In her first three full seasons as the head coach, Angela Stackhouse has built the Pennsylvania College of Technology softball program into a United East Conference powerhouse.
A 19-5 first season in 2021 produced a conference championship and the program’s first trip to the NCAA Division III playoffs. That was followed by regular-season championships with a 28-9 mark in 2022 and a 31-10 record last year. The Wildcats were second in the ’22 UE playoffs and third a year ago, although they went on to claim their first Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference Championship and its 31 wins was a program single-season record.
What to expect this season? With a solid pitching staff and what Stackhouse says is one of her most athletic and versatile teams, in all likelihood, more of the same.
Penn College opens its season on Monday against Immaculata University at the Fast Pitch Dreams Classic in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
Junior Mackenzie Weaver of Montoursville anchors the mound corps and includes freshman Fayth Anderson of Lykens and junior Hailey DeBrody of Cogan Station.
Last season, Weaver won UE Pitcher of the Year honors and was named to the all-conference first team after going 18-6 with 156 strikeouts, 35 walks and a 0.86 ERA in 163.1 innings of work. She had one perfect game, one no-hitter and 11 shutouts. Weaver also batted .352 and scored 31 runs.
“(Weaver) will be relied on to do the majority of the work in the circle this season. Adding Anderson to the starting mix will make a great addition to our staff and we are relying on DeBrody to provide relief pitching when needed,” Stackhouse said.
Two other key returning players are third baseman/catcher Ivvy Morder of Mechanicsburg, who was a second-team all-conference selection last season, and catcher Lexi Snyder of Hegins. Morder batted .347 and Snyder .344.
Freshmen in addition to Anderson who are expected to start are outfielder Grace Lorson of Williamsport and first-baseman/outfielder Sofia LaSpina of Bellmore, New York.
“Practices have been going well; we have been able to get outside a decent amount this preseason on our turf field, which has been helpful,” Stackhouse said.
“(On offense) we have seven returners with veteran swings in the lineup and expect to see mature at-bats from the very beginning. (Our defense is) the most athletic and versatile team I have put together at Penn College. We have the ability to move people around based on who is pitching. It gives us the ability to work several people in and out of the lineup depending on what we need in that game,” said the coach, whose career record is 83-28.
Stackhouse continued, “We are younger than we have been for several seasons but more athletic and versatile. I look forward to the challenge of figuring out how it will all fit together to give us the best opportunities to win.
“We have a really strong hitting lineup and veterans in key positions to help anchor this team. I am also seeing them gel together at the right time, leading into opening our season.”
Stackhouse said areas that need work, are “playing multiple positions and keeping the big picture in mind. The baserunning will come as we get game-time experience.
“Pitching (will be the key to the team’s success). Softball is heavily influenced by the strength of the pitching staff and I feel we have some of the best in the conference.
“We look to be one of the top seeds coming out of the regular season. We need to trust the process and hit our stride to be playing our best softball going into the postseason.
“As always, (we want to) compete for a conference championship. Ultimately, we would like another shot at the NCAA regional level and have a competitive showing, but one step at a time!”
Schedule/Record/Series History
Overall: 0-0
UE Volt Division: 0-0
Fast Pitch Dreams Classic at North Myrtle Beach, S.C.
Monday, March 4 — vs. Immaculata University, 11 a.m. (Immaculata leads 1-0)
Monday, March 4 — vs. Delaware Valley University, 3 p.m. (Penn College leads 1-0)
Tuesday, March 5 — vs. Centenary University, 11 a.m. (first-time opponent)
Tuesday, March 5 — vs. Eastern Nazarene College, 1 p.m. (first-time opponent)
Thursday, March 7 — vs. Cedar Crest College, 9 a.m. (Penn College leads 2-1)
Thursday, March 7 — vs. Norwich University, 11 a.m. (Penn College leads 2-0)
Friday, March 8 — vs. Cairn University, 1 p.m. (series tied 1-1)
Friday, March 8 — vs. Bridgewater College, 3 p.m. (Bridgewater leads 1-0)
For more about the United East, visit the conference website.
For additional information, visit the Wildcats Athletics website.