March 2, 2007

Malone Softball Looking To Build Upon Its 2006 Success

The Malone College softball team, under the direction of second-year head coach Angela Seders, will open the 2007 season with hopes of continuing its ascent up the rungs of the American Mideast Conference ladder.  Last spring, in Seders first year at the helm of the program, the Pioneers put together a successful campaign, finishing fourth in the AMC South Division and qualifying for the postseason for the first time in three years.  Several promising newcomers will join a solid group of returning letter winners this season as the team looks to improve upon last year’s 17-20 overall record and 7-7 mark in the AMC South.

Back to lead the squad this year is the middle infield duo of junior shortstop/pitcher Kathryn Bzdafka (Avon Lake H.S.) and junior second baseman Holly Christopher (Garfield H.S.).  Bzdafka, who will start at shortstop when not pitching, received numerous postseason honors last year including NCCAA All-American Honorable Mention and AMC South Honorable Mention accolades.  She batted .336 at the plate while tallying a 2-2 record with a 2.53 earned run average on the mound.  Christopher was named to the AMC South Second Team in 2006 after recording a .279 batting average with 34 hits and 19 runs batted in.

Other key returnees include senior starting pitcher Cori Helm (Marion, IN), who had a 4-7 record (3.31 ERA) last season, and sophomore first baseman/pitcher Ashleigh Ralston (Wadsworth H.S.), who tallied a .272 batting average in 2006 and pitched 25 innings, posting a 1-2 record with a 2.52 earned run average.  Sophomore Brittany Mast (Kidron Central Christian H.S.) will start at catcher this year and tallied two triples and drove in nine runs in just 49 at-bats last spring. In addition, junior infielder Becki Martin (Lakewood H.S.) and sophomore outfielder/third baseman Caitlin Ott ( Glendale , AZ ) are back on the ’07 squad while the outfield is led by junior Ashlee Locker (Strasburg H.S.), who started 35 games last season and earned NCCAA East All Region honors.

Seven talented newcomers join the roster this season, led by freshman outfielder Laura Blackburn (Worthington H.S.) and freshman outfielder Morgan Heacock (Mt. Gilead H.S.).   Blackburn and Heacock were each named First Team All-Ohio during their respective high school playing careers and both will likely make an immediate impact.  Other new additions to the squad include junior infielder Jenna Vrabel (Ursuline H.S.), a transfer from La Roche (PA) College, sophomore catcher Elisha Bierman (Keystone H.S.), freshman outfielder Leslie McCammon (Wadsworth H.S.), who transferred from the University of Toledo , freshman infielder April Murphy (Minerva H.S.), and freshman pitcher Jackie Kodrich (West Geauga H.S.).

According to Seders, each of these newcomers should make solid contributions throughout the season.  “We have a solid core, but we’re really adding a group of versatile players that will complete our lineup,” said Seders.  “I really think that we should be better than last year.  The program is definitely moving in the right direction.”

The Pioneers will be tested early and often with a challenging schedule that features doubleheaders with NAIA #22 Notre Dame (OH) College and NAIA #24 Ohio Dominican University .  Malone will start the year playing four NAIA nationally-ranked teams at the Savannah (GA) College of Arts & Design Smash Hit over spring break March 5-10. The squad will then return for its home opener against Point Park (PA) University on Friday, March 16th at 3:30 p.m.
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