TCNJ SOFTBALL TEAM PICKED TO FINISH THIRD IN NJAC
Friday, February 15, 2013
FEBRUARY 14, 2013
Ewing, NJ… Led by a corps of four returning all-conference performers, The College of New Jersey softball team was picked to finish third out of 10 schools in the annual New Jersey Athletic Conference pre-season poll.
Defending conference champion and second-ranked Montclair State University swept all 10 first-place votes, with 14th-ranked Rowan University picked second followed by the Lions.
TCNJ has a strong group coming back that advanced to the NCAA Division III Tournament last spring and garnered 26 victories.
Senior Ashley Sogluizzo (Middletown, NJ/Middletown South) earned All-NJAC First Team honors last spring, starting all 43 games at second base. The infielder finished with a .314 batting average with 38 hits and 38 runs scored. Sogluizzo is also a threat on the base paths stealing 23 bases on 24 stolen base attempts.
Senior Liz Huttner (Princeton Junction, NJ/West Windsor-Plainsboro South) is a two-time All-NJAC Second Team honoree patrolling center field for the Lions. She enters her final season coming off a terrific campaign at the plate where she led the team in average (.431), hits (53), and doubles (10) and finished in the top 10 in the conference in each of those categories.
TCNJ has even more depth and experience with two 2012 All-NJAC Honorable Mention players back in the line-up. Senior Kelly Hommen (Ridgewood, NJ/Ridgewood) earned that honor at third base, while classmate Michelle Casale (Middlesex, NJ/Middlesex) was cited for her play in the outfield. Hommen started all 43 games and finished third on the team in batting with a .296 average and led the team with 31 runs batted in,+` which tied for fifth in the conference. Casale made the transition to right field where she started every game and finished with 28 hits, including seven doubles.
The Lions open their season on Friday, March 2 with a doubleheader at Messiah College, before heading south for their annual spring trip. The Lions will play their home opener at the newly-dedicated Dr. June Walker Field on Thursday, March 21 against Muhlenberg College. The first game of the doubleheader is at 3 p.m.