Lady sluggers excited about season

It is starting with a clean slate and a positive outlook for the future. This was the theme of the Penn State softball team at its media day yesterday at the Bryce Jordan Center.

Robin Petrini takes over the program after coaching at Big Ten rival Northwestern. Petrini said climbing the ladder in the conference is the team's top priority.

"Our biggest expectation is to make some strides in the Big Ten Conference," she said. "That's where our focus will be, and we'll take this preseason to prepare us for that hurdle."

The Lady Lions return six starters from last year's club that went 24-26, 5-18 in the Big Ten. Included in those returnees is the team's leading hitter, junior first baseman Shannon Salsburg.

Salsburg belted a team-high nine home runs and led the team in RBIs with 38. She recently has been hampered by an elbow injury and a sprained ankle. The elbow injury has prevented her from participating in much of the team's spring drills.

Senior second baseman Marisa Marucci and senior outfielder Jennifer Accordino also will be looked upon to take on a major offensive role. Marucci scored 24 runs and drove in 18 for the Lady Lions last year.

Petrini said she is bringing an aggressive style of the play to take advantage of the talent on the team. Straight steals, hit and runs and trying to take extra bases will be the primary strategies to put runs on the board.

Whether the Lady Lions enjoy much success might come down to their pitching. A trio of juniors -- Sara Henick, Jennifer Hippo and Anje Schwab -- along with a freshman, Jaci Kalp, will share chores on the mound.

"We're pretty firm on who's hot will be on the mound, and who's not won't be," Petrini said. "If it takes all four of them in a game, so be it. The pitching staff is going to have to work together."

Both Marucci and Accordino said the current attitude of the program is the best it has been since they have been here. Petrini's new ideas and styles have been welcomed by both.

"People are excited to prove themselves all over again," Marucci said. "We're trying to show our coaches what we can do. We give them everything we have to show them we can play."

The two seniors and Petrini expect Michigan, Iowa and Minnesota to be the teams the Lady Lions will be gunning for in the conference. Whether or not they have success, Accordino said what has happened before will not affect the present.

"The biggest thing we've tried to stress is that this is a new year and not to dwell on the past," she said. "We're just looking ahead with a positive attitude. Being our senior year, we're pretty happy with the change. It's an atmosphere where a lot is expected of you."