With success, though, comes expectations, something that Head Coach Erika Lewis says she is not especially fond of. However, with a great deal of talent surrounding the ball club amounting to an obvious strength of the team, look for more of the same from Lewis and company in this, their 2007 campaign. In fact, the women have already gotten off on the right foot going 9-3 over the course of their 12-game spring break trip to Florida.

Departed from last years graduating class are two starters, Amy Huling and Steph Vanek. Both were very strong players and will be missed. This year, though, providing leadership to a complete core of talent will be captains Katherine Valenta, Courtney Sweeney, and Beth Gargon.

Valenta is a senior who sees time at third base, outfield, and catcher. This past season Valenta batted .263 with seven doubles, two home runs, and 31 RBI while being named to the All-Liberty League Second Team and Liberty League All-Academic Team.

Sweeney, also a senior, is a second baseman and outfielder. In 2006 she batted .327 with 34 hits and 22 runs scored, and like Valenta, was named to the All-Liberty League Second Team and Liberty League All-Academic Team, in addition to the ESPN the Magazine Academic All-District I College Division Softball Second Team.

Gargon is a junior catcher and first baseman. Gargon batted .358 last year with 39 hits, 37 runs scored, 25 RBI, and was third in the Liberty League in walks drawn with 18. She was also named to the All-Liberty League Second Team, as well as the NCAA Ithaca Regional All-Tournament Team.

The Red Hawks have a strong group of underclassmen as well, and as Lewis puts it, “Each member of the team has the opportunity to provide leadership; they just need to be willing to step up, even if they are freshman.”

Key additions include pitcher Michelle Bianchetti, center fielder Becky Bailey, outfielder Christina Ciccione, and utility players Natalie Gendron and Kate Stira. “The entire freshman class has the potential to make a big impact, leadership at such a young age is important,” added Lewis.

With such a strong group of players, the answer to how far can this team go is simple—as far as it wants. Team goals Lewis has for her squad are for everyone to work together and have a successful season—success meaning winning the conference, and “doing lots of the little things that connect a group of people and really define them as a team.”

Valenta and Gargon agree. The pair stated, “We want to be a dedicated, supportive, and intense team. We are a team that likes to practice so that we may carry that intensity onto the field with us when we begin games.” They added, “We work hard every day to improve, but also enjoy the game and forming close friendships with our teammates.”

The team will look to its well-balanced lineup, which has already shown strength in the early going this season to continue as a major trademark of the squad. One through nine in the order, there is a combination of power, speed, and the ability to come up with timely hits.

However, as any championship-caliber team realizes, defense is an integral part to winning. Valenta and Gargon were quick to point out as well that, “Sophomore Michelle Street and Bianchetti are going to be essential in the defensive success of the team, and are forces to be reckoned with on the mound.” In addition, “Defense will be a main focus this coming season as we look to unite the entire team all over the field.”

Competing with RPI for the league title this year will be the University of Rochester, currently 8-3 and recently ranked 25th in Division III in the March 21 poll of the National Fastpitch Coaches Association, and Union College, currently 4-4. Both schools have very talented programs, and certainly every school in the league will be looking at a shot to try and knock off the mighty Red Hawks.