Wingate, N.C.----The Wingate University softball team will look to find the right blend of youth and experience as they attempt to return to the top of the South Atlantic Conference in 2012. The Bulldogs graduated their top two pitchers and leading home run hitter, but long-time head coach Michelle Caddigan believes a talented but unproven five-player recruiting class will be able to fill the void. “I’m excited for the season…we’ve had a good atmosphere in pre-season practice,” Caddigan says.

“The amount of youth we have does give some uncertainty," Caddigan says. "They have the ability, but without the game experience…I’m not sure how they’ll respond. They’re coming from a different atmosphere and type of game…the players here are bigger, stronger and faster.”

Although the Bulldogs only have two seniors, All-SAC catcher Brittany Barrineau (Monroe, N.C.) and outfielder Joya Wortham (Creedmoor, N.C.), Caddigan raves about the leadership they’ve offered thus far. “Our seniors have done a great job communicating expectations,” Caddigan says. “They know how to do things; they’ve been through it and know what the standards are for the program.”
 
Both Barrineau and Wortham have led their younger teammates by example as well as with words. “They’ve done a good job being vocal leaders,” Caddigan says. “Barrineau has been vocal in expectations in the past; Joya has stepped up and done a nice job.”

Inside the pitching circle is where Wingate has the most youth. Sophomore Ashley Brown (Murrells Inlet, S.C.) is the lone returner with game experience. She pitched 60.1 innings a year ago, posting a solid 1.74 ERA in her first season. Freshman pitchers Miranda Paul (Virginia Beach, Va.) and Betsy Braswell (Rocky Mount, N.C.) continue to improve and like Brown last year, both will see plenty of action as true freshman. Barrineau will once again be behind the dish for the ‘Dogs and will be relied on heavily this season to lead the young staff.

The left side of the infield will feature a new look as two first-year players will get the start on opening day. Freshman Brittany Owens (Greenville, N.C.) will be at the hot corner and classmate Alexis Burrell (Chesapeake, Va.) will take over at shortstop. Sophomore Haley Whitley started 43 games in the outfield last season, but has transitioned to the infield and will look to secure a role at second base. Junior Brittany Loudermilt (Stony Point, N.C.) returns at first base after starting every game in 2011.

The Bulldog outfield will return plenty of familiar faces in 2012. Wortham will battle for a starting role along with the leadership duties. Junior Kasey Pendley (Marion, N.C.) returns after seeing action in 43 games last season, mostly in centerfield. Sophomores Jordyn Setzer (Taylorsville, N.C.), Courtney Barrineau (Monroe, N.C.), and Ann Sautter (Scottsdale, Ariz.) all made starts last year and will continue to compete for playing time. Junior transfer Kelsey Maffucci (Rockledge, Fla.) is the newest member of the outfield and will bring speed and additional veteran leadership.

If the Bulldogs are to return to the NCAA Division II tournament, they will have navigated a schedule featuring nine teams that advanced to the play-offs in 2011. Wingate will open the 2012 campaign against Conference Carolinas champion Erskine at 1 p.m. Tuesday. The Bulldogs will face two play-off squads from the Atlantic Region, Lock Haven (Pa.) and Kutztown (Pa.), in the Catawba Classic on Feb. 25.
 
Wingate will complete its three-team adventure into the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) against 2011 Atlantic Super Regional runner-up and pre-season number 14 Bloomsburg (Pa.) at home on March 12. Wingate will hit the road to play Peach Belt and Southeast Regional qualifiers USC Aiken on March 3 and number 21 Armstrong (Ga.) on March 6. The Bulldogs host another Southeast Regional tournament team, Augusta State, on March 14.

“Each year our goal is to play the most competitive schedule we can play,” Caddigan says. “There isn’t a better way to find out what you have than by playing good teams.” In addition to the tough non-conference slate, the Bulldogs will host number nine and 2011 Southeast Super Regional runner-up Lenoir-Rhyne on March 21. Lenoir-Rhyne took the top spot in the pre-season SAC coaches’ poll. The Bulldogs will travel to Carson-Newman on St. Patrick’s Day; the Eagles advanced to their seventh straight NCAA tournament last spring.

Wingate was picked third in the SAC pre-season poll, but Caddigan and her players haven’t discussed the poll or any other long-term goals. “We haven’t really talked about our goals for this season,” Caddigan says. “If we give our best effort every day and play at a high level consistently, the rankings, NCAA regionals and wins will take care of themselves.”
 
WINGATE UNIVERSITY
 
Founded in 1896, Wingate University is a comprehensive university with more than 2,500 students on three campuses in Wingate, Matthews and Hendersonville, N.C. The university offers 34 undergraduate majors, 37 minors and career concentrations, numerous pre-professional programs, graduate degrees in business, accounting, physician assistant studies and sports administration and doctorates in pharmacy and education.
 
Wingate students gain the tools and support they need to excel in academics and apply that learning toward an extraordinary career and life. The campus community offers in-class learning, out-of-class experiences, strong mentors, a competitive yet caring environment and rewarding community service opportunities for a complete educational experience.
 
Bulldog student-athletes compete in 19 NCAA Division II sports. Wingate University has won the South Atlantic Conference Echols Athletic Excellence Award for the past five years.
 
Wingate University is ranked number three among NCAA Division II Academic All-America® producing schools in the 2000’s with 42 honorees during this millennium. Only Pittsburg State (Kan.) University and Truman State (Mo.) University have produced more Academic All-America® honorees during this time period. Wingate’s 51 Academic All-America® honorees (lifetime) is tops among all SAC schools.
 
(Wingate University senior Steven Grandy contributed this article. A Sport Management major from Raleigh, N.C., Grandy won the District III Athlete Profile portion of the CoSIDA Fred Stabley, Sr. Writing Contest in 2010.)