FIGHTING TIGER WOMEN’S SOFTBALL READY FOR 2008 SEASON

The SUNY Cobleskill women’s softball team heads into the 2008 season under the direction of first year head coach Mary Irving looking to improve on a 2007 campaign that saw the Fighting Tigers post a 6-16 overall record including a 3-11 mark in Mountain Valley Conference play. The new Cobleskill skipper will head a squad that will rely heavily on a number of talented freshmen this year.

“We are going to be a young team but we are also going to be a young team that features freshman who have a tremendous amount of playing experience,” said Irving. “We have much more offensive versatility at the plate this season and I think that our players also have better quickness that we’re going to make use of this season.”

Given the number of new faces on the roster this year the left side of the Fighting Tiger infield should provide stability to the line-up in the form of senior shortstop Anastasia Yakaboski, Calverton, NY, Riverhead High School, who batted .456 as a freshman and senior third baseman Kayla Jones, Cobleskill, NY, Cobleskill-Richmondville High School, who hit .327 during the 2007 campaign.

On the mound freshman right hander Sheri Boardman, Sheffield High School, Housatonic High School, has all of the necessary pitches to be successful according to Coach Irving and fellow freshman righty Danielle Lichwick, Westtown, NY, Minisink Valley High School, will be a capable second starter.

Among the other rookies: freshman first baseman Casey Kelly, Walton, NY, Walton High School, will be counted on for offensive firepower, freshman second baseman Nicolette Shelley, Swanzey, NH, Monadnock Regional High School, is an accomplished situational hitter and freshman left fielder Lisa Briganti, Harrison, NY, Harrison High School, has demonstrated the ability to hit the ball with authority in practice. Cobleskill will also count on freshman utility player Lauren Tinger, West Lebanon, NY, New Lebanon High School, to provide defensive flexibility at as many as eight positions and freshman center fielder Elizabeth Goyette, Ferrisburg, VT, Vergennes Union High School, to take away the power alleys in Fighting Tiger Park from opposing hitters.

Cobleskill will open the 2008 season, weather permitting, on Tuesday April 8th when they travel to Hudson, NY to meet Columbia-Greene Community College for a Mountain Valley Conference doubleheader beginning at 3:00 PM.