JOHNSTOWN – The Lady Raiders' softball field is under a thick blanket of snow at the moment, but the team is looking forward to playing a game this coming Thursday. They will travel to Queensbury to meet the SUNY Adirondack squad in the Adirondack Sports Complex dome.
First-year Head Coach Meghan Power and Assistant Coach Kevin Kucel have been working with the 16-member squad and have expressed positive feelings about the young team. The team is young in that the roster includes 12 freshmen.
Nine teams are slated to compete in the Mountain Valley Conference this season. The conference members are Adirondack, Clinton, Columbia-Greene, Delhi, Fulton-Montgomery, Herkimer, Hudson Valley, Mohawk Valley, and North Country. Herkimer's Lady Generals are heavy favorites to win the conference, given that they are the defending national champions and have added several strong players to their squad. The Lady Raiders are young, but they have displayed some solid softball talent in their workouts. They are striving to be a competitive team, and this writer believes that they will be.
The softball season is scheduled to begin on March 25, at Herkimer. However, the Blue & White have a nice opportunity to play an indoor preseason game this coming Thursday, March 13. The FM and Adirondack teams will be able to use the dome from noon until 4:00 p.m. The two head coaches will determine the format of play.
Photos: Head Coach Power, behind the plate, and Assistant Coach Kucel conducting bunting practice - Brittany Keator pitching
The Adirondack Sports Complex has hosted softball games before. A few years ago rainy weather was hampering the Section II high school playoffs, so some of those playoff games were moved inside the dome.
Pitching is crucial to softball success. This Lady Raiders team has as many as five players who may step into the circle. Sophomore Brittany Keator and freshman Alyssa Palmateer in particular have been popping catchers' mitts with impressive speed.
The team also has a good blend of infielders, outfielders, and catchers. One of the infielders to watch will be basketball stalwart Stephanie Rice. The tall freshman will probably be the Raiders' starting shortstop.
Website staff will cover and report on Thursday's play. The venue will be indoors, but it will still be a treat to hear bats meeting balls after the umpire's cry of "Play Ball."
C.J. Bonny, website writer
