Eli softball sets its sights on an Ivy League championship

By Albert Chen

With the loss of three key seniors and the addition of 10 untested freshmen to the roster, it may appear that this will a season of rebuilding for the women's softball team. But for the 1997 Bulldog squad, the talk is not of transition, but of winning an Ivy League championship.

The spring season kicks off next week in Orlando. The team will head south for games against UNC-Wilmington and Tennessee-Martin in a season-opening double header on Mon., Mar. 10. During their 10-day spring break trip, the Elis will play a tough 15-game schedule.

"I'm very, very excited," said outfielder Melissa Lee, DC '97. "I've been counting [down] the hours." The team will face stiff competition in Florida, including nationally ranked teams--South Florida, Florida Atlantic, and Troy State. Despite having such a young team, the Bulldogs feel that they are more than ready for the next two weeks' extremely high level of intensity.

"The team is coming together very well," said third baseman Cory Nakata, PC '99. "We're very optimistic."

The new face of the Bulldog softball team provides a good reason for the players to feel confident about their chances. The team will feel the vacancies left by last year's seniors, especially in the pitching rotation. First team All-Ivy pitcher Jen Surface, DC '96, and Toni Fortunato, ES '96, both graduated, leaving the position on the mound up for grabs.

Filling the void will be three skilled freshmen: Kristen Gengaro, SY '00, Teri Hickey, SY '00, and Khelia Johnson, PC '00, all of whom arrived with spectacular credentials. Gengaro earned first-team All-State honors in New Jersey her junior and senior high school seasons. Hickey garnered MVP recognition on a league championship squad. In her final two years in high school ball, Johnson combined for a 34-0 pitching record and an astonishing season ERA tally of 0.22 and 0.38.

The positive relationship between upperclassmen and rookies has helped the many individual players become part of a cohesive and unified force on the field. "The freshmen look very good and inexperience won't be a problem with them," said Lee. "It's exciting to have such a young team."

"The upper-classmen have been very supportive and encouraging," said infielder Christine Gagliardi, SM '00, another talented first-year Eli, who helped lead her high school squad to three league titles. "It seems like we're coming together very well."

With such a tough leadoff schedule, the Bulldogs will have to perform to their full potential immediately if they hope to contend for the Ivy crown. The team veterans will play a pivotal role in the quest for success. Leading the charge will be captain Amy Scriven, DC '97, who will return to second-base, a position that she played every inning of every game in the '95-'96 campaign. Second-team All-Ivy first basemen and Yale's Most Improved Player last season, Mandy Taft, ES '97, lead the team with 10 doubles. She is expected to make an equally sizable contribution this spring. The dynamic duo of Amy Gallo, ES '97, a first team All-Ivy selection her sophomore year, and Kendra Fleming, ES '99, will return to the outfield for the Elis.

With a mix of senior leadership and freshmen talent, this team has what it takes to compete for one of the top finishes in the Ivies. But the road, beginning this weekend in Orlando, is a long one. "I think we can challenge for the top spot," commented Nakata. "But it's a long season."

"Our goal is to win the league title. It will be very tough, though, with Harvard and Princeton up there," Nakata said. "It will be interesting." Harvard, a home game on Sat., Apr. 12, will be the Ivy-opener for the Bulldogs. Nakata said with confidence, "I really believe that if this team continues to come together as it has, with all the freshmen and new faces, we will certainly be a force in the conference."

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