Connellsville girls may be ready for playoff run
CONNELLSVILLE – Connellsville softball coach Max Bukovac thinks with the experience gained from last season the Lady Falcons are in a better position to make a playoff run this year. The Lady Falcons missed the post-season last year in Section 1-AAAA, posting a 3-9 record in the section an 8-11 mark overall.
This spring Bukovac has to shift his lineup a little bit to replace two key performers, losing shortstop Rachel Means and second baseman Lindsay O’Donnell to graduation.
Bukovac said the cupboard is not bare for the Lady Falcons. “Our biggest asset this year will be more experience with eight seniors returning,” he said. “Another plus is that our starting pitching is returning and they have gotten stronger with another year’s experience under their belt.”
Seniors returning for the Lady Falcons include Sabrina Martin (OF), Emily Stout (OF), Brittany Kenney (OF), Megan Parsons (OF), Liz Bell (INF), Josie Miller (INF), Brittany Marra (INF) and Judy Nicholson (INF).
To help shore up his defense in the middle, Bukovac will count on sophomore Brooke Hofer at short and will move Bell from third to second.
As of now the rest of the Falcon lineup has Nicholson behind the plate and Marra at first with Jose Miller and Kathy Show sharing time at third. Seniors Parsons, Stout, Kenney and Martin will patrol the outfield.
Junior Alexis Dolde and sophomore Erika Barthlow will handle the pitching duties.
“Alexis has a little more experience and does a good job of changing speeds and hitting her spots,” Bukovac said. “Barthlow has more raw heat. The contrast in styles should help to keep teams off balance since they don’t know which pitcher they’ll face.”
One thing Bukovac is working to improve with the Lady Falcons is their offense. “We did not hit well last year,” Bukovac said. “I think our pitching will be much better, but we’ve got to produce runs to take some of the pressure off of them.”
Bukovac said most of the Falcons’ work has taken place in the gym because of the weather. He says the girls have looked good in the batting cage, but the real test will come in when they start to face live pitching.
Bukovac said he has a little depth this season that should give him a little more flexibility. Underclassmen such as Show, Alexa Falo and Ashley Peck, along with several others, are showing some potential and could get some quality playing time during the year.
Looking to Section 1-AAAA, Bukovac says Hempfield and Latrobe will be the teams to beat. He said they play everyone three times during the year so anything can happen, so they must be prepared.
“I think our defense and pitching are as solid as anybody in our section,” Bukovac said. “The key to our success is offense. If we hit well there is now doubt we’ll be successful and challenge for a spot in the playoffs.”