MIDDLETOWN—The hottest team in the state right now is the Wesleyan University Cardinals, who have raced out to an 8-0 start on the season.
In those eight games, the Cardinals have only given up 14 runs while the offense has put up 61 runs.
A year ago, it was a young Wesleyan squad—featuring just two seniors—that went 16-21 overall, earned the No. 8 seed in the NESCAC.
This year, the Cardinals are bigger (roster-wise) and better as the experience seems be paying off.
“We have one of the biggest rosters I’ve ever had,” Wesleyan coach Jen Lane said before the season started. “We only lost two players, and we added six freshmen, a walk-on and a grad transfer, which is the first time we’ve done that.”
A big roster means a deep roster and that has been paying off the Cardinals, who are hitting .337 as a team, so far. And that’s with 14 different players seeing game time in at least half of Wesleyan’s games.
In the circle, the Cardinals have used four of their six pitchers and have posted a 0.75 ERA this season.
Freshman Jacelyn Lees, who hasn’t given up an earned run in 18.1 innings of work, and graduate senior transfer Abby Orso (0.39 ERA in 18.0 innings) give the Cardinals a one-two punch. Orso no-hit St. Joseph of Maine last week.
Senior Isabella Secaira-Cotton has thrown 10 innings, posting a 2.10 ERA, as well.
Junior Kelly Baker, sophomore Ella DeCrescenzo and freshman Whitney Gigante round out the staff.
“We have a couple who throw hard, a couple who are mid-range and more spin pitchers,” Lane said. “All have different movement pitches, so it’s like a puzzle to use the right pitcher at the right time.”
Behind the plate, junior Alexis Amante returns while freshman Sophia Baez adds depth.
Neither catcher usually hits as Lane likes to use DPs like Secaira-Cotton (.333, 3 doubles, 5 RBIs) and Orso (.500, 3 triples, 2 HRs, 7 RBIs) to take advantage of their bats, as well.
Around the infield, Cat Palmer (.261, 6 RBIs) will see most of the time at first base; Molly Lennon (.429, 1 HR, team-leading 12 RBIs), an All-Region second team choice a year ago, will play second; Wavely Smart is a defensive specialist at shortstop and Jordynn Killion will see a lot of time at third base.
Palmer and Lennon are both Connecticut products. Palmer is from Cheshire while Lennon is from Litchfield and attended the Kent School.
Baker and team captain Bella Tassone will see infield time, as well.
In the outfield, Lizzy Marino (.500, 5 RBIs) and Rebecca Cassel-Siskind (.364, 1 double, 1 HR, 2 RBIs) both return while sophomore Nicole Celi and freshmen Sam Chappell and Whitney Gigante will also see time.
The offense has out-homered the opposition by a 5-1 count, so far, but Lane thinks of her offense more of a gap-to-gap team.
“We’re more of a singles/doubles team,” Lane said. “I think we have a couple of players who have increased power this year, though.”
Everything has come together early for the team, but a long season lays out ahead of the Cardinals.
“Our pitching has to be more consistent, which I think with the bigger staff and the returns from the work we’ve put in, will happen,” Lane said. “There are three parts to this game—pitching, fielding and hitting. You have to have two of those be really strong.
“If our pitching and defense can hold, all we have to do is score a few more runs,” Lane added.
The results this early in the season has been encouraging.
Wesleyan will be back in action on Monday as they continue their Florida trip. The Cardinals will play Smith (9 a.m.) and Babson (11:30 a.m.) before matching up against Endicott (2 p.m.) and Keene State (4:15 p.m.) on Tuesday.
Next Saturday, Wesleyan is home and opening NESCAC play buy hosting Bowdoin in a doubleheader, starting at 1 p.m.
Love Stories Like This?
Get Connecticut’s best softball features, breaking news, recruiting updates and exclusive interviews delivered to your inbox every Friday morning. Subscribe to the CT Softball Blog Weekly.
Leave a Reply