1998 Softball Preview:

Corsairs will rebuild around five returning veterans and ten first-year players during 1998 season

(Dartmouth, MA) -- The first-year players outnumber the returning starters by a two-to- one margin on the UMass Dartmouth softball roster this season. Coach Marilyn Ritz's Corsairs have five experienced veterans returning from last year's 5-16 team with ten first-year players competing for playing time this season.

The returning veterans are led by senior co-captains Maureen Maloney (Blackstone, MA) and Jude Menz (Braintree, MA). Maloney, who hit .269 and tied for second on the team with 18 hits a year ago, has played both the infield and outfield for Ritz over the last three years. Maloney has been spending much of her time in the pre-season at second base after playing shortstop a year ago. Menz (.218, 6 RBI) will be back for another season, giving UMass Dartmouth plenty of experience behind the plate.

Two of the three starting outfield positions will be handled by returning veterans, Mandy Fraser (Cataumet, MA) (.241, 5 RBI) and Erin McHugh (Dartmouth, MA) (.226, ). Sophomore Becky Medeiros (Fall River, MA) is expected to move into the short stop position and shore up the middle of UMass Dartmouth's defense along with Maloney. The Corsairs will also look to Medeiros to be one of their offensive threats after hitting .283 last year with 13 hits, 6 RBI and a team-high 4 stolen bases.

"We are continuing the rebuilding process this season with a solid group of returning players," said Ritz, who is entering her 15th season (243-135-2) with the Corsairs. "From the group of 10 first-year players, we've also added some depth to the outfield which will allow us to play people in positions in the infield where they have experience.

After the five returners, the rest of the starting positions are up for grabs among the first-year players on the roster. At first base, Erin Laperriere (Freetown, MA), a catcher for Apponequet High School last season, has been shifted to first base. She will be backed up by sophomore Becky Nault (Millbury, MA) (.200), who is recovering from a stress fracture suffered during the basketball season.

Across the diamond at third base, first-year player Melinda Amaral (Cape Coral, FL) will probably get the starting nod to open the season. She may also be called on to handle some of the back-up catching duties behind Menz.

Another first-year player who Ritz is trying to work into the starting lineup is Heather Louro (Dartmouth, MA). She has been penciled in by Ritz as a back up catcher, but could also play first base, the outfield and even pitch, if needed.

With two of three outfield slots going to returning veterans, Ritz has several newcomers to the program jockeying for the third outfield position. Among those competing for playing time are sophomore Carolyn Catulo (Dartmouth, MA), junior Teresa O'Brien (Swansea, MA), and first-year players Nicole Daigle (Upton, MA), Meghan Farris (Walpole, MA), Nicole Lever (Randolph, MA), and Cheryl Arruda (Fall River, MA).

"Several of the first-year players have the ability to make an immediate impact for us, since many come from excellent high school teams like Dartmouth, Apponequet and Case," said Ritz.

Handling the bulk of the pitching duties for the Corsairs will be another first-year player, Jessica Boudreau (Westminster, MA), out of Oakmont Regional High School. Ritz described Boudreau as a fierce competitor, who keeps the ball down and has the durability to handle lots of innings. Arruda and Louro will be available to back up Boudreau out of the bullpen.

"The key to our season is that with only five returning starters we will have to gain experience as the season progresses," said Ritz. "We've got a tough schedule early on, but we need to gain experience. We need to face that type of competition early because the schedule doesn't get any easier."

The Corsairs open their 29-game schedule with five games at the Gene Cusick Collegiate Classic in Fort Meyers Florida, starting with Lawrence Univeristy of Wisconsin on March 23. UMass Dartmouth will also face Wisconsin-Whitewater and Buffalo State, two of the top ranked teams in their respective divisions, before returning to New England.

The Corsairs open their New England schedule by hosting a non-league game against Worcester State on Thursday, April 2. A very competitive Little East Conference schedule, combined with some of the top Division III teams including Wheaton College and Springfield College, combine to give Ritz the toughest schedule in her career.

"We are looking forward to the challenges of the schedule and having the opportunity to compete in the first official Little East Conference championship at the end of the season," Ritz said. "The team has qualified for post-season play in 12 of the last 14 seasons and our goal is to give ourselves the opportunity to be chosen for a 13th time in 1998."

The Little East Conference Tournament will open on Thursday, April 30 with quarterfinal round games. The semi-finals and championship game will be played May 2-3 at a location yet to be determined. The NCAA Regionals get underway May 8-10 and the ECAC Tournament gets underway May 6 with the final two rounds slated for May 9-10.

Ritz will be assisted this season by Coach Joan Allison and Jennifer Pfister.