Nov. 13, 2006

Stony Brook, N.Y. - Greetings from Seawolves Softball. The fall semester has been an exhilarating and enjoyable time for our student-athletes and staff as we get to know each other and prepare for what promises to be an exciting 2007 season.

This past August, we welcomed a talented freshmen class of seven who will surely make their mark on Stony Brook Softball. These newcomers from Long Island, New Jersey, Maryland, Massachusetts, Florida and Washington join our nine returning players to form the deepest and potentially the most talented Seawolves team in program history.

Our eight fall games provided the opportunity for our freshmen to acclimate themselves with the college game and for our veteran players to establish leadership and to show the way! We played with confidence, determination and enthusiasm and our improved team speed, experience and depth made quite a difference both offensively and defensively.

Our sophomores - Kelsi Fanelli '09 (Audobon, N.J.), Marissa Fleury '09 (Mahopac, N.J.), Kelly Oberto '09 (Spring Lake Heights, N.J.) and Molly Kestranek '09 (St. Mary's, Ga.) played like true upperclassmen and it shows that the experience they gained last year will prove to be so valuable. Freshman Vicki Kavitsky '10 (Cherry Hill, N.J.) did an excellent job at shortstop and in the lead-off position for us with her lefty bat and combination of speed and power. Jade Clare `10, a freshman catcher from Federal Way, Washington, showed good pop with her bat and fine skills behind the plate. Local product Jamie Downer '10 (Glen Clove, N.Y.) continued her outstanding hitting at the college level and will be quite a force to be reckoned with at the plate. We had good innings on the mound from seniors Sarah Hoffman '07 (Commack, N.Y.) and Christina Voth `07(Orange, Calif.) as well as freshmen Crista Cerrone '10 (Floral Park, N.Y.) and Alyssa Struzenberg '10 (Cooper City, Fla.).

In addition to our student-athletes, we are pleased to welcome Melissa Bieman and Breanne Nasti to our coaching staff. Coach Bieman played her collegiate ball at Syracuse University and still competes at the national level in Canada. She will be our pitching coach and assist with infield play, recruiting, camps and clinics. Breanne Nasti joined the Seawolves staff this past September after coaching at St. John's and Hofstra University. A Long Island native, Coach Nasti enjoyed an outstanding playing career at the University of Buffalo. She will lead our hitting program, work with our outfield and assist with recruiting, camps and clinics.

Our spring 2007 schedule will include tournaments at UNC-Wilmington, Florida International University and a trip to St. Mary's in California. Our schedule also includes 2006 NCAA participants Hofstra University and Long Island University, as well as East Carolina from Conference USA and St. John's from the Big East. For the first time, we will also welcome Army to the Stony Brook campus. Without question, this competitive schedule will prepare us well for the America East Conference race.

On another note, I would like to thank all of the alums who returned to campus on October 7 to participate in the homecoming festivities. Some of those in attendance included: Lucille Gianuzzi '85, Tricia Valle Mele '83, Stephanie Spader '00, Tory Menchise '01, Christie McMurray '02, Stephanie Poetzsch '03, Kristen Brust '05, Colleen McCarthy '05, Marissa Servello '05 and Jane Stein '06. It was great to see so many of you back on campus and hope you will return next year for Wolkstock '07.

On behalf of our players and staff, I would also like to invite you to catch the Seawolves in action this spring. Our full schedule is available at www.goseawolves.org. If you can not make it to one of our home games, we would love to see our alumnae and supporters down in North Carolina or Florida or out in California as well as any of our east coast games. We will be an exciting team to watch and hope to make you proud of Stony Brook Softball.

Happy Thanksgiving and best wishes to you, your family and friends.

Megan Bryant
Head Softball Coach