2011 Record (A10 Play): 30-24 (10-6)
Returning Position Players: Lorena Vela 2B, Chelsea Stamey IF, Lindsey Holloman 3B, Briana Gwaltney 1B/OF, Chelsea Ingersoll C/IF
Returning Pitchers: Kalie Lang P/1B, Katie Watkins P
Losses: Carol Buchan OF, Katy Hackett P, Tenaya Tucker C, Kendra McCall OF, Whitney Williams OF, Brittany Brinkley IF, Nikki Gayle OF/IF, Ginny Prince IF, Jalisa Rock SS
Newcomers: Chelsea Lisikatos P/IF, Lexi Betancourt P/UT, Natalie Capone SS, Jessie Fennell C/IF, Jackie Kleinsmith C, Alex Rogers OF, Hayley Lewis OF, Sam Slade UT
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| Katie Watkins |
Pitching: Katy Hackett was a huge part of Charlotte's success in 2011 and she was one of the strongest pitchers mentally to ever set foot in the circle for an Atlantic 10 school. Coach Aimee DeVos is hoping for some of that grit and poise to rub off on her young, but talented pitching staff. Katie Watkins and Kalie Lang both return and they will be counted on for a leadership role on this young squad. Also joining the corps in the circle are freshmen Chelsea Lisikatos and Lexi Betancourt. The role of staff ace is clearly up for grabs and Coach DeVos will be looking for someone to step up to the plate and assume that role. Charlotte figures to use all four pitchers this season and having four quality arms is an asset that not many teams have.
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| Chelsea Ingersoll |
Catching: All-Conference Tenaya Tucker has graduated and she was Coach DeVos' rock behind the plate for four years, so this season will mark the beginning of a new era in 49er softball. There are a few contenders for the position including sophomore Chelsea Ingersoll and freshmen Jackie Kleinsmith and Jessie Fennell. Kleinsmith comes in with an impressive travel ball pedigree and she might be the favorite for the job, but I'd expect all three to get a crack at it.
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| Lorena Vela |
Infielders: Charlotte returns three of its four infield starters from 2011 and the infield should be an area of strength both offensively and defensively. Kalie Lang returns after an impressive rookie campaign, which saw her hit .238 with 39 hits, 5 HR, and 38 RBI. With a year of Division 1 Softball under her belt, those numbers should be even better in 2012. Lorena Vela and Lindsey Holloman have been Coach DeVos' rocks in the infield since joining the 49ers and they will once again be counted on to anchor the defense. Vela and Holloman will also look to increase their offensive output in 2012, as the 49ers are going to look to score and score this year. The freshmen will also have a big impact on the infield. Chelsea Lisikatos figures to see some time at first base, in addition to pitching in the circle, as she features a very strong bat. Natalie Capone is the odds on favorite for shortstop at this point, but she figures to be in the mix for other infield spots as well if she is not playing shortstop. Sam Slade and Jessie Fennell should also see some time in the infield.
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| Lindsey Holloman |
Outfielders: The lone returning starter in the outfield in Briana Gwaltney and the 49ers are glad to have back. Gwaltney hit .297 with 46 hits, 10 HR, and 48 RBI in 2011. Gwaltney will be counted on to be the 49ers big run producer in 2012 and she will be counted on to be a leader. A number of players could see time in the 49ers' outfield, but contenders for starting positions could include Hayley Lewis, Alex Rogers, Sam Slade, and Lexi Betancourt.
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| Briana Gwaltney |
Schedule: It is certainly going to be trial by fire for this young squad, as Charlotte's non-conference schedule has been upped a notch. Charlotte will be at home for the first three weekends of the season, welcoming Kansas and Boston College in among others. The big highlight of the non-conference schedule will be Charlotte's trip to San Diego. The 49ers will have to go through the meat grinder that weekend as they will face Fresno State, BYU, San Diego State, and Long Beach all NCAA Regional participants in 2011. Charlotte will also face some more non-conference challenges after conference play has started, as they will face South Carolina, UNC, and NC State. In conference play, Charlotte is one of the few schools that features a balanced schedule, as they will play 10 home games and 10 road games. The 49ers will get the Philadelphia schools and St. Bonaventure and Dayton at home, but they must hit the road to face UMass and Fordham.
Postseason prognosis: This is a tough one to figure out. You can never count out an Aimee DeVos squad, but this will be the youngest and most inexperienced squads that she has ever had. The 49ers could finish anywhere from 4th to 9th this year. They will be right in the mix for one of those final playoff spots. Charlotte is a very talented squad that doesn't have the largest roster, but all of the players can contribute which is a great asset for Coach DeVos. Charlotte is going to be very strong offensively, but ultimately its success will come down to Charlotte's pitching.
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