Temple University Athletics
Friday, February 25
Tampa, Fla.
8:30 a.m.
Temple University
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Western Michigan
Photo by: Andy Gregory
Softball Opens Season in Florida this Weekend
2.24.11 | Softball
Youthful Owls face challenging schedule to kick off 2011
Video Preview of the Season
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – The Temple softball team will get its 2011 season started this weekend when it travels to Tampa, Fla., for the USF Fairfield Inn and Suites Tampa North Tournament. The Owls begin play on Friday, February 25, against Western Michigan at 8:30 a.m.
The squad has been picked to finish sixth in 2011 in the 11 team Atlantic 10 conference. The Owls came one win short of making the playoffs last season, going 8-12 in A-10 play.
Under the direction of third-year head coach Joe DiPietro, the Cherry and White look to improve on their 19-30 overall record from a year ago.
Senior Kristen Marris (The Colony, Texas/The Colony) leads the team after a solid junior campaign, her first with the squad after transferring from New Mexico State. Marris, one of this year's four team captains, was Temple's ace on the mound, posting a 2.65 ERA while striking out 141 batters and holding opponents to a .211 batting average. She is also the team's leading returner at the plate, hitting for a .290 clip.
Also vying for time on the hill will be sophomore Crystal Nyman (Kelso, Wash./Kelso), and freshmen Kylie Kristovich (Bridgeton, N.J./Sacred Heart) and Brooklin White (Temecula, Calif./Temecula Valley).
Nyman was Temple's number two pitcher a year ago, going 5-12 with a 4.88 ERA in 20 appearances. The righty spent a good portion of the year with a knee injury that hampered her performance along the way.
Kristovich and White join the squad after two impressive high school careers. Local product Kristovich was named the 2010 Philadelphia Inquirer Player of the Year. She is a two-time first team All- South Jersey player, and earned second team all-state honors during her career. Kristovich broke the Sacred Heart career strikeout record, as well as the all-time wins record in a season.
White was a four-year letterwinner in softball. A three-time all-league player, White earned second team all-league in her sophomore campaign, and was a first team selection as a junior and senior. Her accolades also include MVP Player of the Year.
At the catcher position, sophomore team captain Kayla Cook (Manheim, Pa./Manheim Central) and freshman Stephanie Pasquale (Pompton Lakes, N.J./Pompton Lakes) will both be vital to Temple's success.
Cook returns to the squad after a solid rookie season that saw her start in all 47 games in which she played. Cook batted .213 with five doubles and two homeruns a year ago. Defensively, she was solid in her active positions, committing just nine errors in 256 chances for a .965 fielding percentage.
Pasquale is likely to make an immediate impact as Cook works to return from injury. The rookie four-year letterwinner in softball, soccer, and basketball was a three-time first team all- league softball player in high school. She impressed with four first team all county selections, as well as earning second team all-state as junior and first team all-state in her senior season. Pasquale ended high school on a high note, batting an impressive .625 in her senior season.
Competing for time at first base will be Nyman and sophomore Gina Sciarrone (Philadelphia, Pa./St. Hubert's). Pasquale could also see time there when she is not behind the plate.
Sciarrone was active in 22 games a year ago, with 10 of those coming as starts at first base. She hit only .115 at the plate, but proved her defensive skills were up to snuff, committing no errors in 61 chances.
Battling it out for time at second base will be junior Chistina Sykora (Oxford, N.J./Warren Hills) and newcomer Meaghan Marley (Leonardo, N.J./Red Bank Catholic). Sykora has been a utility player for the Owls over her first two years, and this season will find herself back at second base after not playing there since her freshman year. She hit .257 a year ago, collecting 29 hits with four doubles and two homeruns.
Marley joins Temple's program in unique fashion. She is already a graduate of Penn State University, finishing in three years, and is now pursuing a second bachelor's degree at Temple, while playing her first year of college softball. A three-year letterwinner at Red Bank Catholic, Marley was a member of the non-public A NJ State Championship team as a sophomore. During her senior year, she was a member of the all-division team, the all-county team and the all-shore team.
Junior Rachel Knable (Cherry Hill, N.J./Cherry Hill West) and freshman Devynne Nelons (Tacoma, Wash./Stadium) will be vying for time at third base this season. Knable spent most of her time at third base or the designated hitter position a year ago. She played in and started 42 games and was fifth on the squad with her .252 batting average. Knable recorded six multiple hit games, including two with three hits. Her .423 slugging percentage and 21 RBI were both second on the team.
Nelons was a first team all-league selection in her freshman, sophomore, and senior seasons. As a junior, she earned honorable mention, and the four-year letterwinner was also the recipient of the Golden Glove award as a sophomore.
Freshman Sarah Prezioso (Bloomfield, N.J./Bloomfield) will be TU's primary player at shortstop. A four-year letterwinner, she was named first team all-state as a junior and senior. A record-holder in every category at Bloomfield, Prezioso was named the Essex County Player of the Year in her senior campaign.
The Owls will have an impressive group of players competing for time in the outfield. Leading the pack are the other two team captains, Ali Robinson (Woodbury, N.J./Gloucester Catholic) and Samantha Schoell (Lansdale, Pa./North Penn).
The centerfielder in every one of Temple's 49 games a season ago, Robinson will look to build on a successful rookie year. The sophomore was fourth on the squad, and tops among freshmen, with a .254 batting average. She was tied with Cook for second on the team with five doubles, and her four homeruns ranked third on the squad. From her perch in centerfield, Robinson was nearly flawless, committing just one error throughout the year in 71 chances for a .986 percentage.
A mainstay in TU's lineup for the past two years, Schoell was a starter in 46 of the 47 games she played in last season. Playing primarily in right field, she has proven herself as a defensive gem, not committing an error in her first two years. At the plate, Schoell was the team's go-to sacrifice hitter a year ago, leading the squad with seven. In addition to her success on the field, Schoell was a member of the Trustee Ten, an honor bestowed on the top ten student-athletes in terms of grade-point average for that academic year. She also earned Philadelphia Inquirer Academic All-Area honors last year.
Also returning to the outfield is junior Alyse Pujol (Cooper City, Fla./Cooper City). Pujol played in 28 games for the Owls a year ago, starting 17 of them. She hit .185 on the year. Pujol, who is returning from injury, will likely see her time in left field. In the meantime, that role will go to Nyman and Sciaronne.
Also competing for time in the outfield are junior Melissa Robbins (Upper Darby, Pa./Upper Darby) and freshmen Daniele Raneri (Hazlet, N.J./Raritan) and Kate Roth (Doylestown, Pa./Central Bucks West).
Robbins joined the team late in the season last year. She played in six games for Temple. Raneri was a three-year letterwinner at Raritan, helping lead her team to state sectional finals in her junior and senior seasons. Roth was a four-year letterwinner at Central Bucks West, and was the only player from her class to start all four years.
Despite the youth of the squad, DiPietro has set up a challenging schedule that includes four preseason top-25 teams, and three additional squads that received votes in the preseason poll. The Owls will travel to Florida three weeks in a row to participate in three different tournaments, where they will face five of the seven nationally recognized teams.
First up is the USF Fairfield Inn and Suites Tampa North Tournament in Tampa, Fla., on February 25-27. TU opens the year against Western Michigan, before facing #16 Missouri later that same day. February 26 sees the Cherry and White square off against Central Connecticut and then Illinois State, one of the opponents receiving votes. The tournament ends with a February 27 game against the host South Florida.
In the second weekend of play, the Owls will face their biggest test of the season, taking on four teams that started the year in the top-25. At the competitive 2011 Citrus Classic in Orlando, Fla., Temple takes on Illinois (rv), North Carolina (rv), Illinois State (rv), #15 Louisiana Lafayette and Maryland over the course of the March 4-6 tournament.
To round out the Florida trips, TU will attend the 2011 Rebel Games in Kissimmee, Fla., March 8-12. The games will feature many more northern schools, with Temple taking on the likes of Bryant, Detroit Mercy, Sacred Heart, Valparaiso, Holy Cross, Loyola Chicago, Lafayette and Columbia.
The Owls will return home for their first test at Ambler Field with a doubleheader against Delaware on March 16. The squad jumps right in to Atlantic 10 play just a few days later, hosting Dayton in a March 20 doubleheader.
After traveling to non-league foe UMBC on March 22 for two games, Temple will have little time to rest when it welcomes A-10 favorite UMass to Ambler on March 25 and 26. Rhode Island will also visit Ambler during that weekend for a doubleheader on March 27.
After a four-game road stretch to end March and start April, TU's remaining home games are scattered throughout April. Temple hosts conference rival Charlotte on April 10, and goes out of league play to bring in Wagner (4/12) and Saint Peter's (4/13).
At the conclusion of a three-game road trip, the Owls return home for their final two opponents of the season, hosting Saint Joseph's on April 26 and Coppin State on April 28. Temple ends the regular-season on the road at St. Bonaventure (5/1) and Army (5/4).
The six-team, double-elimination A-10 Championship will be held May 11-14 at the University of North Carolina-Charlotte's 49ers Softball Diamond in Charlotte, N.C.
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – The Temple softball team will get its 2011 season started this weekend when it travels to Tampa, Fla., for the USF Fairfield Inn and Suites Tampa North Tournament. The Owls begin play on Friday, February 25, against Western Michigan at 8:30 a.m.
The squad has been picked to finish sixth in 2011 in the 11 team Atlantic 10 conference. The Owls came one win short of making the playoffs last season, going 8-12 in A-10 play.
Under the direction of third-year head coach Joe DiPietro, the Cherry and White look to improve on their 19-30 overall record from a year ago.
Senior Kristen Marris (The Colony, Texas/The Colony) leads the team after a solid junior campaign, her first with the squad after transferring from New Mexico State. Marris, one of this year's four team captains, was Temple's ace on the mound, posting a 2.65 ERA while striking out 141 batters and holding opponents to a .211 batting average. She is also the team's leading returner at the plate, hitting for a .290 clip.
Also vying for time on the hill will be sophomore Crystal Nyman (Kelso, Wash./Kelso), and freshmen Kylie Kristovich (Bridgeton, N.J./Sacred Heart) and Brooklin White (Temecula, Calif./Temecula Valley).
Nyman was Temple's number two pitcher a year ago, going 5-12 with a 4.88 ERA in 20 appearances. The righty spent a good portion of the year with a knee injury that hampered her performance along the way.
Kristovich and White join the squad after two impressive high school careers. Local product Kristovich was named the 2010 Philadelphia Inquirer Player of the Year. She is a two-time first team All- South Jersey player, and earned second team all-state honors during her career. Kristovich broke the Sacred Heart career strikeout record, as well as the all-time wins record in a season.
White was a four-year letterwinner in softball. A three-time all-league player, White earned second team all-league in her sophomore campaign, and was a first team selection as a junior and senior. Her accolades also include MVP Player of the Year.
At the catcher position, sophomore team captain Kayla Cook (Manheim, Pa./Manheim Central) and freshman Stephanie Pasquale (Pompton Lakes, N.J./Pompton Lakes) will both be vital to Temple's success.
Cook returns to the squad after a solid rookie season that saw her start in all 47 games in which she played. Cook batted .213 with five doubles and two homeruns a year ago. Defensively, she was solid in her active positions, committing just nine errors in 256 chances for a .965 fielding percentage.
Pasquale is likely to make an immediate impact as Cook works to return from injury. The rookie four-year letterwinner in softball, soccer, and basketball was a three-time first team all- league softball player in high school. She impressed with four first team all county selections, as well as earning second team all-state as junior and first team all-state in her senior season. Pasquale ended high school on a high note, batting an impressive .625 in her senior season.
Competing for time at first base will be Nyman and sophomore Gina Sciarrone (Philadelphia, Pa./St. Hubert's). Pasquale could also see time there when she is not behind the plate.
Sciarrone was active in 22 games a year ago, with 10 of those coming as starts at first base. She hit only .115 at the plate, but proved her defensive skills were up to snuff, committing no errors in 61 chances.
Battling it out for time at second base will be junior Chistina Sykora (Oxford, N.J./Warren Hills) and newcomer Meaghan Marley (Leonardo, N.J./Red Bank Catholic). Sykora has been a utility player for the Owls over her first two years, and this season will find herself back at second base after not playing there since her freshman year. She hit .257 a year ago, collecting 29 hits with four doubles and two homeruns.
Marley joins Temple's program in unique fashion. She is already a graduate of Penn State University, finishing in three years, and is now pursuing a second bachelor's degree at Temple, while playing her first year of college softball. A three-year letterwinner at Red Bank Catholic, Marley was a member of the non-public A NJ State Championship team as a sophomore. During her senior year, she was a member of the all-division team, the all-county team and the all-shore team.
Junior Rachel Knable (Cherry Hill, N.J./Cherry Hill West) and freshman Devynne Nelons (Tacoma, Wash./Stadium) will be vying for time at third base this season. Knable spent most of her time at third base or the designated hitter position a year ago. She played in and started 42 games and was fifth on the squad with her .252 batting average. Knable recorded six multiple hit games, including two with three hits. Her .423 slugging percentage and 21 RBI were both second on the team.
Nelons was a first team all-league selection in her freshman, sophomore, and senior seasons. As a junior, she earned honorable mention, and the four-year letterwinner was also the recipient of the Golden Glove award as a sophomore.
Freshman Sarah Prezioso (Bloomfield, N.J./Bloomfield) will be TU's primary player at shortstop. A four-year letterwinner, she was named first team all-state as a junior and senior. A record-holder in every category at Bloomfield, Prezioso was named the Essex County Player of the Year in her senior campaign.
The Owls will have an impressive group of players competing for time in the outfield. Leading the pack are the other two team captains, Ali Robinson (Woodbury, N.J./Gloucester Catholic) and Samantha Schoell (Lansdale, Pa./North Penn).
The centerfielder in every one of Temple's 49 games a season ago, Robinson will look to build on a successful rookie year. The sophomore was fourth on the squad, and tops among freshmen, with a .254 batting average. She was tied with Cook for second on the team with five doubles, and her four homeruns ranked third on the squad. From her perch in centerfield, Robinson was nearly flawless, committing just one error throughout the year in 71 chances for a .986 percentage.
A mainstay in TU's lineup for the past two years, Schoell was a starter in 46 of the 47 games she played in last season. Playing primarily in right field, she has proven herself as a defensive gem, not committing an error in her first two years. At the plate, Schoell was the team's go-to sacrifice hitter a year ago, leading the squad with seven. In addition to her success on the field, Schoell was a member of the Trustee Ten, an honor bestowed on the top ten student-athletes in terms of grade-point average for that academic year. She also earned Philadelphia Inquirer Academic All-Area honors last year.
Also returning to the outfield is junior Alyse Pujol (Cooper City, Fla./Cooper City). Pujol played in 28 games for the Owls a year ago, starting 17 of them. She hit .185 on the year. Pujol, who is returning from injury, will likely see her time in left field. In the meantime, that role will go to Nyman and Sciaronne.
Also competing for time in the outfield are junior Melissa Robbins (Upper Darby, Pa./Upper Darby) and freshmen Daniele Raneri (Hazlet, N.J./Raritan) and Kate Roth (Doylestown, Pa./Central Bucks West).
Robbins joined the team late in the season last year. She played in six games for Temple. Raneri was a three-year letterwinner at Raritan, helping lead her team to state sectional finals in her junior and senior seasons. Roth was a four-year letterwinner at Central Bucks West, and was the only player from her class to start all four years.
Despite the youth of the squad, DiPietro has set up a challenging schedule that includes four preseason top-25 teams, and three additional squads that received votes in the preseason poll. The Owls will travel to Florida three weeks in a row to participate in three different tournaments, where they will face five of the seven nationally recognized teams.
First up is the USF Fairfield Inn and Suites Tampa North Tournament in Tampa, Fla., on February 25-27. TU opens the year against Western Michigan, before facing #16 Missouri later that same day. February 26 sees the Cherry and White square off against Central Connecticut and then Illinois State, one of the opponents receiving votes. The tournament ends with a February 27 game against the host South Florida.
In the second weekend of play, the Owls will face their biggest test of the season, taking on four teams that started the year in the top-25. At the competitive 2011 Citrus Classic in Orlando, Fla., Temple takes on Illinois (rv), North Carolina (rv), Illinois State (rv), #15 Louisiana Lafayette and Maryland over the course of the March 4-6 tournament.
To round out the Florida trips, TU will attend the 2011 Rebel Games in Kissimmee, Fla., March 8-12. The games will feature many more northern schools, with Temple taking on the likes of Bryant, Detroit Mercy, Sacred Heart, Valparaiso, Holy Cross, Loyola Chicago, Lafayette and Columbia.
The Owls will return home for their first test at Ambler Field with a doubleheader against Delaware on March 16. The squad jumps right in to Atlantic 10 play just a few days later, hosting Dayton in a March 20 doubleheader.
After traveling to non-league foe UMBC on March 22 for two games, Temple will have little time to rest when it welcomes A-10 favorite UMass to Ambler on March 25 and 26. Rhode Island will also visit Ambler during that weekend for a doubleheader on March 27.
After a four-game road stretch to end March and start April, TU's remaining home games are scattered throughout April. Temple hosts conference rival Charlotte on April 10, and goes out of league play to bring in Wagner (4/12) and Saint Peter's (4/13).
At the conclusion of a three-game road trip, the Owls return home for their final two opponents of the season, hosting Saint Joseph's on April 26 and Coppin State on April 28. Temple ends the regular-season on the road at St. Bonaventure (5/1) and Army (5/4).
The six-team, double-elimination A-10 Championship will be held May 11-14 at the University of North Carolina-Charlotte's 49ers Softball Diamond in Charlotte, N.C.
Ep. 7: Temple Field Hockey Alumna Cherifa Howarth
Friday, September 26
Ep. 6: Temple Athletics Weekly Recap; Field Hockey's Peyton Rieger
Tuesday, September 23
Temple Men's Basketball | Mic'd Up at Temple Women's Volleyball Game
Friday, September 19
Ep. 5: Head Men's Golf Coach Brian Quinn
Friday, September 19
