The Patriot

Issue date: 3/17/08 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Tony Gloster Senior Melanie Bisek throws the ball to first base to secure an out for the Patriots during a doubleheader against the University of North Carolina at Pembroke.

With a 27-6 record, the softball team is ranked No. 10 in the nation.

Fourth-year Coach Stacy Vallee is pleased with the team's success.

"I think that we are in a good spot for us right now,"Vallee said. "No one likes to lose, but we are able to learn from our mistakes and move on so that we can continue winning."

The team consists of 14 returning players and four new players.

"We are experienced... with three seniors and 10 juniors," Vallee said in a press release. "In particular, we have two very hungry four-year seniors (Allie Aleman and Monica Wofford) who have been through the last few seasons of almost making the NCAAs. They know what needs to get done."

Aleman is a two-time All-Peach Belt Conference (PBC) middle infielder, and Wofford is a first baseman and 2007 preseason All-PBC pick. Wofford is the third player in NCAA Division II history with 42 hit-by-pitches.

The team's returning pitcher is sophomore Michaela Wolf, who as a freshman became the second Patriot hurler in the past 18 years to win 20 games.

The new players consist of three junior college transfers and one freshman.

"Transfer Jessie Alesi will help relieve some of the pressure off Wolf on the mound," Vallee said in a press release. "She can also hit, as evidenced by her numbers in junior college, so she will be in the lineup at times when she isn't pitching. Another transfer, Nicole Reuter, will be looked to for help in the outfield and to hit in the middle of the batting order."

Vallee thinks the players work well together.

"They all put the effort out and all help to produce for our team," Vallee said.

The team's main focus this season is making it to regionals, "therefore winning all of our regional games - which is pretty much almost every game that we play," Vallee said.

Patriot softball players have held the PBC player of the week title three of the first four weeks that players have been chosen.
Wofford was player of the week for the weeks of Feb. 11-17 and Feb. 18-24, and senior Shannon Tyson was player of the week for Feb. 25-March 2.

The team was picked to finish sixth in the conference, according to the annual preseason poll by conference coaches.

-- From staff reports

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