Skip to navigation Skip to content Skip to footer
Softball Season in Review – 2012 was a Rebuilding Year for Lady Lakers
Posted: May 16, 2012

Softball Season in Review – 2012 was a Rebuilding Year for Lady Lakers

CANANDAIGUA, NY. -- The Finger Lakes Community College (CC) Lady Lakers began this year's Region III Division III softball schedule with one thing in mind and that was to improve upon last season's win total of 4 games. Well, they did just that by doubling their win total of a year ago. The Lady Lakers ended their 2012 campaign with a win-loss record of 8-34. Now, it may not seem like a drastic improvement, but first year head coach Pat Clark believes that he and assistant coach Kristen Schuth are beginning to lay down the foundation for a sturdy future at Finger Lakes. Despite their losing record, Finger Lakes had several key freshmen on this year's roster that it can continue to build around in 2013. Before analyzing who made their impact felt on the field from an individual standpoint for the Lady Lakers this season, let's first dissect how Finger Lakes did from a scheduling stance as a team.

The Lady Lakers opened up the season in Myrtle Beach, SC, where they played a list full of tough opponents over an 8-game stretch (from 3/12 – 3/15, Finger Lakes played doubleheaders against each opponent throughout the season). After dropping 7 of 8 games in South Carolina, Finger Lakes returned back to the state of New York, where they would record their two most dominant wins of 2012, which came against Clinton CC on the road in a doubleheader, 20-1 and 19-3 (on 3/24).

After sweeping Clinton, the Lady Lakers split a pair of games with Broome CC at home (on 4/3) before enduring what would be a tough rest of the month of April. For a span of almost 3 weeks (from 4/7 – 4/27), Finger Lakes went winless until its April 28th road victory against Fulton-Montgomery CC.  Through this stretch, the Lady Lakers fought and clawed through each game by displaying a never quit attitude on and off of the field.

Finger Lakes did an excellent job of handling adversity after its tough 3-week stretch by continuing to battle through its remaining 14 games (4/28 – 5/6), where despite turning in a 4-10 record, the Lady Lakers continued to play with great intensity. Through their ups and downs in the schedule, the Lady Lakers learned what they are as a team -- resilient.

Finger Lakes record came with a 10-game conference (Mid-State Athletic Conference) schedule in 2012, where they went 1-9. They finished the season 3-15 at home and 4-12 on the road.

There greatest strength as a team this season was their hitting. Finger Lakes hit .306 led by a talented player in freshman shortstop Jeri Baker (Harrisville, NY), who slugged her way to a team-high .437 (55 for 126) batting average this season (in 39 games). Her 55 hits were a team-high. The first year Lady Laker not only hit for average, she also batted for power all while collecting 10 triples (team-high) and 7 doubles (tied for team-high with Samantha German (Horseheads, NY – Freshman Second Baseman)). Baker's powerful bat produced 1 home run (tied for team-high with Emily Essom (Fairport, NY – Freshman Shortstop), 34 RBIs (team-high) and 38 runs (team-high) scored. Finger Lakes received batting averages of .300 or higher from an additional four freshmen, which included Cassidy Smyers (Wellsville, NY - Outfielder), German, Amalia Dolley (Horseheads, NY – Second Baseman), and Nicole Taylor (Shortsville, NY – Catcher).

Smyers hit just a shade below .400 on the season. She concluded her first year in a Lady Lakers uniform with a .397 (25 for 63) batting average (in 33 games). Smyers drew Finger Lakes highest on-base percentage in 2012. She accumulated an on-base percentage of .524, which was good for 39th in the nation.

German hit to the tune of .390 (39 for 100) this season (in 34 games). She also tallied 21 RBIs and scored 24 runs.

Dolley assembled a .333 (30 for 90) batting average in 2012 (in 31 games).

Taylor hit her way to a .306 (34 for 111) batting average in her first year behind the plate as a Lady Laker. In addition, she manufactured 15 RBIs and scored 21 runs. She played in all 42 games (team-high) this season.

Finger Lakes weaknesses in 2012 came in the form of pitching and defense. The Lady Lakers top pitching efforts in terms of Earned Run Average (ERA) and wins came from sophomore's Kayla Kline (Seneca Falls, NY) and Shelby Marra (Spencerport, NY) respectively. Kline posted a 5.41 ERA while Marra delivered a total of 4 wins on the hill. Kline went 2-7 on the mound with 19 strikeouts in 54 1/3 innings worth of action. Marra's 4 wins came with 7 losses and a 5.97 ERA. She struck out 35 batters in 68 innings during her final season in a Finger Lakes uniform.

The other starting pitchers who gave the Lady Lakers significant innings were freshmen Joelle Robards (Hornell, NY) and Kristyn Maleski (Waterloo, NY). Robards launched a team-high 68 1/3 innings with her arm, casting an ERA of 6.04 along with a win-loss record of 1-11. Maleski hurled 50 1/3 innings on the hill with an ERA of 7.65. She finished her freshman season with a 2-8 record.

Finger Lakes other Achilles heel, its defense, turned in a fielding percentage of just .850 in 2012. As a team, they committed 112 errors on the season. Aside from their struggles as a team defensively, the Lady Lakers hoisted a pair of the nation's top fielders in freshman first baseman Ashley Sheesley (Lowman, NY) and Taylor. Sheesley recorded a team-high .985 fielding percentage, which was good for 25th place in the nation at season's end. She registered 10 assists and 123 put outs in 2012 all while committing just a pair of errors (in 20 games). Taylor finished the season with a .974 fielding percentage behind the plate, which was good for 42nd in the nation. She dished out 16 assists while committing 170 put outs against just 5 errors.

The Lady Lakers head into the offseason knowing what specific aspects of their team are in need of a tune-up. On a positive note, they will return all 5 freshmen who hit .300 or better this season. These key players are destined to continue their progress with the bats in 2013 as they now each have a full season of playing experience at the collegiate level under their belts. Along with the return of Baker, Dolley, German, Smyers, and Taylor, Finger Lakes will also retain promising freshman shortstop Essom next season. Essom hit .295 (28 for 95) in 2012 with 1 home run, 14 RBIs and 16 runs scored (in 38 games).

If the Lady Lakers can sure up what is already a talented roster heading into 2013 by building its starting rotation while stressing the importance of defense, they have a chance to take a great stride in the right direction next season.