Lady sluggers open season

By LAWRENCE R.V. POTTER
Collegian Sports Writer

Like a theater company on opening night, the Lady Lion softball team has finished all of its dress rehearsals.

When Penn State takes the field against East Carolina for two games at 2 p.m. today in Greenville, N.C., the curtain officially opens on the 1995 season. After playing scrimmages last fall and the past two weekends, it's time for the Lady Lions to play on a real grass field.

While the Holuba Hall turf was good enough for four wins in scrimmages against Robert Morris and St. Francis -- two teams the Lady Lions will face again this weekend in a tournament at East Carolina -- there is no substitute for natural grass and surroundings.

"This is it -- you practice all year for your first two games of the season," Coach Sue Rankin said. "We're looking forward to being outside, getting some dirt and getting some balls out of the air rather than off the ceiling. I think they'll be excited to play the first game."

Last season, East Carolina defeated Penn State 2-1 in an eight inning defensive battle. The Lady Pirates managed only seven hits and held the Lady Lions to three.

The Lady Pirate hurler who defeated them last year, Jill Rowlands, has graduated, but East Carolina is still a formidable challenge. Sophomore third baseman Rhonda Rost hit .405 last year and junior pitcher Tracie Podratsky posted an 11-4 record.

Penn State should have some good pitching of its own. Five Lady Lion pitchers have seen action in the past four scrimmages and all fared well. The bats seem to be in good shape as well -- the Lady Lions scored eight runs in the firts scrimmage and then 11 in the second against St. Francis last Sunday.

Although the starting pitchers have not been set for the doubleheader with the Lady Pirates, the rest of the lineup is solid.

Based on Rankin's comments and last weekend's scrimmage, the starters should be: Cathy Boyd in left field, Susannah Forde platooning with Randi Larson in center, Jennifer Accordino platooning with Kelley Sax in right, Rebecca Wisnoff at third, Valerie Serpico at short, Marissa Marucci at second, Shannon Salsburg at first and Jill Cowen behind the plate.

Despite the excitement and anticipation of the first games of the season, some players prefer to keep a simple perspective on the matter.

"We're just expecting to go and play our game," said Salsburg, the freshman clean-up hitter. "And, hopefully, we'll bring home wins."