Softball Fighting to Make a Name
By TANNER BERMAN
Staff Writer
The Fighting Knights softball team has already started their season and Head Coach Amy Bellisari and her squad are looking to build upon a solid beginning to 2015.
The team was ranked last in the in Sunshine State Conference pre-season rankings, which would make some think that it would not bode well with a team. With the addition of some new faces and contributions from familiar faces, Coach Bellisari believes this team can do anything.
“I think this team can overcome anything,” said Bellisari. “[They will succeed] once they start to figure out how to play together and I think that they already have.”
The Fighting Knights are led offensively by returning players: outfielder Kaci Vassallo, speedy infielder and outfielder Sara Vazquez and power-hitting first basemen Cherise McEnery.
With players like them in the line up, it is usually an equation for a potent offense which the Fighting Knights, have been producing thus far this season. Coach Bellisari believes the team has to keep up the offensive production in order to continue their success thus far this season.
“Offensively, we just need to keep doing the things we are doing and capitalize on the hits that we do get,” said Bellisari. “The biggest thing for us is to be able to bunch our hits together in order to create run production.”
This season, the Fighting Knights are looking to compile their first winning record in 11 years and a large part of the burden pursuit of a winning record will be placed upon the shoulders of the pitching staff.
The pitching staff is led by Missy Montgomery, senior, who compiled nine wins last season and an impressive 3.04 ERA. She will look to build upon her strong 2014 season coming into 2015 with support from returning pitcher Katelyn Key and a newcomer, the left-handed Canadian Francais Olexa.
“I think they all definitely compliment each other,” said Bellisari. “All of our pitchers actually really work well with each other. They pull for each other, they all get excited for each other, it’s definitely a great dynamic that they have.”
The Fighting Knights have just began conference play in the always tough Sunshine State Conference and Coach Bellisari and her team will look to turn some heads in the upcoming weeks.
Be sure to come out to a game at the softball field. All the dates and times can be found at lynnfightingknights.com.
