Hofstra softball motivated to return to top

Last year for the first time in over a decade the Hofstra softball team did not capture a conference title, and that impressive streak coming to a close has increased motivation for the Pride in 2010.

After capturing the 2009 regular-season Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) title, the Pride were bounced in the conference tournament on its home field, snapping its 11-year streak of playoff supremacy that had dated back to its days in the America East.

With only four returning starters, Hofstra is picked to finish second in the CAA behind Towson but so far the Pride is proving voters wrong with wins in nine of its first 10 games and a 10-3 start. The hot start has included impressive wins over the likes of 18th ranked Louisville ,Michigan State, South Florida, Virginia Tech and Mississippi State and has put the team in prime position for an at-large NCAA Tournament bid should it fail to capture the CAA title.

  “We don’t want to have what happened to us last year happen to us this year,” coach Bill Edwards said of his team’s rare absence from the NCAA Tournament. “When you have a disappointing season then you have to come back the next year and redefine yourself.”

  Among the key players lost from last year’s senior class were Long Beach High School product Casey Fee, who set a school record with 28 consecutive successful stolen bases, and ace pitcher Kayleigh Lotti, who ended her career with a school-record 979 strikeouts. One of the Pride’s four returning starters is CAA Player of the Year Michele DePasquale at first base, who has led Hofstra in hitting the last two seasons, including a .359 average as a junior. Other returning players include junior shortstop Trisha Dreslinski, junior third baseman Sara Michalowski and senior outfielder Kris Root.

  In the pitching circle, Hofstra returns sophomore Erin Wade, who served as the No. 2 pitcher behind Lotti last year. Wade was named CAA Pitcher of the Week on March 3 after compiling a 3-0 record at the NFCA Leadoff Classic in late February.

  Freshman pitcher Olivia Galati has proven to be solid in the circle as well as with the bat early in her college career. The St. John’s The Baptist High School product won CAA Pitcher and Rookie of the Week Awards on Feb. 24 after earning victories over North Carolina State (2-1), Michigan State (2-1) and South Florida (4-1) in the USF/LaQuinta Inn Tournament, where she also batted .538. “I knew she had it in her but I didn’t think she would show it this soon,” said Edwards of Galati, who was named the Gatorade New York State Player of the Year in 2009. “We’re very, very impressed with her.”

  Edwards has traditionally created a grueling non-conference schedule and this year is no different. The idea behind playing strong competition is to enhance the Pride for when the CAA slate begins in late March as well as set it up for a possible at-large berth. “You can’t be good unless you’re playing against good teams and you can’t be great unless you’re playing against great competition,” Edwards said. “If you want to beat the best you have to play against the best.” 

The Pride will play its CAA home opener on April 2 against George Mason at noon.