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Black College Sports Online |
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BRONCOS SOFTBALL BELIEVES IT CAN CONTEND FOR TITLE BRONCOS SOFTBALL BELIEVES IT CAN CONTEND FOR TITLE Healthy mix of newcomers and vets has Coach Who believing team could make a deep run Alex Podlogar FAYETTEVILLE, NC – With a balanced mix of proven veterans and highly regarded newcomers, Fayetteville State softball coach Miguel Justiniano has lofty aspirations for the 2011 team. Two years ago, the Broncos were on the fast track in the CIAA. They advanced to the 2009 CIAA Championship Series, where they fell to three-time champion Bowie State. The Broncos finished that season with 26 wins and won the Western Division with a 17-1 record. Despite a slew of injuries in 2010 – FSU played games during the season with just nine players in uniform -- the Broncos still managed to win 17 games and compile an 8-6 mark in divisional play, good for a second-place finish in the standings. They also won two tournament games. But as the 2011 season dawns – Fayetteville State hosts Lee’s-McRae at 2 and 4 p.m. on Sunday at Seabrook Park to open the season – Justiniano, better known as “Coach Who”, believes the Broncos can contend for another division title and the CIAA championship this year. “Our goal this year is to be ranked as a Top-25 team in the country,” says Coach Who, who enters his fourth year as FSU head coach. “And we want to play for the conference championship. Anything else would be a disappointment.” Coach Who and the Broncos have reasons to be optimistic. Fayetteville State returns seven players, most of whom were key players a year ago. First baseman April Branch (Sr., Watha, NC) led the nation in walks drawn last season (33) and was the Broncos’ best hitter, batting .372 with a .585 slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .531 – a staggering 1.116 OPS. “She’s a great, great hitter,” says Coach Who. “Teams stopped pitching to her last year.” As is LaTonia Gatling (Jr., Suffolk, VA), who returns to the top of the lineup and to right field. Gatling was third on the team with a .328 batting average in 2010 and was second in on-base percentage (.420). She also led the Broncos in stolen bases, with 16, and was caught stealing just three times. Demarius Pankey (Sr., Laurinburg, NC), who led the nation in triples before tearing her ACL in 2009, will move to second base to provide better defense up the middle of the field while Ashley Wlezen (So., Charlotte, NC) brings a standout glove to third base and at catcher. But while Coach Who’s teams pride themselves in solid defense – much of the preseason in 2011 has been spent honing that aspect of the game – the Broncos will not be lacking for quality pitching this season, either. Misty Huber (Jr., Orlando, FL) returns after making 26 appearances and 25 starts in 2010, working 150 innings. She finished 10-12 last year with a 3.97 ERA, and Coach Who expects her to emerge as one of the league’s top hurlers this season. “She’s gotten better since last year,” Coach Who says of Huber, who racked up 138 strikeouts last season. “She’s worked out hard this offseason, losing about 25 pounds, and is eager to prove herself.” She’ll have help. As one of the Broncos’ marquee newcomers, Olivia Peavy (So., Siler City, NC), who was recruited by several Division-1 schools, chose to come to Fayetteville State, and will not only provide depth at pitching, but has a canon for an arm behind the plate as well. Not only that, Coach Who expects Peavy to have an immediate impact as a hitter. “She’s a tremendous asset to our program,” Coach Who says. Also new to the team is Quiristeen Brown (Fr., Greensboro, NC), who adds stellar defense at shortstop and can also fill in at catcher. Brown was also recruited as a Division-1 caliber player. So was Jessica Randolph (Fr., Pinetops, NC), who will play center field and is being counted on as a hitter as well. “Overall, this is a team – with new players and returners – that has the talent to go a long way,” says Coach Who. “Now, we still have to go out and play the games and play them well, but this is the deepest team we’ve had since I’ve been here.” Fayetteville State’s original opening date against Salem International was moved to Thursday, Feb. 10, because of inclement weather. The Broncos will then host Concord at 3 and 5 p.m. on Feb. 19. Alex Podlogar |