The UConn softball team has a roster of 17 players this season, 10 of which are new to the team. Needless to say, there are going to be some growing pains.
A successful season is going to depend on a few different factors.
For one, the new players will need to adjust to the college game.
Coach Karen Mullins said, "Offensively, our new players will have to make the adjustment to this level. The ball comes in with a lot more movement. The young players need to develop consistently throughout the season."
A single game cannot predict an entire season, but Mullins must have been happy with the way several of the team's new players performed in Saturday's 6-2 win over Long Island University.
New players Megan Apper, Brittany Duclos, Marissa Guches, Kim Silva and Amanda Martin combined for six hits, two runs scored, and four RBIs. New pitchers Kiki Saveriano and Kathleen Brenneman also played very well, combining for five scoreless innings.
The performance of the returning players will be another important factor.
"Our infield has the most experience, we'll be looking to them for consistency and leadership," said coach Mullins.
The infield played a great game defensively on Saturday, highlighted by junior shortstop Jess Arremony. Arremony displayed good range and a strong arm throughout the course of the entire game, and recorded eight put outs.
The health of two key players, senior pitcher Trish Sullivan and junior second baseman Julie Towers, will also be an important factor for the success of the upcoming season.
Sullivan, who led the team last season with 14 wins and a 2.00 ERA, is recovering from labrum surgery. Towers, who led the team last season in multiple offensive categories including batting average and hits, is recovering from a chronic shoulder problem.
"Sully had surgery at the end of April. She's pretty far ahead of schedule," Mullins said. "Julie has been up and down. We're hoping to have both of them healthy by the beginning of the season."
With a team that has so many young and inexperienced players, it goes without saying that there are some question marks at several positions heading into the season.
"I think that's the big thing, we don't really know what to expect from a lot of the new players. We have so many young kids. We will constantly be focusing on improvement," Mullins said.
Despite the inexperience of the team, Mullins is not considering this a rebuilding season. When asked what she would consider a successful season, Mullins said, "We want to make the Big East tournament."
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