The Penn State Altoona softball team enters the 2025 season with a balanced mix of returners and newcomers. The Lions' roster is comprised of eight players back from last year's team, as well as 10 first-year additions to the program.

Penn State Altoona was recently voted fourth place in the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll, after the team finished fourth in the league's regular season standings last spring. Coming off a season in which they went 18-17 overall and 9-7 in the AMCC, the Lions hope to return to the conference postseason tournament and make another push at a championship.

Head coach Bill Graham, who is entering his fourth season with the program, knows that his team will need to play consistently well throughout its league schedule, as the overall strength of AMCC teams is on the rise.

"We need to play hard every game and compete at a high level," he said. "The league has gotten stronger the last few years, and we have to be ready each time we step on the field. We still have some players with championship experience, so that should help us prepare and know what to look for during the season. We know it isn't a sprint, and we want to give ourselves a shot in the end."

The Lions' roster features a strong class of returners, led by four seniors: outfielder Aubrey Dotts (Houtzdale, PA/Moshannon Valley), middle infielder Alyssa Fisher (Lock Haven, PA/Central Mountain), infielder Gianna Hoppel (Lewistown, PA/Mifflin County), and third baseman Hanna Lauck (Bellefonte, PA/Bellefonte). Lauck was voted to the first team of the All-AMCC squad last spring, after she finished fifth in the conference in home runs (3), sixth in batting average (.418), and seventh in runs batted in (29). Fisher was a second-team All-AMCC pick last season, when she ranked third in the conference in triples (5) and fourth in hits (52) and doubles (11), and Hoppel also took second-team honors last year after being 18th in the league in RBI (21) and 22nd in hits (35). Dotts returns to the program after making 23 starts in the outfield for the Lions during their 2023 AMCC Championship season.

Penn State Altoona also welcomes back three juniors – middle infielder/right-handed pitcher Madalyn Maynard (Towanda, PA/Towanda), utility player Madison Sitarek (Huddleston, VA/Century), and shortstop Karli Storm (Chest Springs, PA/Cambria Heights) – and one sophomore, right-handed pitcher Josselyn Nau (Bellefonte, PA/Bellefonte).

"Our returners are a strong group for sure," said Graham. "We have our whole infield back, and they have played a lot of games together. They know how to win and have had plenty of experience doing just that. It's a good source of knowledge for our younger kids, who are also talented but untested at the collegiate level."

Penn State Altoona's foundation will be its batting order, which leans heavily on the returners and will also have newcomers vying for time.

"Our lineup should be our strength. Alyssa, Gianna, and Hanna will anchor three of the top four spots, and they will all leave their marks on the record books. They bring speed and power every game," Graham said. "Karli, Madalyn, and Lauren Davidson (Clearfield, PA/DuBois Central Catholic) will add bats to our lineup. The outfield will be new, but there are many new faces that will contribute. Allison Beeman (Tyrone, PA/Tyrone), Madison Kennedy (Williamsburg, PA/Central), Sidney Nihart (Ashville, PA/Cambria Heights), Haleigh Peters (Lock Haven, PA/Central Mountain), and Jillian Taylor (Irvona, PA/Glendale) bring a lot of athleticism, and Aubrey Dotts and Madison Sitarek return with veteran experience. Carly Hutchinson (Wayne, PA/Conestoga), Autumn Fabian (Edgewater, MD/South River), Meghan Flynn (Sayre, PA/Sayre), and Madison Baker (North Versailles, PA/East Allegheny) will provide much appreciated depth."

Graham believes that the lineup will be versatile enough to score runs in a variety of ways this season, and he is excited for its potential.

"The lineup will be special, and I think we can play any way we need," he stated. "We've got speed and power at the top, and really good contact hitters in the middle will help to advance the lineup through. Last year, we had two players [Brooke Colledge and Cameryn Feathers] combine for 250 at-bats and one strikeout. Losing them is tough, but we might be better and deeper this year. Time will tell."

In the pitching circle, Nau and Maynard return after having strong seasons last year, while Kennedy and Nihart will also be in the mix for innings. Last spring, Nau led the AMCC in appearances (25) and was also second in complete games (16), third in innings pitched (124 2/3), fourth in WHIP (1.24), fifth in shutouts (3), sixth in starts (18) and wins (9), and seventh in earned run average (2.81). Maynard ranked eighth in the conference in ERA (2.85), ninth in batting average against (.278), 10th in wins (7), and 13th in complete games (5).

"In the circle, we have an anchor with Josselyn Nau. She got valuable experience last year and did a very good job for us all year. This season, she is healthier than in previous seasons, and I'm excited to see her blossom," said Graham. "Maddie Maynard also gave us big innings last year and is someone we can count on. Kennedy and Nihart will pitch big innings for us, and we aren't afraid to use them in big spots, especially early in the season."

Penn State Altoona softball gets its 2025 schedule underway on Monday, February 24, with a 2:30 p.m. doubleheader at Waynesburg University. After a scrimmage against Penn Highlands on Friday, February 28, the team will travel to the North Myrtle Beach, S.C., area to compete in 12 games from March 8-14 as part of the Fastpitch Dreams Spring Classic. The Lions return to Pennsylvania after that to round out their non-conference schedule, before getting into AMCC play in April.

"The team is excited to get things going. Overall, we have high expectations," said Graham. "The early season will test us, and then once conference starts, we will be ready. One of our goals is to host a playoff game this year, and I think we will be ready for the challenge."