Molloy capable of big things

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In the outfield, senior Lauren Alexander slides to center from right and is being counted on to provide strong defense. “She’s an excellent fielder,” Cassidy-Lyke said. “She’s got a lot of range, a good arm, and good speed.” Junior Brianne Catalano, a Carey High School graduate, has an opportunity to take over in right. Senior Dayna White, who has experience behind the plate, could start in left and brings an impact bat to the lineup. “Dayna will hit in a run-producing spot,” Cassidy-Lyke said. Last spring, White finished with a .350 average and 41 RBIs.

Sophomore Tracey Balinskas is another potential outfielder and coming off an All-ECC First Team campaign, but it’s the potential of her arm that’s of greater importance for the Lady Lions. Balinskas and freshman Chelsea Hawks have big shoes to fill in the pitching circle following the departures of standouts Kelley Jansen and Megan Butterworth. “Tracey is familiar with the competition and has several different pitches,” Cassidy-Lyke said. Hawks, who had a stellar senior year for Shoreham-Wading River High School, has good movement and a fine riseball.

“We have two new pitchers and there’s a lot of pressure on them,” Cassidy-Lyke said. “We just want them to stay within themselves and do the best they can.”

Handling Balinskas and Hawks is catcher Milan Botte, who picked up where she left off offensively when as a freshman she batted .312 with five dingers and 41 RBIs. In the first six games of 2014 — Molloy opened 1-5 — she went 9-for-16 with three homers and nine RBIs.

Molloy’s ECC schedule features home-and-home doubleheaders against Post, Dowling, New York Tech, Mercy, Bridgeport, St. Thomas Aquinas, and Queens.   

 

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