The Buffalo softball team is back and ready for a new season after completely revamping last year's team, whose record was a rough 3-45. Bull's coach Marie Curran is very supportive of her team and very optimistic about Buffalo's upcoming season.
"We are going to do tremendously better than we did last year because everyone is healthy and excited to play and we are back on track," Curran said. "The girls are really working on their mechanics being very good, very consistent and I think they're doing a tremendous job at that."
This weekend, the Bulls will begin their season at the Arizona State University tournament. The team starts off playing against Iowa on Friday, which will be followed by facing off against Arizona State, one of the nation's top teams.
"We play (ASU) for the experience; there isn't anybody better in the country than them that we play. So, when we come back for conference, everybody's beatable. We can play against everybody after we've seen the best in the country, so there's nothing to be nervous about," Curran said.
The starting line up for the first game will be junior Dana Carter at first base, freshman Alexandra Bejarano at second base, senior Marcy Hansen at shortstop, junior Ashley Kanavy at third base, junior Wendy Sheehan at catcher, sophomore Kristen Gallipani in left field, senior Mary Russell in center, and either sophomore Sharon Barr or freshman Candice Sheehan in right field. Either sophomore Katie Ivancich or Barr will be pitching.
Last Season, the Bulls suffered through four injuries; this season all the injured players are all back, healthy, and ready to get in the game.
After she started in 22 games last year and getting injured, Ivancich has returned.
"She's another one who people didn't get to see especially as a pitcher," Curran said. "People didn't get to see her throw and that is her best position because she only played first base with us last year before she got hurt."
Ivancich is excited to return to the field.
"My biggest goal is to probably be able to lead the team on the field as the pitcher; to be able to be vocal and have them be able to count on me," Ivancich said. "I want to be able to win MAC Championships."
Gallipani is another player supposed to bring great things to the Bulls this year. Curran described her as having a lot of potential, though she suffered a season-ending injury in the second game of last season.
The team used last year's poor showing to push themselves through the fall and winter, building up to the spring to begin.
"Its like we have something to prove now and this is something we want to show people that we can do," Ivancich said.
Buffalo spent the summer revamping last year's squad, becoming a younger and more athletic team. Along with these changes, the Bulls have a new vision of what they can be.
"This year we have a whole new outlook, almost like forgetting last year and looking at all of our new players. We have a lot of players who can play different positions, so that's good for us and we will hopefully win a lot of games," Ivancich said.
Buffalo looks to surpass its three wins from last year. They plan to work under their team motto of "play dumb." The Bulls use this saying to remind themselves to just play with what they have and know, and try not to think too much.
"There are so many talented players this year who are really stepping up, so I'm excited," Curran said.
The Bulls first home game and also the first MAC game is a doubleheader against Toledo on Friday, March 28 at Nan Harvey Field.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
