Softball Begins 2023 Campaign Friday in Hawaii

The St. Bonaventure University softball team kicks off the 2023 season in tropical Honolulu at the Bank of Hawaii Invitational and the Hawaii Spring Fling Tournament, hosted by the University of Hawaii Feb. 24 through March 4. 

The Bonnies are set for matchups with Seattle, Marist, Hawaii, Niagara, Utah, Pacific and Santa Clara over a two-week trip to paradise, playing 10 games.

“We’ve had the chance to get outside a few times already this season,” Bonnies head coach Mike Threehouse said. “Joyce Field has been fantastic for us over the years and we were glad to be able to get out for a few practices. We’ve also been blessed with indoor batting cages over at the SBU Fitness Center. I think we are ahead of the game this year when it comes to practice. The team has really been getting after it and I think this is the best we’ve been prepared heading into a season in a couple years.”

This year’s squad features a mix of experience and newcomers with two graduate students, eight seniors, six juniors, four sophomores and eight freshmen. 

“I tell the senior class all the time that the team goes as the senior class goes,” Threehouse stated. “We are looking for the seniors to step up this year, whatever their role on the team. There is also going to be a youth with some freshmen that will get some quality playing time. It will be fun to watch these kids grow as you teach them how to play the game at this level.”

The Bonnies also return two key contributors at the top of the lineup in senior Olivia Moon and junior Brooke Bobbey. 

Moon led Bona’s in batting a season ago, carrying a .290 batting average to go along with eight doubles and 18 RBIs, both team-bests. Bobbey paced the Bonnies on the base-paths, swiping a team-high 14 bases a season ago. She also finished second on the team in runs (13) and doubles (6) while ranking third on the team with a .246 batting average. 

“Watching Brooke mature as she heads into her junior season has been fun to watch,” Threehouse said. “She is one of our assistant captains this season and has taken it by the horns. She is swinging the bat really well while adding new things to her game at the plate. She also moving to a new position this year in centerfield, a position where she has always wanted to play. We are looking for her to take another step forward this year. For Olivia, she can just flat out hit. She is going to be in the middle of our lineup almost every game and we are going to look for her to continue to produce.”

Emily Phelan and Elizabeth Lis return for the Brown and White in the circle this season. Phelan led the Bonnies a season ago with five wins, tossing 10 complete games. She struck out 95 batters in 108.1 innings of work. Lis made 12 appearances in the circle, earning Atlantic 10 Pitcher of the Week honors following a complete-game win over Norfolk State. 

New to the pitching staff this season is freshman Kayla Ziemke from Troy, Mich., tallying 171 strikeouts during her senior season. 

“Emily is going to get a lot of innings for us this season,” Threehouse mentioned. “She always wants the ball and tends to get better the more she pitches. She is ready to take the next step this season. Elizabeth will eat up some innings for the team and has experience from last season. Kayla had a good fall and will get some innings. We also have some players that have pitched in the past that might get some work for us this season.”

Also returning for the Bonnies are graduate Madison Stewart, seniors Abby Suhr, Macy Miller, Juanita Wolak, Autumn Black, Lyndsay Flippin and Shannon Costello, juniors Olivia Whitecar, Grace Walker, Elyse Graham and Kennedy Haberl as well as sophomores Emily Mckenna, Zoey Kota, Courtney Peterson and Victoria Jacques. 

New to the squad for the 2023 campaign is graduate transfer Emily Piergustavo and freshmen Reanna Perkins, Olivia Santos, Tess Spangenburg, Bryana Martinez, Abby Farber, Sidney Rose and Reagan Mangos. 

The Bonnies gets things started Friday, Feb. 24 against Seattle. First pitch is slated for 6:00 p.m. EST.