Riverdale, N.Y. – The College of Mount Saint Vincent Softball team will open the 2012 season this weekend when it heads to Virginia Beach to play four games over two days. The Dolphins will open the year on Friday against Peace and Hood and will close the trip on Saturday against Baruch and Pitt-Greensburg.
Mount Saint Vincent returns its top two hitters in
Marni O'Shea (White Plains, N.Y.) and Leann Cerbone (Bronx, N.Y.). O'Shea led the team with in 2011 with a .420 batting average after recording a team-high 29 hits. She also paced the team with 21 runs and 26 RBI.
Cerbone opened her collegiate career finishing second on the team with 20 hits and 15 runs scored. She also followed only O'Shea in RBI after driving in 14 runs. Cerbone and O'Shea were the only players to appear in 30 games last season, with Cerbone starting each game she appeared in.
The Dolphins will also look for significant contributions from returners
Joanna Makayan (Queens, N.Y.),
Kelly Donlon (Carmel, N.Y.),
Victoria Cardillo (Boston, Mass.),
Ashley Winn (Brooklyn, N.Y>) and Rosie Pulice (Bronx, N.Y.).
Makayan appeared in 14 games in 2011 and hit .280 for the Dolphins, while Donlon saw time in 12 games and hit .269 for the season. She also led the Dolphins in wins with three. She fanned 28 batters in 33.1 innings pitched.
Cardillo appeared in 15 games in 2011 and recorded a .961 fielding percentage at first base and Winn led the team with 67.1 innings pitched and complete games with five. She earned one win in 19 appearances. Pulice played in 16 games in 2011 and posted a .978 fielding percentage in 46 total chances.
Head Coach Michael Scala will also look to newcomers
Casey Leake (Putnam Valley, N.Y.),
Brianna Mooney (Yonkers, N.Y.),
Ruby Scarantino (Brooklyn, N.Y.),
Blair Butler (Hicksville, N.Y.),
Kathleen Davis (Beacon, N.Y.),
Jhane Figueroa (Bronx, N.Y.) and
Courtney Keane (Yonkers, N .Y.) for contributions.
Mount Saint Vincent finished off the 2011 season with a 4-27 overall record and a 0-14 mark in Skyline Conference play. The Dolphins will tussle with Peace on Friday at 4:00 p.m. and then Hood at 6:00 p.m.
