After almost two years since the announcement of a softball program forming at Pitt-Johnstown, the inaugural season is steadily approaching.
The Lady Cats go into a conference that had six teams make it to the 2014 Atlantic Regionals for softball.
One could say the Lady Cats have their work cut out for them, with a roster of 15 women who have never played an inning of collegiate softball in their lives.
The first practice of the season was Jan. 5, but it may be awhile until the team sees the field due to winter weather.
The program’s first recruit, Johnstown utility player Amber Maurer will keep her freshman status despite being enrolled in 2013-2014 at Pitt-Johnstown, according to the Pitt-Johnstown Athletics website.
“Being a part of the school’s first ever softball team is an honor and it is pretty awesome knowing I am part of the foundation of what will hopefully expand, becoming stronger for future teams,” Maurer said.
“I love being able to obtain an education while positively supporting (Pitt-Johnstown) by playing the sport I love.”
Players were working out throughout most of last semester and every player was assigned a lifting program, according to Maurer.
Freshman outfielder Marley Elbin and sophomore utility player Katie Uzelac said players realize that while it is nice to be members of the university’s first softball team, this season will be a proving ground.
“It is going to be tough going into such a great conference, but our team has been working hard and we are excited for our first season,” Elbin said.
Elbin was graduated from Southern Fulton High School (Warfordsburg, Pa.) and hit for a .441 batting average along with 26 stolen bases her senior year.
“We have some really talented athletic teams on this campus and we need to prove ourselves good enough to be among them,” Uzelac said.
Uzelac knows what it takes to win a championship, winning a District 7 Championship in Class AA at Burrell High School in 2011 (Lower Burrell, Pa.).
The Lady Cats will travel March 6 to Florida to play the inaugural game of the program’s inaugural season and will stay until March 14, spending their break in competition.
