With a loaded roster featuring a number of talented players at virtually every position, the running theme for this year's softball team may be depth.
The Tigers have a deep pitching staff headlined by two aces and all-Ivy performers. There is outstanding depth at every position on the field. Three players will split time behind the plate, while there are eight who will share the four infield positions and seven who could see significant time at the three outfield spots. With such a loaded squad, the Tigers are hoping to make it deep into NCAA Regionals.
Princeton's depth will be one of the team's strong suits this year, and for the Tigers, it all starts in the circle. Last year the team featured the Ivy League Pitcher of the Year, senior Erin Snyder. In 158.2 innings, she posted an ERA of 0.93, won 17 games, while striking out 225 batters — a new school record. She punched out 21 Harvard batters in 10 innings on Apr. 16 and threw perfect games against Dartmouth and Fairfield.
Snyder needs just 19 victories to move to second on the school's all-time list, and she will almost certainly rank first in career strikeouts — she needs only 36 more to move past former Princeton pitcher and head coach Maureen Barron '97. But there may be reason to expect even more out of Snyder this year.
"I have had a recurring injury over the past two seasons and last season a lot for me not to pitch as much as I would [have liked]. This year ... hopefully I'll pitch a few more than I was able to last year," Snyder said.
Pocket aces
The thought of seeing Snyder in the circle more often cannot please any of the Tigers' opponents. But even more intimidating than knowing you have to face one ace is the thought of facing two. Most teams are thrilled to have one star pitcher, but Princeton goes two-deep in that category.
Sophomore Kristen Schaus was last year's Ivy League Rookie of the Year and shared first-team All-Ivy honors with Snyder. Together, they became the first duo of Tigers to break the 200-strikeout threshold in the same season.
When asked to explain her success, Schaus said, "Physically, we prepare so much. I had never weightlifted before, and I felt like this added much more power and strength to my endurance."
The two pitchers have nothing but praise for each other. Schaus described Snyder as the consummate team leader. For her part, Snyder was impressed with the rookie.
"Kris had an amazing freshman year and I think she will only get better. Any pitching records I break, I think she will break again before she is done here," Snyder said.
Deep pitching staff
But the Tigers' stable of hurlers doesn't end there. Junior Calli Varner had 11 appearances in the circle and finished with a respectable 1.90 ERA in 51.2 innings.
"This is definitely the strongest pitching staff we have had since I've been here," Snyder said.
As deep as the pitching staff will be, Princeton has just as much talent and even more depth on the field. Unfortunately for the Tigers, though, they also have to compensate for the graduation of two of their top performers: first-team All-Ivy center fielder Melissa Finley and catcher Ty Ries, both members of the Class of 2005.
Outfield platoon
The plan right now is to fill those spots with platoons that can replicate those players' production. Finley's spot in center will be taken by junior Stephanie Steel, who will join an outfield rotation that will include seven players — including three freshmen — whose collective efforts may make up for Finley's loss. Ries' spot behind the plate will be shared by senior Amanda Erickson and freshmen Samantha O'Hara and Larkin Brogan.
"Whether it's other people who have great years and it's a shared effort or someone steps up, we feel good about our offense," Barron said.
The infield rotation will be headed by senior shortstop Cristina Cobb-Adams, the only returning player to hit over .300. Last year, she led the team in hits and stolen bases and will be a catalyst for the offense once again. Backing her up at short and spending time all over the infield will be versatile freshman Jackie Araneo, whom Barron considers one of the best of a bumper crop of first-year players.
Second base duties will also be entrusted to senior Lindsay Motal, Araneo, and sophomore Lauren Bierman, whose .288 clip was good for fourth on the team last season. Junior Tiffany Andras will play third, sharing the spot with Erickson and Araneo.
And as if her contributions in the circle were not enough, Snyder will moonlight as the team's first baseman along with Erickson and sophomore Beth Dalmut. Snyder actually led the team in RBIs last year with 30, and also hit a career-best .295.
Immediate challenges
The team faces a brutal opening schedule. Princeton travels to the University of North Carolina for the Tar Heels Invitational to open their season, and then plays 14 games in a stretch of 10 days on the West Coast. The culmination of the road trip is the Stanford Invitational, where the Tigers are expected to face Pac-10 power Stanford along with Illinois, UC Davis and Santa Clara.
A strong start could build up tremendous momentum that would make the team nearly unstoppable heading into Ivy League play. And make no mistake; these Tigers have lofty goals for the season.
When asked about the team's goals, captain Cobb-Adams, a captain, said, "Win the Ivy League and make it back to Regionals."
Schaus is even more ambitious. She said, "We have just as much potential, if not more, than last year, and we also have much more depth. I think we have one of the strongest pitching staffs in the country, and our offense and defense are stellar. I personally don't think we should lose a game in Ivies, and I expect us to compete with every top team we play and dominate everyone else."
Clearly the 2006 squad is already sounding its battle cry. The ultimate goal is to secure the team's fourth berth in the NCAA Tournament in the past five years.
If Barron manages to guide her team to this lofty perch, it will be the first time in the school's history that a coach has been to the Tournament four times. And with such talent on the roster, there is no telling how deep the Tigers will advance once they get there.
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