2008 Softball Preview Part I: The Make Up Of The Team And Inside The Circle

SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Syracuse enters the 2008 season only five wins away from the program’s 200th victory, in just its ninth season, and will likely waste no time obtaining the milestone with eight letterwinners, including seven starters, returning. Head coach Leigh Ross and associate head coach Kyle Jamieson enter their second year at the helm of the program and welcome back senior outfielder and pitcher Chanel Roehner, who was selected to the Louisville Slugger/NFCA All-Region First Team and the All-BIG EAST First Team.

Roehner is one of two seniors on the team and is joined in the outfield by classmate Rachel Tilford. Ross and Jamieson expect the duo to provide guidance to a team heading toward its fifth BIG EAST Championship appearance and fourth in as many years.

“We need our two seniors, Chanel and Rachel, to step up and be the leaders on the field,” Ross said. “They are both very competitive and impact players on the team offensively and we hope they will get the most out of their teammates.”

The junior class of catcher Amy Kelley, first baseman Nicole Miller, designated hitter Jorden Rosen and second baseman Lindsay Wasek are joined by shortstop and Northern Iowa transfer Jamie Kelling. The class, which saw a lot of action last year, is expected to produce numbers offensively and defensively and provide experience.

“We are still relatively young, but our juniors started pretty much every game last year, so that experience can only make them better,” Jamieson said. “They need to have that confidence this year.”

In all, 14 student-athletes makeup the 2008 squad including sophomores Ev Anderson and Brittany Gardner, the starting pitcher in 2007. Freshmen Hallie Gibbs, Rachel Helman, Tawni Irvine, Kate Mankowski and Angie Sagnelli bring depth to all areas on the diamond and will make an immediate impact.

INSIDE THE CIRCLE

The Orange will put the ball in the hands of Gardner, Roehner and Sagnelli this year. Gardner spent the offseason improving her drop ball, a pitch option to frustrate batters, while Roehner is able to come in from the outfield and provide solid relief. Sagnelli will give opponents a different look as the only left-handed thrower in the rotation.

“We have, what I like to call, a pitching staff,” Jamieson said. “There are three different pitchers with three different pitching styles. Brittany is more of a power pitcher. Chanel is very aggressive and Angie is a welcomed addition and gives us that left-handed threat.”

Gardner pitched 186.0 innings last year in 34 starts and struck out 3.9 batters per start.

“I see Brittany as a senior,” Jamieson said. “She threw so much last year, but we have to remember that she is just a sophomore. We look for her to keep getting better and get the ball in the big games.”

Roehner started 18 games a season ago and earned eight wins, including four during conference play.

“Chanel is just a trooper,” Ross said. “Last year she volunteered to pitch because we needed a pitcher and she threw more than 100 innings for us. She throws strikes and goes after hitters. She just wants to win and works so hard. She has a great change up and throws deceivingly hard.”

Sagnelli enjoyed great success during her high school career, leading Shenendehowa High School to undefeated seasons her junior and senior year.

“Angie is very mature,” Ross said. “Her confidence and composure are nice to see out of a freshman. She likes to have the ball in her hand during the close games. She understands she isn’t a strikeout pitcher, but she is going to make her ball move and focus on the spot she needs to hit. She is very dedicated to becoming the best player she can.”

The Orange pitchers will get their first chance in the circle when the SU travels to the Getterman Classic hosted by Baylor on Friday, Feb. 15 through Sunday, Feb. 17.

Syracuse University Athletics

2008 Softball Preview Part I: The Make Up Of The Team And Inside The Circle

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