2012 Preview: Fordham

2011 Record (A10 play):
Returning Position Players: Gabby Luety C, Brianna Ciuffi UT, Christina Siesta C/IF, Chelsea Palumbo SS, Jamie LaBovick P/1B, Jess Crowley CF, Lindsey Kay Bright OF, Jo Krasnisky UT, Kat VanBenschoten OF, Nicole Callahan IF
Returning Pitchers: Jen Mineau
Losses: Jocelyn Dearborn 3B, Beckah Wiggins 2B, Samantha Pellechio SS, Megan Shager C, Chelsea Plimpton P, Becca Griswold 3B
Newcomers: Taylor Pirone P, Michele Daubman P/IF, Elise Fortier 3B, Brianna Turgeon 2B, Erica Willis OF, Cora Ianiro OF, Sammi Smith OF, Kayla Lombardo IF/C, Serena Moroukian OF, Paige Ortiz IF

Jen Mineau (Courtesy of Tom Wasiczko)

Pitching: Fordham's pitching will one of its biggest strengths in 2012, due in large part to the return of Jen Mineau. Mineau has been incredibly dominant over the past two seasons and she has helped lead the Rams to new heights. Mineau features pin point control in addition to devastating movement. In 2011, Mineau was 24-9 with a 1.22 ERA and 300 SO in 224.2 IP. The most amazing part about those numbers is that they came while she was dealing with a nagging injury. This season she is healthy and ready to go so the rest of the conference better watch out. Joining Mineau in the circle this season are freshmen Taylor Pirone and Michele Daubman. Pirone had a excellent fall for the Rams and she should be an impact performer right away. Pirone is a tall and athletic pitcher who comes to Fordham with plenty of experience after pitching for the NJ Inferno in travel ball. Daubman also figures to see quite a bit of action in the circle for Fordham. Coach Bridget Orchard is going to look to her freshmen for valuable innings so Mineau can be fresh at the end of the year.

Gabby Luety (Courtesy of Tom Wasiczko)

Catching: Gabby Luety returns after an outstanding freshman season and she should once again be a force behind the plate. Luety hit .281 with 45 hits, 8 HR, and 29 RBI for the Rams in her freshman season. With a season of Division 1 Softball under her belt, those offensive numbers should be even better in 2012. Kayla Lombardo, Christina Siesta, and Nicole Callahan could also see action behind the plate for Fordham this year.

Elise Fortier (Courtesy of Tom Wasiczko)

Infielders: The Rams return just one infielder from last year, as 2011 Atlantic Player of the Year Jocelyn Dearborn, 2010 Atlantic 10 co-Player of the Year Beckah Wiggins, and All-Conference performer Samantha Pellechio have all graduated. 2010 Atlantic 10 Player of the Year Jamie LaBovick is back and Fordham will look to her to be the captain of the infield. LaBovick's numbers fell off a little bit in 2011, but they were still pretty solid, as she went .257 with 46 hits, 1 HR, and 16 RBI. In 2012, expect those numbers to skyrocket up, especially the power numbers. Chelsea Palumbo will join the infield this season, as she will transition to shortstop, after being in the outfield last season. Palumbo had a solid year in 2011, hitting .268 with 34 hits, 5 HR, and 30 RBI. She will be counted on to have an even bigger role this season at shortstop. Stony Brook transfer Elise Fortier will likely hold down third base for the Rams and she should be an impact performer on the offensive and defensive sides of the ball. Fortier had an excellent fall for the Rams and she will look to have the same sort of performance this spring. Freshman Brianna Turgeon and returnee Nicole Callahan will battle it for second base. Turgeon is a talented freshman from Connecticut with excellent skills on both sides of the ball. Callahan had an excellent season in 2011 starting at designated player, hitting .358 with 58 hits, 2 HR, and 20 RBI. The designated player position should be a battle all season long, as a number of players could hold down that spot, including Callahan, Pirone, and powerful freshman slugger Paige Ortiz. Ortiz swings an incredibly powerful bat that may be too strong to keep out of the lineup.

Nicole Callahan (Courtesy of Tom Wasiczko)

Outfielders: In the outfield Fordham returns two starters from last season in Lindsey Kay Bright and Jess Crowley. Bright hit .268 last year with 42 hits, 0 HR, 12 RBI, and 13 SB. Coach Orchard is going to count on her to be a table setter for the Rams and get things going with her speed. Crowley was Fordham's anchor in the outfield last year tracking down everything ball hit her way. She hit .192 with 15 hits, 2 HR, and 6 RBI last season. Crowley will look to put up even bigger numbers this season, now that she has a season of starting under her belt in Division 1. The other outfield spot could be filled by any of a number of players, such as Callahan, Kat VanBenschoten, Sammi Smith, or Serena Moroukian. That final spot will likely come down to offensive production, as whomever hits the best will find themselves in the lineup.

Schedule: This young and talented squad will be tested throughout 2012, as Coach Orchard has continued her aggressive scheduling. Fordham will have a number of challenging games including games with WCWS participants California and Alabama (which will be played at home!), Super Regional participants Arizona, as well as East Carolina, UCLA, Long Beach State, and Louisville who all advanced to Regionals last season. This non-conference schedule will prepare Fordham for A10 play and it will likely get them into the NCAA tournament for the third straight season. As far as Atlantic 10 play, Fordham will have the benefit of hosting UMass and Charlotte at home, as part of its 10 home games. The Rams will have to hit the road however to face St. Joseph's, Temple, and Dayton.

Jess Crowley (Courtesy of Tom Wasiczko)

Postseason prognosis: Fordham is going to likely be back at NCAA Regionals this year and finish in the top three in the conference. With Jen Mineau in the circle, Fordham is going to make a lot of noise in the Atlantic 10 and nationally. Fordham is the defending champion in the Atlantic 10 and they will be the team to beat. The Rams are going to have stiff competition from UMass and St. Joseph's and the regular season title could come down to the last weekend of the season, when UMass heads to the Bronx. Fordham is going to be good in 2012, but depending on how well its young players play, it could be really good and play deep into the NCAA tournament.