USSSA Pride Season Preview

USSSA Pride Finished last season as runner ups

Record: 1st Place 34-14

Season Result: Lost 2-0 against the Chicago Bandits in the championship game

CEO/GM: Don DeDonatis

Head Coach: Lonnie Alameda (Florida State)

Assistant Coach: Megan Willis (Recently Retired as a Player)

Assistant Coach: Jeff Ellsworth (Team Canada Men’s Softball Player)

Assistant Coach: Samantha Ricketts (Mississippi State)

Draft Picks: Lauren Sweet, C, Michigan (Signed), Aubree Munro, C, Florida (Unsigned), Heather Stearns, P, Baylor (Unsigned), Erica Field C, JMU (Unsigned), Kelsey Stewart, IF, Florida (Unsigned), Haylie McCleney, OF, Alabama (Unsigned), Kristi Merritt, IF, Florida (Unsigned), Sierra Romero, IF, Michigan (Unsigned), and Kelsey Nunley, P, Kentucky (Unsigned).

Key Signings: Pitcher Jolene Henderson (Free Agent) and Jessica Garcia (Trade with Akron Racers).

Key Losses: Pitcher Cat Osterman (Retired), Outfielder Natasha Wately (Retired), Catcher Megan Willis (Retired), Shortstop Madison Shipman (Traded to Scrap Yard Dawgs), Third Baseman Bridgette Del Ponte (Traded to Scrap Yard Dawgs), Outfielder Breja’e Washington (Taken in expansion draft), and Catcher Amber Freeman (Taken in expansion draft),

They will win if: Free agent acquisition Jolene Henderson (2.18 ERA) pitches like she did last year. Last season she had very little offensive support but that should change. She and Keilani Ricketts have the potential to form the ultimate one-two punch this season. Jordan Taylor continues to be the “slam the door” closer she was last year. Chelsea Thomas shows that the career year she had last season was no Mirage. Shelby Pendley follows up an amazing rookie year. Lauren Chamberlain (5 HR and 11 RBI) builds off of last season and continues to show us why she was the number one draft pick in 2015. Kelly Kretschman and Andrea Duran continue to swing the bats and continue to provide veteran leadership.

They will lose if: The entire pitching staff takes awhile to adjust to not having Cat Osterman. Either Ricketts or Henderson struggles in being the ace of the staff. Chelsea Thomas either can’t stay healthy or she has a regression from last year. Lauren Chamberlain regresses from last year and struggles to stay in the lineup. Shelby Pendley has a “sophomore slump” year. The questionable trades of established veterans Madison Shipman and Bridgette Del Ponte hurt have more of an effect then expected. Kelly Kretschman and Andrea Duran start to regress and show they are near the end of their careers.

Conclusion: I believe the Pride will still win the regular season title. Don DeDonatis did a great job at reloading on talent. Despite not playing anymore Megan Willis is now on the coaching staff and her knowledge of all the pitchers will be very beneficial. Overall the Pride are in alright shape but I think they’ll need to rely on their offense a little more than in most years.

Follow Eric Katz on Twitter @Sportsteamnews