MIAMI SHORES, Fla.—The Barry University softball team opens the season this weekend in the Gulf Coast Invitational, hosted by Spring Hill College at the Gulf Shores Sportsplex in Gulf Shores, Ala.
"Even though the Sunshine State Conference is always going to be tough," head coach Danielle Penner said, "we really looked to increase our strength of schedule this year. It was a primary focus. So, we'll be challenged right out of the box, facing six teams in the first month of the season that either made the NCAA Tournament or won their conference regular season title."
At the invitational, the Bucs face off against defending NCAA DII champs North Alabama, SIAC Tournament champs Tuskegee, SIAC regular season champs Spring Hill, and NCAA Tournament participants Missouri-St. Louis and Valdosta State.
The Bucs will be looking to improve on last year's 23-19 record and have a solid nucleus of players to build around along with a talented group of recruits. Here's a look at the 2017 roster:
PITCHING
The Bucs return their top two hurlers from last season. Sophomore Anieliese Palmeiro and junior Geneva Santos both went 11-7 on the year. Palmeiro compiled a 2.69 ERA and 64 strikeouts in 127.1 innings. She also set the Barry single season record with four saves. Santos had a 3.24 ERA and 61 strikeouts in 99.1 innings and one save.
Sophomore Lynsey Duncan went 1-4 with a 4.48 ERA and 35 strikeouts in 50 innings. She was an All-Region pick at designated player after batting .371 with a .562 slugging percentage and 20 RBI in 89 at-bats.
Junior transfer Christie Falcon and freshman Sofia Dominguez bring added depth to the staff. Falcon comes to Barry after having spent one year at Rollins and one at Miami-Dade. In 47.1 innings, she has compiled a 3-2 record with one save and a 1.63 ERA. Dominguez went 16-5 with a 0.94 ERA as a senior at Monsignor Pace High.
CATCHING
After graduating both catchers, the Bucs replenished the backstops with two transfers and a freshman.
Junior Maddy VonHagel hit .347 with seven doubles, two homers and 24 RBI for Indian River CC last season. She also made 20 starts as a freshman at NCAA Division I Houston Baptist in 2015.
Junior Catie Falcon joins her sister in the battery. She carries a .971 fielding percentage in two college seasons.
Freshman Avery Cotterill was a career .296 hitter at Lake Region High, leading the Thunder to a 74-16 mark in three years. She split time between catcher and shortstop and bring that versatility to the Bucs.
INFIELD
Senior Cheyanne Head is a career .313 hitter, having made 106 starts in three seasons. Last season, she split time between designated player and first base, earning First-Team All-SSC at utility.
Sophomore Sam Busekrus started 41 of 42 games at second base last year and leads the returners with a .371 average. She scored 20 runs and drove in 17. She also drew nine walks for a .422 on-base percentage.
Senior Hunter Mars, who began the season at first base before being sidelined with injuries in the second half, is a .310 career hitter with the versatility to play first, second or shortstop.
Seniors Nicole Szelest and jasmine Harris both played limited roles last season but bring plenty of power at the plate.
Sophomore Elisabeth Brown adds depth to the middle infield and the pitching staff.
Freshman Peyton Rawls brings a big stick after an all-star career at Franklin High in Elk Grove, Calif. A career .346 hitter with 11 homers and 61 RBI in 88 games, she was an All-Delta League selection and earned the United States Marine Corps Distinguished Athlete Award.
Cotterill and Catie Falcon could also figure into the mix in the infield.
OUTFIELD
Junior Alayna Gallagher is a two-year starter in the outfield and an all-conference pick as a freshman. A career .296 hitter, she has scored 49 runs and stolen 13 bases in 89 games.
Fellow junior Kristina Osorio has a .171 isolated slugging percentage in 26 career games, bring plenty of pop from the right side. She is one of the more versatile outfielders and could see time at all three spots, as well as first base and DP.
Palmiero and Duncan will also figure heavily into the outfield rotation, both batting from the left side. Palmeiro is a speedster who could be the centerfielder when not in the circle. She hit .250 last season with seven runs in 28 at-bats. Duncan looks to be the starter in right when not pitching or at DP. Mars, who spent her first two seasons in right could also slide into the outfield.
Freshman Krystal Grant brings some speed to the group.
"Moving forward this year and for future years, we want to add depth throughout our entire lineup, both offensively and defensively," Penner said. "With our new players, we brought in some utilities and some versatile pitchers who give us more options as we match up during games."
