Softball Fall Update - Exhibition Season Underway
10/1/2014 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Head coach Paige Smith explained her mantra for fall exhibition games is to treat the experience like practice with a uniform on, bolstering the overarching goal of maximizing opportunities for the entire team during this critical part of preparation for the 2015 campaign.
According to Smith, she entered this offseason with two primary aims: learning from last year, which on the field means eliminating errors and cutting down on the number of free bases relinquished, and at practice focusing on individual sessions as often as possible to significantly increase the amount of specialized attention each player receives during training.
"We've really been working on pitch recognition, and making our swings consistent," said Smith, who noted that second-year assistant coach Jennifer Abrams has transitioned to more of a hitting coach this season. "The team feels like they get more out of the smaller group work, and the team can accomplish things quickly and more efficiently."
Over the weekend against Saint Peter's and Dominican every player on the roster was in on the action, but there were still standouts in the group.
Sophomore Valerie Suto (Mercerville, N.J.) shined in the leadoff spot, going 3-for-4 against St. Peter's and reaching twice against Dominican, as she continues to grow more comfortable in her role with the Pirates.
Coming out of high school, Suto was a right-handed hitter that primarily played second base, but as a freshman in 2014 she roamed the outfield and transitioned to a slap hitter in the left side of the batter's box, refining those disciplines as a sophomore.
Senior pitcher Casey Moses (Lower Burrell, Pa.) displayed impressive accuracy against Saint Peter's, working on off speed pitches. Offensively, junior Alex Rabbetts (Corona, Calif.) has been one of the Pirates' more effective power hitters, and she is having a strong fall. Smith said she is also growing more comfortable at corner infield positions, catching just two innings in each of the exhibition games on Sunday.
Having Rabbetts' bat in the lineup has proved to be crucial in the past, but classmate Faith Laudano (Islip, N.Y.) continues to show improvement at the plate, recording several extra-base hits and a pair of multi-hit games in exhibition action.
"Last year Faith was someone we hit for in several games and this year the expectation is that she will bat in the heart of our lineup," said Smith. "She is also still playing great defensively, which helps make all of our pitchers better."
Three of those pitchers, sophomore Lauren Fischer (Robbinsville, N.J.), sophomore Jennifer Sanislo (Whippany, N.J.) and freshman Alannah Basile (Levittown, N.Y.), combined to throw a seven-inning shutout against Dominican on Sunday afternoon.
Seton Hall has three more exhibition weekends scheduled this fall, culminating with a home doubleheader later in October. This Sunday, the Pirates will participate in the NJ Pride College Day in Branch Brook Park, N.J., facing Hofstra and Siena. Next weekend, The Hall heads to New Rochelle, N.Y., to play a doubleheader at Iona, against the host Gaels and Fairleigh Dickinson.
The Pirates return to Mike Sheppard, Sr. Field on Sunday, Oct. 19 for their fall exhibition finale against Central Connecticut State and LIU CW Post.
