
There are three seniors on the team who will be called upon for leadership-along with sophomore standout Monica Albano. “She is our anchor at shortstop,” said Osborne.
Albano, who had a .450 batting average last season, also feels upbeat about prospects. “We lost a lot of seniors,” she said, “but we have newcomers who are really good.”
Four-year starting varsity player Frankie LeDoux will be at second base. “We may struggle a little,” she said, “but we are a close team, and we work together. This is one of the best practices starting off that we’ve had all of my four years.”
Senior outfielder Allison Mazurek has been busy in the off season. She is a three-sport athlete and a two-time participant in the state bowling finals. She wants to close out her high school career with a vengeance. Last year she had 25 steals and batted around .300. Her goal this year: “I’m aiming for .400. I’ve taken some hitting camps, and the conditioning of the three sports helps me.”
Another senior, Christina Fiorito plays third base and as well as back-up catcher.
Freshman Laura Eichenhold will be the starting catcher. The other first-year player, Amanda Ramirez, will be in left field. Lauren Wambach is the lone junior and plays third base. Rounding out the roster are sophomores Annie Logisz in center field, outfielder Cora Tassone, and Erica LeCoure at first base. The pitchers are Emily Landa and Emma-Leigh Strock.
“We have two sophomore pitchers. They are young and inexperienced, but they are working hard. Every game they pitch is going to make them better,” commented Osborne, who is counting on the experience of his returning varsity players.
“The more leadership we can bring out there, the more they can show these young players how to win. I think we will be a bit looser this year and a hard team to gauge. Our goal is to win the regional again. We don’t hold back on our expectations.”
Trinity opens their season at home on Thursday against Notre Dame at 4:30 p.m. They play at Triton College.