Seahawks picked sixth in CCC softball poll

NEWPORT, R.I. - Salve Regina softball has been selected sixth in the 2014 Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) coaches' pre-season poll, released Thursday by commissioner Gregg Kaye.

Salve Regina (23-19; 11-7 CCC in 2013) begins its season in Clermont, Fla., on Saturday against Houghton College. First eight games for the Seahawks will be webcast on the Ustream.tv softball channel.

With the graduation of pitcher Jenn Cruver and catcher Megan Jakiela, first-year head coach Jessica DePolito will feature a new battery for the Seahawks in 2014. She turns to a pair of sophomores in Dominique Burnham (Scarborough, Maine) and Nicole Parry (Quincy, Mass.) as her primary hurlers and their classmate Genevieve Benoit (Swampscott, Mass.) to handle the backstop duties.

"The thing I like most about Dominique and Nicole is that they are so different," says DePolito. "Dom can be in a pressure situation and be stone-cold, cool as ice, whereas Nicole is a fiery competitor and shows her emotions, in a good way."

All-conference designated hitter Lauren Nicholson (Cape Elizabeth, Maine) can give Benoit a break behind the plate when needed.

A young infield will feature two freshmen at the corner spots - Kara O'Riley (Acton, Mass.) at third base and Lauren Fountain (Cheshire, Conn.) at first base. Competition for playing time at short has a sophomore - Melissa Figueiredo (East Bridgewater, Mass.) - and a freshman - Nikki Bukovsky (Westport, Conn.). The combination gives DePolito a lefty and righty bat option while both bring speed.

One of three senior captains, Jenna Edine (Warwick, R.I.) brings experience to second base and her steady bat to either the second or third spot in the lineup. Her two fellow captains - Sara Nelson (Bristol, Conn.) and Marissa Simpson (Brimfield, Mass.) - patrol the corner outfield spots while flanking a first-year centerfielder Lexi Soucie (North Easton, Mass.). Freshman Katie Napier (Medford, Mass.) adds depth to the outfield with her speed and ability to handle the bat from the left side.

More depth comes from sophomore Britani Dunbar (Swampscott, Mass.) who just completed her second season with the women's ice hockey team and can contribute in the outfield or infield.

"We have enough versatility where I can alternate speed and power throughout the lineup. I expect my pitchers to be offensive players as well." All six players listed as pitchers on the squad also feature another position.

Simpson perhaps best reflects all the qualities DePolito emphasizes: the lefty slugger can belt the long ball as well as drop down a bunt and beat it out; Simpson also can play anywhere on the field, having been tested at third earlier in the practice season, and is always ready to jump into pitch.

If DePolito needs to, she can always give Burnham and Parry a rest by calling on sophomore Kelly Davin (Northbridge, Mass.), freshman Kelsey Boarman (North Dighton, Mass.), O'Riley, or Simpson to throw innings.