McCANDLESS, Pa. - The last time La Roche University softball hosted a game at their home field, the Baierl Athletic Complex, was on April 27th, 2019, nearly two years ago. This Saturday, March 27th, the Redhawks will host Hilbert College for their season opener in a conference doubleheader beginning at 1:00 p.m.
Read our outdoor spectator policy here.
Head Coach Orie Gentile will be entering his 25th year at the helm in 2021. Gentile has won over 400 games during his time at La Roche and has had nine seasons with 20 or more wins.
The Redhawks are poised to build on their 6-1 record from 2020, the program's best start to a season since 2010. This year's roster consist of six returning starters and six freshmen, a 50/50 mix. Senior Alexa Young is the lone pitcher to return for LRU. Young has started in 34 games throughout her career and has pitched a total of 228.0 innings. Last season she went 4-0 and had 1.91 ERA before the COVID-19 pandemic cancelled the rest of the season. She has struck out 194 batters in her career.
At second base, senior Devan Smith will return for her fourth season with LRU. Smith has played in 73 games throughout her three year career, recording 80 hits, 10 doubles, four triples, 32 RBI and a stellar .328 batting average. The last of the seniors on this years roster, shortstop Meghan Haynes, will also be playing her fourth season for LRU in 2021. Haynes has played in 70 games throughout her career. At the plate she has 23 hits and 13 RBI. In the field, she posts an impressive .952 career fielding percentage.
The other three returners for La Roche softball are juniors Kelly Denk & Brandi Clyde and sophomore Abby Hoffman. Denk has played in 31 games in her career, tallying 35 hits, six doubles, 11 RBI and seven stolen bases. In 28 games, Clyde has rattled off 14 hits, four doubles and 14 RBI. Last season she had 9 RBI in only seven games. Hoffman had a strong freshman campaign. In five games, she had five hits including an RBI and a double.
The six freshmen on the roster: Jesslyn Daniels, Kylee Greig, Ashtin Hoover, Alexis Myers, Maria Schussler and Lyndsi Urani all look to contribute their first season with the team. Hoover and Urani will play a hybrid role between pitching and playing the field.