After just missing out on a postseason run in 2018, the State University of New York at New Paltz softball team is eyeing a chance to fight for its first conference championship in 2019. However, as underdogs in the State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC), the Hawks are focused on getting better each day and gaining some experience on the dirt for the first team this year in a double-header against Stevenson University Wednesday in its season opener.

"We've definitely been a team that the SUNYAC conference often overlooks, but this year we are coming out strong. We are going to make sure that we are going to be a force to be reckoned with," said SUNY New Paltz senior shortstop Taylor LaFrance. "We've been working really hard during the preseason. It's been a really long time and we're all getting cabin fever and are ready to go outside, but we're making due with what we have. We've had really good practices inside, and we're working on our communication. Obviously, our expectation is to win a SUNYAC championship and that is what it has been and that is what it always is, but this year we are really looking to make a name for ourselves." 

The Hawks, who finished last year with a 14-21-1 overall record and 7-11 in SUNYAC play, is under a new regime for the third time in four years. First-year head coach Krysti Maronski takes over the program after spending four years on the Rowan University softball staff, where she also starred, seeing ample success as a player and coach.

"I think one of our main focuses is going to be taking it one game at a time," Maronski said. "I think that we definitely have the talent and the work ethic, and the team to absolutely make the SUNYAC playoffs. If we take it one game at a time, really work hard and learn from our mistakes throughout the season I do think we are going to be able to compete with anyone that we go out there with."

The Hawks return 15 players from last season, while also bringing in six talented freshmen — two of which will see time on the mound in first-year arms, Julia Mastrup and Katie Quagliana. They, along with incumbents Alyssa Pfitcsher and Emily Fox will add depth to a rotation that was lacking last season. SUNY New Paltz graduated ace Lauren Cappello, who pitched 141.2 of 241.4 innings last season, leading the team in wins and strikeouts.

Pfitscher has the most experience coming back, as the junior finished last season 5-9 with 18 strikeouts and a 3.99 ERA. Fox pitched 24 innings and struck out seven, while giving up 45 hits, 31 runs and nine walks.

"[Pfitscher is] really confident in herself and in her pitches and I think the defense is confident behind her, so we're going to definitely look to Alyssa a lot," Maronski said. "[Fox] has been doing really, really well. She has a great work ethic and her pitches are definitely breaking. I definitely see her getting a lot of innings and leading us on defense. And then we have two freshmen as well, Katie Quagliana and Julia Mastrup, who coming in they're both in great shape. Their pitches work and it will be mostly about getting them experience and innings where they can grow and really grow into the collegiate game, which is a lot faster. Everyone can hit, everyone can run, but I definitely expect to see them out there too."

The biggest struggle for the Hawks last season was at the plate. As team, they batted .257, averaging just seven hits per game, while compiling 51 extra base hits, including one home run. LaFrance, along with being a leader defensively, is arguably the best offensive player for SUNY New Paltz. Before going down with a season-ending shoulder surgery, she was on pace for a career-year. In 17 at-bats she registered eight hits, six runs, five extra base hits, seven RBI's with a .471 batting average in six games played.

"Getting injured last season definitely broke my heart," LaFrance said. "It was tough to deal with, but I had an awesome surgeon, the best physical therapist and a really good support system. Coming back, I'm feeling strong at 100 percent and I am just most excited to be back with my team, really being able to physically contribute this year and we're going to do good."

"She looks great," Maronski added. "She comes to practice with a lot of energy. She is always there to work hard. You can never tell if Taylor is having a bad day. She is the first person there, always helping to clean up. You would never know that she was a senior." Katie Conrad took over at short after LaFrance got injured and the freshman did well in filling the hole left behind. She finished second on the team in hits (28), first in runs scored (20) with 12 RBI's and a .243 batting average.

"I think we've been hitting the ball really well," Maronski said. "We've been doing a lot of live situations and pretty much everyone on the team has been hitting the ball hard. So, I think as long as we're taking a good mental approach at the plate and looking to hit our pitches instead of the pitchers pitches that we're definitely going to put up some runs."

Along with LaFrance, who has another year of eligibility left to suit up for the Hawks, seniors Shannon Fee and Madison Rappold will be vital in the success of the team this season. Fee saw most of her time at second base last season, while Rappold caught nearly every game for the Hawks in 2018. Both, along with junior outfielder Julia DiSpigna (.289 BA, 17 runs, 26 hits, 15 RBI) and junior first baseman Kelsey Trudden (.321 BA, 17 hits, 7 RBI) were all productive hitters in SUNY New Paltz's lineup last season.

"I think the upperclassmen are going to be huge for us, especially Taylor and Shannon. We're going to really look to those two to help guide the team and push the team when we're down," Maronski said. "We have Maddie [Rappold] who is also a senior... We're going to need her catching a lot. We have a group of eight juniors who add to that leadership experience and I think great teams have great leaders, and we need to help guide them guide her team."

After a late start to the season, having its season-opening weekend in Virginia canceled due to field conditions and practices getting regulated to inside and on the turf due to weather, SUNY New Paltz finally get its first action on a dirt field this weekend against the Ducks. Stevenson will also open up its 2019 campaign Wednesday, as its first four games were also postponed due to weather. "I think first weekend out we haven't been out on the dirt at all," Maronski said. "That is going to be a challenge out of itself, playing on an actual dirt field with true hops where we are on the turf and in the gym where it is a little bit different. I expect us to have a little bit of a challenge, but I would like to see them learn from it, get better each game and learn from their mistakes. I want us to go out there with confidence and a lot of energy. No matter what if we get down or if we're up, we always stay at that same level and we're not going up and down. We are always maintaining a sort of confidence and poise out there no matter what the score is."

Following its season-opening double header against Stevens, SUNY New Paltz will take a trip down to Florida for Spring Break and compete in the PFX Spring Games for the second consecutive year. The Hawks will then play four consecutive games at home, taking on Ramapo College in its home opener March 27 before entering SUNYAC play against defending conference champions, SUNY Geneseo March 29.

"Those teams, they have the tradition, and have been there and done it," Maronski said. "For us, it is all new. We just need to preach that we don't have anything to lose. We just need to go out there and play like we can and play within ourselves, because if we are playing our game then we can compete with Cortland. We can compete with Geneseo and probably knock them down potentially, as long as we are doing the things that we need to do. From what I've seen in the fall and in the spring, we're definitely going to compete with them."

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