After being limited to just 10 games last spring due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Penn State Altoona softball team is more than ready to hit the field this season.

The Lady Lions bring back a strong core of players, featuring eight returners out of their 13-player roster. Out of those eight returners, six were first-year players in the program last year. The team's largely young group of returning players projects to lead the way for Penn State Altoona this spring.

"We brought a lot of newcomers in last year, and that group only got to play 10 games before the season was shut down," said Joe Merilli, who is entering his sixth year at the reins of the Penn State Altoona softball program. "So we are expecting a lot out of that group to take the next step in their college softball careers."

Merilli sees his team's potential success this season revolving around what happens in the pitching circle. The Lady Lions welcome the return of sophomore right-handed pitcher Casey Reese (Cresson, PA/Penn Cambria), who missed all of her freshman season due to injury. In addition to Reese, the team will also turn to junior right-hander Makenzie Lukehart (Utahville, PA/Glendale), who tossed 18 innings for the Lady Lions in her first season with the squad last spring.

"It all starts in the circle with Casey, who is coming back from injury, and Makenzie, who has worked really hard in the offseason to be the best pitcher she can be," Merilli said. "Casey will be our workhorse this year. She has looked tremendous in practice, and I think she's poised to have an outstanding season. Makenzie will fill in and provide us with solid innings during our doubleheader season, and she will be able to lead us to many victories while giving Casey breaks throughout the season."

Penn State Altoona also brings back six key position players: senior first baseman Olivia Miller (West Newton, PA/Yough), junior catcher Kristen Hewitt (Coalport, PA/Glendale), junior second baseman Jayde Burge (Philipsburg, PA/Philipsburg-Osceola), sophomore first baseman/catcher Katie College (Davidsville, PA/Conemaugh Township), and sophomore outfielders Brooke Colledge (Everett, PA/Everett) and Madison Lucas (Philipsburg, PA/Philipsburg-Osceola).

"Brooke, Maddie, Kate, and Kristen are from last year's group of newcomers who are coming back this season," said Merilli. "This is in addition to Olivia, our only senior, and Jayde. I expect Olivia and Jayde to contribute at multiple positions and do well at the plate."

The Lady Lions also welcome five newcomers who are expected to see significant time this season: sophomore third baseman/outfielder Shannon Detwiler (Martinsburg, PA/Central), freshman catcher/first baseman Chloe Blake (Madera, PA/Moshannon Valley), freshman shortstop Brooke Bollman (Bedford, PA/Bedford), freshman utility player Hannah Harlacher (York, PA/West York), and freshman infielder Olivia Smith (Martinsburg, PA/Central).

"We have a really good group of incoming players, starting with Chloe, Brooke, and Hannah," Merilli stated. "This spring, we added two transfers in Shannon and Olivia. All of these newcomers will contribute to our success this season."

Heading into the season, Penn State Altoona should be well-positioned to generate offense, with several experienced bats returning to the lineup.

Miller enters her senior season and has been a significant part of the Lady Lions' lineup throughout her Penn State Altoona career. She was a 2019 All-Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference selection and holds a .306 career batting average with 52 runs batted in and 28 extra base hits. The team's three returning juniors, Burge, Hewitt, and Lukehart, also figure to make regular contributions to the lineup. Burge is the second-most experienced player on the roster, having played in 47 games and taken 104 at-bats. Hewitt played in all 10 games for the Lady Lions last season, her first with the program, and hit .250. Lukehart batted .308 in 10 games during her first year with the team and was highlighted as a player to watch in the 2021 AMCC Preseason Coaches' Poll.

The Lady Lions' three returning sophomores, Colledge, College, and Lucas, will also be key players at the plate. Colledge joined Lukehart as one of Penn State Altoona's players to watch this season in the conference preseason poll, after hitting a team-high .448 with six RBI, five runs scored, and five doubles in 10 games last season. College played in all 10 of Penn State Altoona's games last spring, and Lucas appeared in nine.

With first-year players Blake, Bollman, Detwiler, Harlacher, and Smith also factored into the mix, Merilli sees a lot of potential in his lineup. While the batting order is not yet set in stone, he expects things to fall into place as the season progresses.

"I think, early in the season, it will be a work in progress, as we will move some players around to put them in the best position to have success," he explained. "We have so many players who can play multiple positions, so it is difficult to predict how this plays out. We really do not have any glaring weaknesses within any lineup we put out there. Probably, the theme about this season will be the versatility of this team."

That positional flexibility also gives the team some options defensively.

"We really have four outfielders who would start for most teams, so it does give us flexibility to move and rest players, as needed. Our infield has two solid shortstops, two solid third basemen, two solid second basemen, and three first basemen," Merilli said. "Behind the plate, we have three catchers. However, I expect Kristen Hewitt to receive most of the pitches this year, which does allow the other two to play secondary positions. Kristen has proven to be an athletic and intelligent receiver behind the plate."

Aside from the normal challenges of a softball season, the 2021 schedule will present some unique hurdles for the team to clear. With COVID-19 still affecting college sports programs, the Lady Lions will do their best to keep themselves healthy while hoping that their opponents do the same to keep their schedule intact.

"First and foremost, we need to keep everyone healthy from a COVID-19 standpoint and injury standpoint. While we only have 13 players, they are 13 players that we count on to step up and fill in when called on," said Merilli. "I think not having the Florida trip to figure out more of a lineup with so many newcomers from last year and this year will be a challenge early on. I expect, by midseason, to have a more stable lineup with better-defined roles for each player and each position. So, if we can get through the early part of the season with some success, I think we will be in excellent shape to compete for a conference championship."

Penn State Altoona softball is scheduled to open its 2021 season on the road, traveling to face non-conference opponent Penn State Harrisburg in a doubleheader on Thursday, March 25 at 3:00 p.m.