Softball Ready to Head South

The MCLA Trailblazers softball team is getting ready to embark on another campaign;  6^th year coach Kristin Parzych can't wait to get started and says her Trailblazers are out to prove a point. "Fourth place in the conference is not something that we want to repeat this year...we want to prove not only to ourselves but to everyone else that last year wasn't a fluke...we want to show that we can not only hang with every team in our conference but that we can defeat them."

MCLA will continue to build with their youth; the Trailblazers have no seniors coming off a season in which they tied for 4^th in the MASCAC and made an appearance in the MASCAC playoffs. The Trailblazers will return 9 players from the previous season including 7 starters and continue to build around their youth.

The Trailblazers will rely heavily on the ace of their staff, All MASCAC sophomore Hadley Ameen (North Adams, MA/Drury). Ameen started 20 games last year for MCLA and posted a 4.09 ERA. Ameen had 9 complete games and 2 shutouts as she anchors the Trailblazers pitching staff again. The staff will also be bolstered by freshman Sarah Greenwood (Greenfield, MA); Greenwood has shown a lot of promise and looks to help shoulder the load with Ameen.

The infield with be led by another all conference selection in Kayla Koumjian (Watervliet, NY/Shaker). Koumjian was selected as a utility player, but will see most of her time behind the plate. Koumjian batted .302 last season and the led the Trailblazers in doubles. Junior shortstop Katie Oulette (Norwood, MA) is the Trailblazers top returning hitter and is looking to build on her .327 average from last season. The rest of the infield will feature Jacklyn Candelet  (Pittsfield, MA/Taconic) who led the team in stolen bases,  Amanda Borsotti (Lee, MA) who is moving in from leftfield and newcomer Megan Boyer (North Adams, MA/Drury).

The outfield will be led by sophomore Amber Coburn (Colrain, MA/Franklin Tech), Coburn hit .275 last season.  The Trailblazers are very excited about Freshman Kendra Hobbs (Haverill, MA/Whittier Tech) and her big bat in the middle of the lineup.  Returner Kaitland Hager (Springfield, MA/ Cathedral)looks to see a lot of time as well out there, freshman Alayna Bendenetti  (Douglas, MA) also looking to contribute.

The Trailblazers will kick off the 2010 schedule on March 13^th in Florida against Skidmore and later in the day with Catholic University. They will also face 2009 New Jersey Athletic Conference champion Rowan and Centenary (N.J) College who is predicted to finish 2^nd this season in the Colonial States Athletic Conference.  They will play 10 games total in Florida before heading north. The home opener will be a March 28^th double header vs. Lyndon State. 2009 MASCAC leaders Bridgewater State (April 24^th) and Westfield State (April 27^th) also highlight the 2010 schedule.