St. John's University Athletics
Softball Announces 2006 Season Schedule
9/16/2005 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Sept. 16, 2005
Queens, NY - St. John's head softball coach Debbie DeJong announced the 2006 spring schedule this week. The Red Storm opens the season at the University of North Carolina's Triangle Classic before heading to Florida for spring training.
Conference play will start on the road with back to back games in Pittsburgh on March 25 and Syracuse March 26. The Red Storm will have to be comfortable on the road this season as it plays 14 of its 22 conference games away.
With the addition of Louisville, DePaul and the University of South Florida into the BIG EAST Conference, eight teams will now make the conference tournament. All three teams advanced to the NCAA Tournament last season, with DePaul going all the way to the Elite-Eight.
"We are very excited about all of the changes the BIG EAST has made," said DeJong. "The addition of DePaul, Louisville and South Florida has strengthened our conference tremendously. We are looking forward to competing on an even higher level and feel as though we will be ready to do just that."
St. John's home schedule will be highlighted by conference matchups with Villanova on April 8 and Rutgers on April 9. Saving some of the best for last, DePaul will head to Queens on May 6 and 2005 BIG EAST runner-up Notre Dame on May 7 to close out the regular season.
The team will also be in action this fall when the Red Storm hosts three ,invitationals on campus. Long Island and Marist will head to Queens on September 17, Sacred Heart and Rider on September 24 and Dowling and Fairfield on October 1.
Five seniors lead the pack for the Red Storm this season as the team returns 12 letterwinners from last season's squad. Senior Jo Sherlock (San Diego, Calf./Rancho Bernardo) will be back in the outfield after finishing 2005 batting .302, with 31 runs scored, 49 hits and a team high 38 RBI. Sherlock was second in the BIG EAST in RBI and was named to the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-Mid Atlantic Region second team. Joining Sherlock are Blair Belloni (Newport, Or./Newport), Leigh Carlson (Howling, Ohio/Warren G. Harding), Jessica Marical (Stanton, Calf./Pacifica) and Megan Oliver (Endicott, N.Y./Maine-Endewell). Oliver was a thirdteam 2005 All-BIG EAST selection and helped lead her team offensively during conference play with a team high 12 runs and 16 hits.
Pitcher Kimberly Lerch (Glen Head, N.Y./North Shore) makes a healthy return in her sophomore campaign after a season-ending injury in 2005. Before her injury, Lerch posted a 2.21 ERA with four wins and four losses. Fellow sophomore Lisa Geer (Anaheim, Calf./Canyon) will also add depth to the pitching staff and was ranked 19th nationally last season in saves with four.
St. John's complete 2006 schedule follows.
2006 Softball Schedule
-Red Storm-
