Players Mentioned
2014 Softball Preview: Part III - Pitchers & Catchers
2/3/2014 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Feb. 3, 2014
SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. -
The start of the 2014 Seton Hall softball season is this Friday and SHUPirates.com is going around the horn to preview the new season. The final installment of the 2014 season preview details the Pirates' pitching and catching combinations where added depth should make a big difference on the field.
To take a look back at a preview of the outfield - CLICK HERE
To take a look back at a preview of the infield - CLICK HERE
The Seton Hall University softball team's personnel at pitcher and catcher will have a very different feel to it in 2014. This is not solely because of the three new faces in the circle but also because of an evolving philosophy head coach Paige Smith will utilize in how she manages the battery.
While many programs focus on finding one primary starting pitcher to shoulder a majority of the work throughout the year, Smith's contention is that there is more than one way to experience success. This year the Pirates will take an approach more often seen on a baseball team, where each member of a pitching staff may have a specific role and heading into a game Seton Hall is likely to have a plan for using starters, middle relievers and closers.
"A lot of programs try to find one ace and you ride her arm, and you can do it that way," said Smith. "We found that you can also do it by piecing together a staff and I feel that our team gets that. They understand that if they get through a lineup once then their teammate can get through the lineup a second and third time."
For most of last season Second-Team All-BIG EAST selection Danielle DeStaso (Congers, N.Y.) was Seton Hall's primary starter, throwing 173 of the team's 320.1 innings (54.1 percent). As a result she led the Pirates in earned run average (4.13), wins (14) and strikeouts, with her 163 strikeouts ranking fifth on Seton Hall's all-time single-season list.
However, there were times particularly early in the conference season the Pirates would rely on DeStaso to throw a majority of the innings during a BIG EAST series, and as a result opposing hitters would see her sometimes three times in a weekend. Having a deeper pool of pitching options this year should set her up for success in 2014.
"We've added some more breaking pitches to other zones and Danielle's pitch is breaking a lot more," said Smith. "I think that experience from last season will set her up mentally this year. I don't know how you don't go out with twice as much confidence knowing that you can have an off day and we have arms that can back you up."
Of course when DeStaso is not starting at pitcher, she will likely be in the lineup as a designated player. She started 50-of-51 games last year and led Seton Hall in slugging percentage (.551) and home runs (9).
After getting off to a see-saw start to last season senior Jen Metzger (Pine Hill, N.J.) emerged as the Pirates' ace heading into the postseason. She threw 81.1 innings last year, but 31 of them came after April 22 as she posted a 3.61 earned run average over her final seven appearances of the year which included a one-run, four-strikeout performance against Georgetown in the season finale and she held Notre Dame to just five hits in six innings in the first round of the BIG EAST Tournament.
"Jen Metzger struggled early last year and ended on a super high note," said Smith. "She has a lot of command of her pitches and she has a lot more confidence, and that is important."
The Pirates also welcome back junior Casey Moses (Lower Burrell, Pa.) who appeared in 27 games last year, making 12 starts and 25 relief appearances, while ranking second on the team with a 5.36 ERA. Last season Moses embraced the reliever mentality but Smith expects her to see more starting opportunities, especially early in the season.
"Casey has added some velocity from last year to this year and I could not be prouder of her, she has a lot more movement on her pitches as well which should set up her changeup," said Smith. "By adding more pitches she should have the ability to effectively work her way through a lineup."
Three new faces are expected to fill out the Pirates' pitching rotation in junior transfer Paige Caraway (Dozier, Ala.) and freshmen Lauren Fischer (Robbinsville, N.J.) and Jennifer Sanislo (Whippany, N.J.).
Caraway played last season at Gulf Coast Community College where she posted a 2.40 earned run average with 103 strikeouts. She was named a Florida Junior College Athletic Association First-Team All-Panhandle Conference selection as she helped lead Gulf Coast to a conference title.
"Paige Caraway is a lefty transfer from Gulf Coast Community where she played top-level junior college ball for two years which should translate to valuable experience," said Smith. "She hits right handed and can hit for a lot of power. We are looking forward to being able to add a lefty to our staff."
Fischer is a highly touted prospect out of Robbinsville High School where she was named a Newark Star-Ledger First-Team All-State selection in addition to being nominated for the Gatorade Player of the Year award. She helped lead Robbinsville to New Jersey Group II state titles in 2011 and 2013 and hit .486 with a 20-2 record at pitcher with 183 strikeouts.
"Lauren Fischer was the best offensive prospect in New Jersey for her class," Smith said. "She has shown the ability to pick up on things and has been able to reincorporate an old pitch she quit using in high school. I think she has proven that she can pitch at this level."
Sanislo enjoyed a spectacular prep career at Whippany Park High School and played club ball for the Hudson Valley Hurricanes Gold squad. During her junior season she threw three perfect games and helped guide Whippany Park to the New Jersey Group I state championship. Sanislo was named Second-Team All-State, First-Team All-County and First-Team All-Group I in 2012 and 2013.
"Jenn has a lot of late break on the ball and as a result she doesn't strike out a lot of batters but she is great at getting people to mishit the ball," said Smith. "Something else she brings to the team is her ability to not show her emotions, so she has great mound presence and definitely rounds out the staff."
Behind the plate Seton Hall welcomes back all three catchers it featured in the lineup last season in sophomore Alex Rabbetts (Corona, Calif.), junior Kaylyn Sanbower (Etters, Pa.) and sophomore Faith Laudano (Islip, N.Y.).
Continuing with the baseball motif, it will not be uncommon to see a catcher matchup in the field with particular pitchers based on which tandems display the best chemistry. One of the reasons Smith sees that approach as a possibility is because of the offensive strides all three have made during the offseason.
Last year it was Rabbetts seeing most of the innings behind the plate due in large part to excelling as a power hitter; she started 49 games either at catcher or designated player, blasting five home runs with five doubles and a .434 slugging percentage. Heading into the start of the season she has been swinging one of the hottest bats on the team which means Smith will need to find a spot for her in the lineup on a daily basis.
"Alex handles the pitching staff really well, she is a great communicator and calls a great game and I'm excited to watch her continue to perform," said Smith "She also may see some time at a corner position because we can't play without her bat in the lineup. Our defense really is going to have some different looks this year, like a Rubik's cube."
Sanbower started five games last season and made 10 appearances overall. According to Smith her offseason work has resulted in tremendous strides to her offensive game, specifically her ability to record extra-base hits.
"Kaylyn has been on fire offensively and it has been really fun to watch," said Smith. "Defensively she is starting to come into her own running the infield and her pop time is amazing, she throws out a lot of runners. I'm excited to see her come into her own and work for some playing time."
Laudano started in eight of her 28 appearances last year and scored seven runs. She has also seen her offensive abilities develop through the offseason which should help her garner additional starting opportunities as all three catchers are hitting while bringing different strengths to the field defensively.
"Faith has been hitting really well, and had a great fall offensively," said Smith. "She has really meshed behind the plate with Jen Metzger and I think that is something we are going to do differently this year, use different catchers to handle different pitchers."
