YSU softball looks to build on record season

January 17, 2017 at 12:05a.m.

BEAVER TOWNSHIP

The Youngstown State softball team already is prepping for its 56-game schedule and a tough Horizon League slate.

The Penguins are coming off an successful season that saw them earn the three seed for the Horizon championship. On Monday, Penguins head coach Brian Campbell told the Curbstone Coaches that it’s great to remember the past but his team must live in the present.

“The team did a tremendous job last season fighting for the Horizon League championship,” said Campbell, now in his ninth season with the Penguins. “We want them to remember that run, but as a team, just continue living in the present.”

The Penguins went 30-21 last spring and finished with a school-record 15 league wins. The Penguins went 15-7 in conference play and set multiple individual and team records.

One of the individual records that fell was home runs in a season. Junior Cali Mikovich hit 13, one more than Miranda Castiglione.

“We expect to compete for the title again this year,” Mikovich said. “We bonded a little later than we had hoped last season, so we want to come together right from the outset this year.

“We’re deep, had incredible offensive production and a great defense last year,” the Austintown Fitch graduate said.

The Penguins will open the campaign Feb. 10-12 in Conway, S.C., at the Coastal Carolina’s Kickin’ Chicken Classic. They will travel to Winthrop, S.C,, on Feb. 25-26 to compete in the Winthrop Tournament.

A 13-game trip during spring break from March 3-12 should give Campbell a good idea of his team’s progress prior to the start of conference play.

“This will be a tough preseason as we play the University of Alabama, a team that is ranked in the top five in the nation,” Campbell said. “Other [opponents] those first two weekends are considered top tier in their conferences.

“We battled both Wright State and Illinois-Chicago for the league’s top spot last year and with many of the same players retuning, we expect to battle them once again,” Campbell said.

All 30 pitching wins return with sophomore Paige Geangel (17-12) and senior Caitlyn Minney (13-7) back, joined by newcomer Maddi Lusk.

Three-year starter Maria Lacatena (.342, seven home runs) is ready to call signals behind the dish with freshman and Boardman graduate Miyah Mitchum, sophomore Heather Blake and junior Carey Smith pushing for playing time.

Alex Gibson (.316) is the first baseman, backed up by Kelly Thompson-Cappadocio while three-year mainstay Brittney Moffatt (.310, 12 doubles) holds down second base.

Demi Ann Patonis and Tatum Christy continue to battle at shortstop while Stevie Taylor (.312) leads a talented group at third base that also includes Ariel Lindberger and Elizabeth Birkbeck.

“With 17 letterwinners and six seniors coming back, we definitely have the leadership,” said Taylor, a South Range High School graduate.

In the outfield, Mikovich (.398, 14 runs batted in, 14 stolen bases) is backed up by Lexi Zappitelli and Alexa Schmidt in right and Hannah Lucas (.297, 17 runs) and Alexis Roach in center.

Three-year letterwinner Sarah Dowd (.305, 42 runs, 35 RBIs) and Dani Dadig will patrol left.