The University of Maine at Presque Isle softball team had an exciting beginning to its season, starting where they left off from last year, which is on the road.
The team just returned from its annual spring trip, travelling through eight different states en route to playing 14 games, all doubleheaders, in a 10-day stretch.
Due to the mild winter, the team has been able to get outside a few times on the UMPI grounds and also saw some time on the Presque Isle Middle School turf, which has been helpful for the preparation to a quick start to their season.
The Lady Owls finished first overall in the NAIA Sunrise Conference during the 2009 season, and eventually captured the Sunrise Conference Championship title in a 10-9, 20-3 doubleheader sweep over second-seeded Fisher College of Boston.
The championship qualified the team for a NAIA Regional play-off game for the National Tournament in West Virginia against William Carey University of Mississippi. Despite the hard-fought battle, the Lady Owls were swept in a doubleheader and finished the season at 17-11.
The Owls begin their 2010 season under first-year head coach Joy Davis, who acted as the team’s assistant coach last season. Although the Owls lost two players to graduation, Erica Davis (all-conference from last season) and Erin Pelletier, they add two new freshmen and a sophomore to their already-talented roster.
The Owls return all-conference players and twin sisters Brittany and Danielle Humphrey, who are from New Gloucester. (junior shortstop from New Gloucester), Danielle Humphrey (junior catcher/third baseman from New Gloucester). Brittany, who plays shortstop, and Danni, who plays both catcher and third base, are as equally solid at the plate and the juniors will serve as team captains this season alongside veteran Nicole Russell, a pitcher from Newcastle who is the lone senior on the 2010 squad.
“The three captains provide strong leadership for our team,” commented Head Coach Davis. “They are a talented group who look forward to another successful year on the diamond.”
Brittany Humphrey currently leads the team from the plate with a .413 batting average and slugging percentage of .674, including 19 hits and 8 eight RBI’s in 14 games.
Kathleen Higgins, a second baseman from Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia, was also an all-conference player from last season, Higgins and fellow sophomore Cassie Green, a utility player from Truro, Nova Scotia, are the team’s Canadian duo that add aggressive play from the plate and are invaluable in the field. Green has showed to be one of the most consistent players so far this season, both in the field and at the plate. She is currently batting .297 and splits time between first and second base for her Owl team.
Other returnees from last season are sophomores Desiree Smith (a third baseman/catcher from Thomaston), Carolynn Tuck (an outfielder from Brewer), and Emily Staples (an outfielder from Trenton). Smith is a talented athlete on the field, splitting time both behind the plate and at third. She is the Owls’ lead-off hitter, and is leading her team in stolen bases with seven and is second on the team with a .304 batting average. Tuck and Staples have already shown great improvement from last season and both look to be solid contributors for the Owls both offensively and defensively.
Newcomer and freshman Kellie Peers of Caswell successfully replaces Davis at the centerfield position.
“Kellie has a strong bat and very quick movement on the field,” coach Davis said. “She has also stepped into the cleanup spot in our batting lineup.”
Lainey Herring, a freshman from Houlton, is another newcomer to the Owl squad. “Lainey will bring support to the mound for us. She has stepped up into the pitcher’s role, has given a lot of effort, and is also expected to be a solid contributor for us at the plate,” Davis said. “Lainey has already improved tremendously through the course of our spring trip.”
Another positive addition to the 2010 Owls team is sophomore Emily O’Neal of Limestone, who will add solid field play and softball knowledge to the young team. The Owls will also receive help throughout their season from student-manager Kylie Mulherin, also of Limestone; student-assistant coach Cyndi Trapnell, and first-year assistant coach Tricia Pelkey.
“Overall, I feel our big spring trip went well as the team progressed and improved through the 14-game schedule,” said the coach. “The teams we faced were very talented, which made for challenging and competitive games.”
The Owls opened their season against the Mariners of Maine Maritime Academy in a double-header in the Mahaney Dome at the University of Maine, where they dropped both games, 14-3 and 9-1. The team then hit the road to Virginia to face the Knights of Southern Virginia University in a doubleheader, earning a split on the day and their first win of the season. While in the south, UMPI also faced NCAA Division III talents Stevenson University of Maryland and Catholic University, losing all four games against the two teams.
“It’s a great opportunity for our student-athletes to travel and play against such good competition, especially early on in the season,” coach Davis said. “Not only are the facilities beautiful and a joy to play at, but facing such talented teams prepares us for conference play. Nothing is more valuable than playing experience.”
The team saw action for a second time against Southern Virginia University, but was swept in a close two-game series, 10-2 and 2-1. The Lady Owls traveled back north and got in a game against Penn State Hazelton, losing 10-2, and 7-6. They finished up their trip with a double-header sweep at Green Mountain College of Poultney, Vt., 16-4 and 12-9. With those two wins, the Owls improved to 3-11 on the season.
“Our players turned into a team on the trip as their level of play matured with every game. Our spring trip was invaluable and gave us a good foundation for the rest of the season,” the coach added. “I am confident in our success for the remainder of our season and believe that we should especially be very competitive in Sunrise Conference play.”
The Owls return to action on Friday, April 2 as they face Thomas College for a doubleheader in the Mahaney Dome at UM-Orono. Upcoming opponents for the Owls include North Atlantic Conference power Husson University, UM-Farmington and fellow Sunrise Conference teams Fisher College, Vermont Tech, and SUNY-Canton.
