ANNVILLE, Pa. – Four straight appearances in the postseason will command respect for a team. The Lebanon Valley softball team opens the 2012 season at the National Training Center in Clermont, Fla., Monday after being picked to finish second Commonwealth Conference in the preseason coaches poll.
 
The Dutchmen will play eight games in five days this week against a field that includes Muhlenberg, Saint Vincent, Saint Mary's, Ohio Northern, Emerson, and Misericordia.
 
“We are very young this year so we need to learn how our freshmen will react under game pressure,” head coach Stacey Hollinger said. “We also look for this trip to give us a positive start to the season. It definitely will give us an indication of what are strengths and weaknesses are as a team and individually. It's a great time for the team to bond and learn how to work with each other both on and off the field.”
 
The team welcomes seven freshmen and a sophomore to the roster this season, including infielders Jorey Aumiller, Emily Robenolt, and Jasmine Dutton; outfielders Tessa Deardorff and Angela Harris; and pitchers Samantha Shimp and Marjorie Blum. Robenolt and Dutton will also see time on the mound. Sophomore Caitlyn Atzinger will also compete for time in the outfield.
 
Which of the freshmen will see the heaviest playing time and make an immediate impact is yet to be determined. “They each bring something unique to the table,” Hollinger said.
 
The team returns senior pitcher/second baseman Kristen Palmerio, who hit .372  and led the team in hits (42), RBIs (25), and on-base percentage (.418). She also led the pitching staff with a 1.11 ERA over 44 innings.
 
They also return the reigning conference rookie of the year in sophomore first baseman Allison Hartman, who hit .341 and shared the team lead in homeruns with four. She smashed 10 doubles and drove in 23 RBIs.
 
Both Palmerio and Hartman were named to the All-Commonwealth second team.
 
Nine total players return from last season's team, which finished 29-9 (11-3 Commonwealth). Other returners include infielders Katie Deardorff, Alexa Maddy, and Mary Readinger; catchers Chelsea Detwiler and Steffani Secola; and outfielders Steph Hulme and Chelsea Kehr.
 
The rotation will be something to watch after the graduation of the 1-2 combo of Val Malizzia and Laura Snyder, the latter of whom posted a 1.32 ERA and 12 wins for the Dutchmen to be named the Commonwealth's pitcher of the year for 2011.
 
“Any team in the conference can win the championship this year. They key will be to get into the championship and then hope for a hot weekend,” Hollinger said. “To make it to that weekend, we need to stay consistent on both sides of the ball. I think this team has the potential to do that but potential is a dangerous word in this game.”