Eight letter winners return for a Bradford High softball team
looking to become a force in the District 9 League.

After finishing last year right around the .500 mark, followed
by a first-round Class AAA playoff loss to Punxsutawney, the Lady
Owls will depend on the experience of four senior letterwinners –
Alissa Cameron, Leanna Cameron, Hope Matzner and Hope Ruffner – to
lift the team to the next level.

“Assistant coach Mary Lou Sapko and I feel that this team’s
experience is a big plus,” said Sue Aljoe, Bradford High girls
softball coach. “Many of the girls who started for us last season
showed a lot of potential.

“Another positive aspect of this year’s team is our leadership,”
she added. “The four returning seniors are a special group. They
are loyal, enthusiastic and work hard to set a good example for
everyone. Their positive attitude is contagious and hopefully they
will set the tone for the whole team.”

Other returning letterwinners for Bradford are junior Katie
Behan and sophomores Erin Comilla, Shelly Fuhrman and Nicole
Keane.

With three weeks of practice in the books, one concern for the
Lady Owls is scoring runs.

“We’ll have to do a better job offensively than we did last
year,” Aljoe noted. “We need to get more people on base and more
importantly, we need to get the clutch hits to get them home.

“Our inability to score runs last season put too much pressure
on our pitcher Shelly Fuhrman and our defense,” she added.

The rest of the Lady Owls varsity team follows: Melinda Clouser
(sophomore), Lindsay Nuyen (sophomore), Sarah Langy (sophomore),
Brittany Harsen (freshman), Meghan Hollenbeck (freshman), Savnia
Vecellio (freshman) and Corrinne Wolfe (freshman).

“We also have a lot of very promising new girls this year, so
there’s a lot of competition for starting spots which hopefully
will bring out the best in everyone,” Aljoe stated.

A group of 18 players make up Bradford’s junior varsity squad.
They are juniors Emily Burgoon, Christine Feely, Megan Murphy and
Michele Skaggs; sophomores, Brandie English, Jennifer Gault,
Brittany Gilmore, JoAnne Farmer, Rachel Kelly, Sara Larson,
Jennifer Schoonover, Corrine Switzer, Nichole Tyger and Amanda
Whiteman; and freshmen, Kayla Barger, Kylie Hannon, Brianna Oliver
and Corrinne Sampson.

With division strongholds such as Otto-Eldred and Smethport on
this year’s schedule, Bradford must rely on teamwork and staying
healthy during the season.

“Every team’s a challenge, certainly Smethport and Otto-Eldred
have terrific programs,” Aljoe said.

The Lady Owls travel to Austin for their season opener on
Thursday with game time scheduled for 4:15 p.m.

“Predicting how the season will evolve is risky,” Aljoe
concluded. “There are so many variables and intangibles. If we can
stay healthy and play the way we are capable of playing, we should
have a successful season.”

Mary Boser is the junior varsity coach.

“Both coaches do a wonderful job,” Aljoe concluded. “I’m very
grateful for all their help and support.”