By AJ Powers and Mike Hogan, Contributing Writer and Editor-in-Chief
After finishing each of the past two seasons 10-32, the St. Bonaventure softball team feels no reason to be discouraged. Excitement, as the regular season looms near, is the theme for coach Mike Threehouse’s team.
The team returns 14 players from last year’s team, including eight sophomores, two juniors and five seniors. The team features 10 freshmen.
One of those returners is junior first baseman Grace Perechinsky, who led the team in home runs (4), walks (26) and on-base percentage (.410) while hitting for the team’s fourth-best batting average (.255).
Perechinsky said this year’s team will feature a different chemistry.
She said the Bonnies could be a surprise in the Atlantic 10 Conference.
“There is a lot of excitement looking ahead for this season,” Perechinsky said. “The team has felt a different chemistry since the fall that is leading us in the right direction.”
Senior Rylee Hehir returns as the team’s ace pitcher. Hehir totalled five wins, three of which game in Atlantic 10 play. Hehir struck out 49 batters while pitching to a 7.31 earned-run average in 59.1 innings pitched.
“This is my senior season, so I’m honestly excited to enjoy everything from traveling to games, to hanging out with my teammates on bus rides, playing games and everything in between,” Hehir said.
Hehir said she wants to make sure she can do everything she can before the end of her career at St. Bonaventure.
“My personal goal is to leave it all out on the field this season and have fun playing the game I love.”
Hehir said it’s important for her and the four other seniors to set good examples for the 10 freshmen.
Along with Hehir, the four other seniors include outfielders McKenna Holtz, Elizabeth Enovich and Mikayla Short. The only senior in the Bonnies’ infield is shortstop Brooke Kane-Walker.
“Our team is fairly young this year, but we have strong leadership from the upperclassmen,” Hehir said, “Everyone has been working really hard, and the freshmen have settled in nicely.”
Hehir is confident in the team this year and is anxious to get the season underway.
“I think we’re all eager to start playing and most importantly get outside. If we play the game with a team first and a relaxed mindset like we know how to, I think we’re going to make some noise in Atlantic 10 play.”
The Bonnies’ first game of the season against the University at Buffalo will be played in Madeira Beach, Florida, on Feb. 28. Threehouse, entering his 23rd season as head coach, said it’s always good to get outside after spending most of the off-season practicing in Butler Gym.
“We’re always excited to get out in the sunshine,” Threehouse said. “I am excited to finally get outside after spending a month in Butler Gym.”
Threehouse said,“We’ve got great leadership this year, the seniors have done a great, great job leading.”
While the team lost some talented seniors at the end of last year, Threehouse, as always, expects this year’s team to fill those voids. Threehosue said the team’s chemistry has been good throughout the off-season
“You never can replace anybody, but the fact is it happens every year,” Threehouse said. “Your job as a team is to take a step forward every year.”
The Bonnies will play 12 of their first 13 games in Madeira Beach, Florida. The team’s first game on Joyce Field will be a double-header against La Salle on March 28.
hoganm17@bonaventure.edu
powersaj17@bonaventure.edu
