WAYNESBURG, Pa. (Feb. 26) – With a huge group of returners back for the spring and a deep, talented crop of newcomers, fourth-year head coach Brett Shimek has high expectations for the 2022 Waynesburg University softball team. The Yellow Jackets are looking to improve on last year's 12-24 campaign that featured a 3-15 mark in conference play.
 
INFIELD
The corner spots in this year's infield feature a pair of sophomores who quickly established themselves as regular starters as freshmen this past season. Second-team All-Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) selection Sydney Senay (Canonsburg, Pa. / Canon-McMillan) hit .341 with eight doubles and a pair of homeruns while earning the starting job at third base and spending time at the designated player spot. She tied for second on the team with 20 RBI's and her .512 slugging percentage was good for third on the squad, as were her 10 walks.
 
Sophomore Emma Bliss (Uniontown, Pa. / Laurel Highlands) played multiple positions in her first collegiate season, but seemed to truly settle in at first base and right field as the season played itself out. Regardless of where she played in the field, Bliss was effective at the plate. She finished the year ranked fifth on the team in batting average (.337), third in on-base percentage (.427), third in runs scored (20), third in hits (32) and first in walks (16).
 
Junior Lauren Lober (Houston, Pa. / Chartiers-Houston) looks to be the choice at second base. Not only did she start 32 of the 34 games in which she appeared, but she hit .268 with four doubles, two home runs, 14 RBIs and nine runs scored.
 
The Jackets have several veteran options at shortstop, including sophomores Kayla Gratton (Monroeville, Pa. / Gateway) and Kara May (Indian Head, Pa. / Connellsville). The two combined to play in 50 games and make 40 starts.
 
Waynesburg added further depth in the middle of the infield thanks to freshmen Jessica Rothka (Eighty Four, Pa. / Bentworth)( and Grace Higgins (Canonsburg, Pa. / Canon-McMillan).
 
OUTFIELD
Junior honorable mention All-PAC pick Reghan Benschoter (Newark, Ohio / Granville) anchors this year's outfield. Bencshoter led the team in homeruns (3), doubles (13), RBI's (28) and slugging percentage (.544). She finished second on the team with 36 total hits.
 
While a few of this season's returners, including May, bring outfield experience back with them in 2022, the 10 newcomers to this year's roster will likely see plenty of time in the grass. Freshmen Dilyn Roberts (Sellersburg, Ind. / Henryville), Kiana Bagnell (Inwood, W.Va. / Musselman), Hannah Yorty (Monessen, Pa. / Monessen) and Mackenzie Kearns (Elizabeth, Pa. / Elizabeth Forward) have all drawn positive reviews from this year's coaching staff.
 
CATCHER
Since joining the Jackets before the 2020 campaign, junior Brin Hunter (West Alexander, Pa. / McGuffey) has held down the starting job behind the plate and is one of the top catchers in the PAC. She earned second-team all-conference praise after leading Waynesburg in batting average (.375), runs scored (27), hits (48), triples (3) and stolen bases (10). Her 11 doubles were good for second on the squad, as was her .531 slugging percentage.
 
Hunter is also one of the most versatile players on the team, having logged time at shortstop and in the outfield as well as in front of the backstop.
 
When Hunter isn't handling the team's pitchers, she'll be spelled by sophomore Alayna McKay (Cochranton, Pa. / Cochranton) and freshman Katelynn Brittenbaugh (Glenshaw, Pa. / Shaler).
 
PITCHER
Perhaps no position group on the team got a bigger boost than this year's pitchers. Freshmen Jenna Boneysteele (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Chartiers Valley) and Sydney Wilson (Pentress, W.Va. / Clay Battelle) both bring robust high school resumes with them to Waynesburg and have impressed in fall and preseason action.
 
The Jackets also bring back sophomore Ella Brookman (Washington, Pa. / Chartiers-Houston) to this year's roster. Last year, she was named PAC Rookie of the Week and ended the season ranked first amongst the team's regular pitchers in ERA, opposing batting average, wins and saves. Brookman will also see time at first base and in the outfield this spring.
 
Waynesburg's pitching depth is also bolstered, by Gratton, May and Yorty.
 
Waynesburg is scheduled to open the 2022 season on Sunday, Feb. 27, at the Fast Pitch Dreams Spring Classic in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The Yellow Jackets begin their run down south by facing Castleton. First pitch is scheduled for 12 p.m.