LHU kicks off the 2008 season on Friday as they take on Glenville State in the Catawba tournament.

LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – One might ask how a team can improve upon a two year mark of 108-9, a National Championship and being national runners-up. All you need to do is ask Lock Haven University’s Head Softball Coach Kelley Green and you will get the answer.

The last time LHU was on the field, they left with a sour taste in their mouths as they fell in defeat in a 12 inning affair to Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville.

That bitter taste is what the team will be trying to overcome this season as they look for their second National Championship in three years, but Green feels there are still many improvements the team needs to make before they sit atop of the mountain that is Division II softball.

“We need to improve our offense. Last year we only saw one player (Julia Popovich) improve her game from the previous year. So we need to improve our offense and cut down on our strikeouts” said Green of a few of the teams goals for the season.

Green’s squad will also never be pleased with anything less than a National crown and hopes to continue their solid play in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) which they have dominated the past two seasons by winning 39 of their 40 games played with the lone loss coming last season to Edinboro on April 20, 2007.

LHU returns every starter from the National Championship game as they will rely upon that experience all season long to improve their game and help the younger players evolve into the lineup.

As far as the newcomers wearing crimson and white go, Green is quite pleased with them so far.

“They picked up on things very quickly, have a great understanding of the game and are willing to go the extra mile at all times to help the team,” said Green.

Pitchers:

The pitching staff will be looked upon as they have in been in years past to shut down the opponent and as expected it will be junior captain Kristin Erb (Reading, Pa./Exeter) who will be relied upon to mow down opponents from the circle.

“Erb is a tough kid. She’s still improving her game and is an amazing competitor. She wants the ball in her hand all the time,” said Green of her ace hurler.”

Erb is an outstanding performer as she was the Honda-Broderick Female Athlete of the Year during her freshman campaign as she had a mind boggling .20 ERA which led the nation.

Last season Erb lead the nation as she pitched an amazing 280.2 innings while only allowing 25 earned runs for a .64 earned run average which was enough to earn her the nod for Division II Softball Player of the Year.

Erb’s domination doesn’t end in the circle as she’s also impressive at the plate. Her PSAC championship performance last season against Kutztown was the #1 sports story of the year in the Lock Haven Express.

Erb’s May 5, 2007 was one for the ages as she threw 29 innings in three games and smashed a 15th inning homerun to push the series to a second game which LHU eventually won 5-2 over the Golden Bears to clinch the conference crown.

The Reading native will get a hand in the circle this year as a heated battle is brewing for the second place spot in the rotation.

Julia Popovich (Lemont, Pa/State College) and Jess Jeffries (Spring City, Pa./Villa Maria) will be looking to see action this season as they battle day in and day out for the #2 spot in the rotation.

“We expect Julia to get some early season starts as she has worked tirelessly to improve her game in the circle during the offseason and is extremely excited in her new role,” said Green of her junior pitcher/left fielder.

Popovich was used in the fall rotation as she saw her first action from the circle since her sophomore season in high school.

Jeffries is also going to be doing battle for the #2 spot as she enters her third season on the LHU pitching staff.

“Jess made big strides in the off-season and will see a great opportunity for more playing time,” said Green of her junior hurler.

Infield:

First base has sophomore Krystin Montoro (Coatesville, Pa./Downingtown West) freshman Brittany Pataky (Clearfield, Pa./Clearfield) doing battle for the spot while junior Shawna Bellaud (Hooksett, N.H./NHTI) will be looking to increase her role after Tommy John surgery kept her from action last season.

Montoro is the returner at the position as she started 51 of the teams 57 contests last season.

“Krystin provides great defense at first base, but we really would like to see more offense from the position and we know she has the potential to be a power hitter and she works hard,” said Green of her incumbent first baseman.

The newcomer to the one-bag is Pataky who’s pushing Montoro hard to try to earn time in the starting lineup.

Bellaud returns to the LHU squad after missing last season due to surgery and the coaching staff is hopeful to have her at full strength by mid-season as she adds depth at first base and could see time at designated player.

Second base has a trio of players vying for playing time with senior captain Devin Glezen (Hallstead, Pa./Binghamton) at the head of the pack.

According to Green, second base is Glezen’s spot with a pair of freshman in Dianna McMullan (Newport, Pa./Newport) and Meredith Morris (Warrington, Pa./Central Bucks South) pushing behind her for action.

Glezen is a great all-around player as she led the squad in batting with a .356 average while having a stellar .946 fielding percentage including a team high 141 assists from her second base spot.

“Devin just simply makes plays and is a great all around player,” said Green of her second baseman who dazzled the crowd last year with phenomenal plays all season.

McMullan comes to The Haven off an impressive senior campaign at Newport High School where she was named the team’s MVP as well as being named to the Big 11 2nd team and the Tri-Valley League (TVL) 1st team. She also was a first teamer in field hockey.

McMullan is expected to be a utility player throughout the infield.

Morris, a Warrington Pa. native, was peppered with honors across her high school career as she was named to the conference squad all four seasons of high school with the latest being a third team selection during her senior season.

She also played field hockey at Central Bucks South.

Morris will play a key role in the infield as she will find some time at both second base and shortstop.

Shortstop will see the 2007 PSAC Player of the Year return as junior captain Ilia Lopez (Bloomsburg, Pa./Bloomsburg) will be ready to go after an injury sidelined her for the basketball season.

Lopez returns off a great 2007 campaign as she co-led the team in homeruns (12), led in RBI’s (51) and walks (21) as well as having a solid .916 fielding percentage from her shortstop spot.

“Ilia should be ready to go and she’s really gaining confidence and is eager to start softball season,” said Green of her junior infielder.

Third base will see another returning starter from last year as Sarah Norris (West Chester, Pa./West Chester East) will be returning to a familiar spot.

Norris had a solid 2007 campaign as she hit .289 on the year, led the team in stolen bases with 15 and co-led the team with a dozen round trippers.

Adding depth at third will be freshman Brianna Gorrera (York, Pa./West York) who had a stellar career at West York High. Gorrera was a first team all-county selection each of her four years in the high school ranks as well as being the 2006 York County Player of the Year.

“Bri’s doing better each day at third. She’s a little banged up but we expect her to hold her own and add depth at third,” said Green of the York, Pa native.

Rounding out the infield behind the plate is yet another returner from the 2007 squad in junior captain Amanda Roosa (Pompton Lakes, N.J../Pompton Lakes ).

, as her teammates call her, started 55 of the teams 57 games last year as she hit at a .312 clip on the year and led the team with 15 doubles and boasted a .992 fielding percentage.

“Roos is in charge behind the plate and has .400 potential with the bat in her hands.”

Behind Roosa on the depth chart is a highly touted freshman in Brittany Muthard (Northampton, Pa./Northampton) who is expected push for time behind the plate season and also battle for time at designated player spot on the squad.

Muthard, a Northampton, Pa. native, comes off an impressive senior campaign where she led her division in batting (.429) and was named the Allentown Morning Call All-Area Player of the Year.

Outfield:

You would think that somewhere on LHU’s squad you would find a starter who has very little experience, well if you’re looking to the outfield for the answer, you won't find a lack of experience anywhere.

Right field boasts talent as Erica Eisenbise (Wernersville, Pa./Wilson) and Kristin Schoenig (Glen Gardner, N.J./Voorhees) hold down the position.

Eisenbise is the returning starter at the position as she started all 57 contests last season as she hit .272 on the year and was only struck out 19 times in 162 at bats.

“Erica is a clutch hitter for us and is great on both sides of the ball,” said Green about the Wernersville, Pa. native.

Eisenbise’s clutch hitting was huge as her long ball gave The Haven an insurance run and helped push LHU to the National Championship game as they defeated Columbus State 2-0 in the semi-final contest a season ago.

Schoenig saw limited action last year as she played in 14 games, starting two of them.

“Kristin has improved from year to year and never played outfield before last season. She’s pushing for time in multiple roles and will play a key role pinch running or pinch hitting off the bench at the very least, “said Green.

LHU’s centerpiece in the outfield is Nancy O’Connor (West Chester, Pa./West Chester East) who according to Green is one of the finest defensive center fielders in all of Division II softball.

O’Connor led the 2007 squad in triples as her wheels allowed her to pick up three triples as she hit .282 from her number nine spot in the lineup.

“Nan patrols the outfield for us and the pitchers are so confident with her behind them,” said Green of the junior outfielder.

Left field boasts more depth and experience as Popovich looks to hold down the position while balancing time in the outfield with her duties in the circle.

Popovich ignites the LHU offense from her leadoff position as she hit a solid .352 last season and led the team in hits with 70.

“Julia’s the ignition switch of our offensive unit who is always looking to improve her game” said Green of her dual asset.

Amanda Gutmaker (Huntingdon Valley, Pa./Northeast) and Missy Kurian (Bloomsburg, Pa./Bloomsburg) will be looked to, to fill the void in left field when Popovich is in the circle.

Gutmaker returns after a season when she knocked seven balls out of the yard including a long shot in the National Tournament against Angelo State.

Kurian comes back after being a key asset to last year’s squad on the basepaths from a pinch runner role.

Kurian played in 22 contests last year and is a hard worker who will push herself to the limit to earn a role in left field.

According to Green, the team as a whole will need to see improvements across the board if they wish to earn their second national title in three years.

“We need to put the ball in play more because that gives us the best chance at success. We can’t sit back; we need to dictate the game and as a team we have a lot of hunger to get back to the top, but we need each player to step up their game to do so,” said Green of her team goals this season.

The first pitch of the 2008 campaign will take place at 1 p.m. on Leap Day, February 29, 2008 as LHU plays Glenville State as both teams take part in the Catawba Tournament in Salisbury, N.C.