BETHLEHEM, Pa. --- The Moravian College softball squad is ready to start the 2020 season on Sunday, March 1 with the first two of 10 games at the PFX Spring Games at the National Training Center in Clermont, Florida as the Greyhounds open with John Carroll (Ohio) University at 2:45 p.m. before facing Illinois College at 5:00 p.m.
Head Coach John Byrne begins his 27th season leading the Hounds with 16 letterwinners and eight starters from last year's 32-7 team that had program's 25th consecutive postseason appearance. Byrne was honored as the Landmark Conference Coach of the Year for the sixth time last May.
Leading the group of returners is junior infielder Maddisen Bieber, who was the Landmark Conference Player of the Year in 2019 after hitting .487 with 58 hits, 33 runs, 19 RBIs, 10 doubles and one home run. Bieber was also honored on the Landmark All-Conference First Team and the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Division III All-Atlantic Region Second Team. Sophomore pitcher/designated player Alexandria Scheeler is the reigning Landmark Conference Rookie of the Year after hitting .474 with 54 hits, 37 RBIs, 21 runs, 14 doubles, one triple and one homer at the plate and a 12-4 mark in the circle with a 2.21 ERA, two shutouts and 39 strikeouts in 107.2 innings of action. Scheeler joined Bieber on the NFCA All-Atlantic Region Second Team, and she also made the Landmark All-Conference Second Team.
Senior pitcher Paige Lesher was honored as the Landmark Conference Pitcher of the Year last season as well as making the All-Conference First Team and NFCA All-Atlantic Region Third Team after posting a 16-1 record with a 1.56 ERA, three shutouts and 34 strikeouts in 103 innings of action. Moravian returns two other Landmark All-Conference First Team honorees this spring in junior catcher Brooke Wehr and junior second baseman Shannon Brogan. Wehr, who also made the NFCA All-Atlantic Region Third Team, hit .385 last season with 52 hits, 44 runs, 30 RBIs, seven doubles, three triples and seven home runs while Brogan had a .413 average with 50 hits, 31 runs, 26 RBIS, 10 doubles, four triples and a homer.
The Blue and Grey also have three Landmark All-Conference Second Team selections back in 2020. Senior outfielder Emily Stanilious hit .409 last spring with 47 hits, 37 runs, 24 RBIs, 10 stolen bases, eight doubles and a triple while first baseman Lauren Goetz had a .317 average to go with 46 RBIs, 32 hits, 23 runs, 11 homers and eight doubles. Junior pitcher Meghan Bauer rounded out the All-Conference selections last year after going 4-1 in the circle with three saves, two shutouts, a 1.16 ERA and 41 strikeouts in 36.1 innings.
Sophomore outfielder Cameron Cassidy hit .376 with 35 hits, 21 runs, 18 RBIs, seven stolen bases, three doubles and two triples in her debut season while sophomore infielder Briana DiCandeloro had five hits, four RBIs and three runs. Senior outfielder Samantha O'Keefe had two runs and a hit in 2019 while sophomore outfielder Victoria Smith scored four times.
Sophomores Nicole Cassano and Robin McCabe both tossed 1.1 innings in the circle for Moravian a year ago with Cassano, who will play in the outfield this year, also collecting two hits at the plate. The Hounds also return junior infielder Maura Kane and sophomore catcher Chloe Tice. Kane, Goetz and Wehr are serving as team captains this season for the Hounds.
Coach Byrne has added eight freshmen to the squad for this spring that will challenge for playing time as the Greyhounds aim for a return to the postseason.
