2007 Blackbirds Softball Season Outlook |
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Again facing a top-tier non-conference schedule, Long Island performed well against tough competition, finishing with victories over NCAA participants Florida Atlantic and Iowa. The Blackbirds swept through the Northeast Conference during the regular season, posting a 17-3 record and outscoring their opponents 126-37. From there, LIU won three straight games in the NEC Tournament to advance to the NCAA Softball Championship. The 34 wins were just three shy of the program’s all-time single season record and with a group of experienced veterans, two transfers and an eager and talented five-player freshman class, the squad is poised to challenge that mark this season.
Pitching has been a strength over the past decade with head coach Roy Kortmann’s teams, and this season will be no different as the Blackbirds welcome back the conference’s Pitcher of the Year in sophomore Jenny Giles. Giles had a spectacular rookie season which saw her shatter the LIU all-time single season strikeout record by 51 (176 total). Giles also set the program record for innings pitched in a season (266.2) and ranks second in victories in a season (22) and shutouts (eight). “Jenny was outstanding in her inaugural campaign for us,” Kortmann said. “She has worked hard to become physically stronger this year and I think this, combined with the experience of last year, sets her up for an exciting sophomore season.” Freshman Blaire Porter will be asked to step in and take pressure off Giles as well as fill the No. 2 spot vacated by the graduation of Jessica Busick. Porter compiled a 12-0 record in her senior season at Redmond High School in Redmond, Wash. and led the King County 4A Conference with 165 strikeouts. “Blaire is a very focused young lady with a lot of potential,” said Kortmann of the righthander. “As she gains confidence, I think people will see a pitcher that can make the ball move very effectively.” CATCHERS
“We always tell our kids when something occurs and you’re unsure if the situation is good or bad, just let it play out,” Kortmann said, speaking of DePippo’s knee injury. “Jessie worked hard for us breaking down opposing hitters last year, put together pitching strategies for our staff each game and towards the end of the season was calling all of our pitches from the dugout. Although she wasn’t physically able to play last year, she played a major role in our success and will take that experience onto the field this season and be a much better all-around catcher.” Also expected to see time at backstop is freshman Mariesha Marker. A native of Keizer, Ore., the left-handed contact hitter becomes the first player in LIU history from the Beaver State.
Three experienced veterans make up three-quarters of the infield positions this season. Juniors Celina Castillo and Vanessa Mejia anchor the left side of the diamond at shortstop and third base, respectively, while senior Randi Gillespie will play both outfield and first base this season. Both Gillespie and Mejia were named First Team All-NEC a year ago with Gillespie being honored as the NEC’s Player of the Year and NFCA First Team All-Region after batting a career-best .360 with 11 home runs and 42 RBI. “Randi has had two good offensive years for us,” Kortmann said. “I think she can still become better and she is focused on doing so.” Castillo missed a portion of the conference schedule with a leg injury but came back with a vengeance to bat .331 and score a team-best 35 runs from the leadoff spot. Her presence at the top of the lineup will help set the table for both Gillespie and Mejia. “Celina is a mentally tough kid who goes all out all the time,” Kortmann notes of the shortstop. “She does not give up at-bats, is very focused and that makes her a tough hitter from the leadoff spot. She is the ‘battery’ that gets our team going on both sides of the ball.” Mejia returns to the infield after spending much of last season as the team’s designated player due to arm problems. She tallied 14 doubles and five home runs to go along with a .302 batting average en route to her all-conference selection. “Vanessa has worked hard to rehab her arm and will see time in the field this season,” Kortmann says. “She is a very talented hitter who can hit the ball to all fields against any type of pitcher. She’s a really big part of our offense.” Holly Erwin returns for her senior year after starting 55 of 57 games last season at first base and leading the NEC in putouts. This year, she will see time at first base and designated player. A pair of newcomers round out the infield corps for the Blackbirds. Brynn Lewis is a middle infielder who did not commit an error in 29 games for her Woodinville High School team in the state of Washington her senior season. She will see most of her time at second base this season. A corner infielder from Escondido, Calif., Raylene Asman was
named
The Long Island outfield will have a different look this season as it looks to replace two four-year starters in graduated seniors Alissa Villanueva and Leah Glenn. Looking to help replace the duo is junior Brittany Murphy. The lone returning starter from last year, Murphy led the squad in triples and steals a season ago and will use her speed to patrol centerfield. “Brittany will be our starting centerfielder and I know she’s excited about the opportunity,” Kortmann remarked. “She has been making some mechanical adjustments to her swing and I think she’s going to surprise some people at the plate this year.” Renae Beauchman will look to make an immediate impact after transferring from Belmont University in Tennessee. The line-drive hitter was selected to the Atlantic Sun All-Freshman team last year after leading her team in batting (.308), RBIs (21) and slugging percentage (.489). Sophomore Amanda Devan and freshman Chelsea Martinson will compete for the final starting spot and add depth to the outfield. Devan comes to the Brooklyn campus after competing for one season at crosstown rival St. Francis (N.Y.) before the program was extinguished. Martinson is a corner outfielder with speed who has a pedigree for diamond success. Her father, Jim, played minor league baseball and her brother, Chad, played baseball for San Diego State.
As in years past, the Blackbirds will face an elite non-conference schedule which will feature nine teams that competed in last season’s NCAA Softball Regionals. LIU’s season will begin at Dunkin’ Donuts FAU Tournament, hosted by Florida Atlantic, in Boca Raton, Fla. on Feb. 16-18. The host Owls were an NCAA participant a season ago. The Blackbirds will face St. John’s in their first game of the tournament on Friday, Feb. 16 at 4:00 p.m. The following weekend, Long Island will travel to Palm Springs, Calif. to compete in the Palm Springs Classic. The nationally-recognized tournament features 16 teams that participated in last year’s tournament, including Arizona State. The Sun Devils finished the season ranked sixth in the nation in 2006 and defeated LIU, 6-0, in the opening round of the NCAA Softball Championship en route to the Women’s College World Series. Other participants on the Blackbirds schedule include Oklahoma State, Fresno State, Cal-State Fullerton and Loyola Marymount. “Our schedule gives us the opportunity to play against the highest level of Division I competition,” Kortmann says. “Coupled with playing on a field with the Empire State Building over the left field horizon, LIU gives a unique opportunity for student-athletes that cannot be duplicated anywhere else in the world.” Northeast Conference play begins on Mar. 31 with a doubleheader
at Wagner. LIU will travel to Robert Morris on Saturday, Apr.
28 for a conference
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2/7/07 --
The Long Island University softball team had a successful season
by all accounts last year: 34 victories, a Northeast
Conference regular season and post-season title and the program’s
fifth
NCAA Tournament appearance. 
PITCHERS
Back from a season-ending torn anterior cruciate ligament she
suffered a season ago, former NEC Rookie of the Year Jessie DePippo
returns behind the plate for the Blackbirds. A team leader and
defensive stalwart, DePippo had 56 hits as a freshman and followed
it up with a sophomore season where she batted .313 en route
to being named First Team All-NEC.
INFIELD
OUTFIELD
SCHEDULE