Season Preview: Fordham

Fordham Rams
Record (A10 Play): 49-12 (16-2)
Coach (Record): Bridget Orchard
Returning Starters: Jamie LaBovick 1B/P, Beckah Wiggins 2B, Jocelyn Dearborn CF/3B, Samantha Pellechio SS, Megan Shager C, Lindsey Kay Bright LF, Nicole Callahan DP, Jessica Richards RF
Other Returnees: Chelsea Palumbo IF, Jess Crowley OF, Kat VanBenschoten OF, Jo Krasnisky UT, Brittany Longo UT
Key Losses: Erin Fisher OF
Newcomers: Gabby Luety C/1B, Becca Griswold 3B, Christina Siesta UT, Brianna Ciuffi OF

Outlook:
2011, this is supposed to be Fordham's year. The Rams return all but one starter from last year, while UMass loses seven seniors from last year's squad. Everything on paper says the Fordham will win the A10 title this year, but as the Minutewomen showed on that final day of the A10 tournament it won't be that easy. UMass is not going to give up that title, Fordham will have to leave everything on the field and wrestle it away. Fordham returns the pitching, the power, the postseason experience, but will it add up to a title? The games on April 29th and 30th will be crucial for both the Rams and Minutewomen. The good thing for the Rams is that the UMass Softball Complex isn't the complete house of horrors that it once was, though plenty of bad memories still linger there.

Jen Mineau

In the circle, not too many other teams have the kind of ace that Fordham does. Jen Mineau is one of the top pitchers in the nation and she has received the accolades to show for it. Mineau was named a 1st team Louisville Slugger/NFCA All-American, a Top 10 finalist for USA Softball's player of the year award, All-Atlantic 10, and All-ECAC. She has also been picked as an ESPN preseason All-American. Mineau has a complete game in the circle with the speed, the movement, and the pinpoint control. In 2011, I want to see her take it to another level. I want to see Mineau mix in more change-ups and miss pitches off the plate. Some people may look at that as an odd comment, but Mineau gets into trouble when she gets too cute with her pitches and leaves them over the plate. Sometimes a walk is not the worst thing in the world, when the alternative could be a ball flying over the outfield fence. She has such outstanding movement, but if utilizes her changeup even more she can really keep hitters on their toes. Mineau is a great pitcher, but she must do a better job of keeping the ball in the park. Another thing to fuel Mineau's fire in the circle will be the fact that she lost out on the A10 Pitcher of the Year and ECAC Pitcher of the Year awards to Sara Plourde. Mineau will once again be joined in the circle by fellow New Yorker Chelsea Plimpton. Plimpton is a very good pitcher in her own right and had a very nice season in 2010, despite seeing somewhat limited action, going 11-2 with a 1.57 ERA with 100 SO in 93.1 IP. I feel that she needs to see more work in 2011, in order to keep Mineau fresh for a stretch run. Jamie LaBovick is also back in the circle, after facing some illegal pitch demons, which kept her out of the circle towards the end of the season, she is back. LaBovick just like Plimpton will play an important role in 2011 in keeping Mineau healthy, that is when she's not crushing bombs at the plate.

Beckah Wiggins

LaBovick led the Rams is 2010, with a 0.342 BA and was honored for it by being named A10 Rookie of the Year. She will have some help as Co-A10 Player of the Year Beckah Wiggins, Jocelyn Dearborn and Samantha Pellechio are all back as well. The Rams do not get cheated at the plate, Coach Orchard like to let the Rams swing away and she heard quite a few "See yeah's" in 2010. The Rams hit 0.288 as a team with 60 HR and 76 SB, which are outstanding numbers. Dearborn is not the prototypical leadoff hitter, but she was very effective in the role scoring 49 runs and she hit 12 HR with 40 RBI. Wiggins was one of the biggest bats in Fordham's lineup last year hitting 12 HR with 60 RBI, falling just 1 RBI shy of Whitney Mollica's A10 record. Wiggins had a big bat all year long, but it went quiet when it mattered most. Samantha Pellechio on the other hand, was at her best in the postseason hitting multiple HR in the A10 tournament and Regionals. Pellechio suffered a midseason injury and did not return to form until the end of the year. If she performs the way she did in 2009 the A10 better watch out.

Jocelyn Dearborn

The lineup is going to look a little different in 2011, with Jocelyn Dearborn moving from 3B to CF and Becca Griswold joining the lineup at 3B. In addition, I am expecting to see freshman Gabby Luety in the DP role this year. Luety has a powerful bat and I think it will be hard for Coach Orchard to take her out of the lineup. I think there will be a battle once again for RF this year. Jessica Richards won the job last year, but she did not cement the job with her offensive output nor did Nicole Callahan secure her spot at DP. Fordham was one of the top defense in the country last season and despite the new 3rd baseman, I think that will be true again in 2011. The most impressive thing about the Rams fielding is that the first time Fordham will see dirt this spring will be in Clermont, FL. This is the Rams year with a very strong senior class, an ace in the circle, and a young UMass squad, but this will all come down to how the Rams perform in Amherst and Charlotte if the Rams want a title.


Schedule:
Coach Orchard wants her team and this program to improve and this schedule represents that. Fordham is going to have to bring it every weekend in nonconference play and if they do, the Rams will reap the awards come Regional selection time. Fordham is one of the big teams and has one of the toughest schedules in the country in 2011. Some of the highlights include matchups with Georgia Tech, Alabama, Texas, LSU, Washington, Virginia, and Hofstra. However, as I mentioned earlier the most important games of the year are on April 29th and 30th against UMass in Amherst. Those matchups will decide the A10 regular season title and seeding for the A10 tournament. This is going to be a special year for Fordham and I for one, would love to watch this team on ESPN come postseason play.