Edison girls building on last year's struggles BY SHAWN LAYTON Staff Writer EDISON - After a disappointing 10-13 season last year, the township high school softball team is ready to return to top form when the new season gets under way with a 3:45 p.m. meeting with crosstown rival J.P. Stevens April 4. "We basically have our starting defense back from a year ago," Edison head coach Kim Schoemer said. "I was a bit disappointed with the way last year finished up, so we're looking forward to starting the new season." Unfortunately, Edison suffered a blow when starting shortstop Rachel Ruch tore her ACL on the basketball floor this winter. "We'll definitely miss her this season," Schoemer said. "She was our top offensive player last year and losing her for the season is definitely a big loss." With Ruch out for the season, senior outfielder Alyssa Giuliano will be looked upon to step up her offensive game. Giuliano batted .360 last season and was second in hitting only to Ruch. "Alyssa does her job quietly," Schoemer said. "She has a high on-base percentage and she always makes good contact. She's a very smart player that can do a lot of little things well like drag bunting. She can also play at second base if we ever need her to." Heading the team defensively are pitchers Michelle Jennings and Kristy Mokar along with backstop Megan Nappe. "Megan is confident enough to call games and she's a true leader that always tries to do something special," Schoemer said. "Her senior leadership should work well with a sophomore and a junior pitcher." As a freshman last season, Mokar went 5-9 with a 3.02 ERA while Jennings posted a 5-2 record and an ERA of 2.04. "Michelle has shown a decent amount of improvement and she's gotten a little faster," Schoemer said. "Kristy was kind of thrown into the fire last season and I don't think the record really indicated what she can do. Hopefully the experience she gained last season will help her confidence this year." Joining Nappe in the infield this season are seniors Stephanie Owsiany, Katie Stryker and Stephanie Shields, along with sophomore second baseman Kelli O'Brien. O'Brien makes the move to second base from the outfield and joins first baseman Owsiany on the right side. "Stephanie Owsiany is solid defensively and she finished last year hitting .304," Schoemer said. "Kelli has really quick feet and her hitting has definitely improved since last season. She could be our cleanup hitter to start the season." With O'Brien at second, Shields moves to shortstop to replace Ruch, while Stryker gets set to embark on her fourth-year starting at the hot corner. "Stephanie Shields gives us a solid glove in the infield and she can also hit," Schoemer said. "She finished last year with a .342 average." Batting atop the order is center fielder Krissy Lacik. Lacik hit .304 a year ago and brings tremendous range to the outfield. "She's really improved on her short game," Schoemer said. "She can slap for hits or drag bunt in order to get on base. She gives us that needed spark at the top of the order." Senior Nicole Steiner is also slated to return to the outfield where she enjoyed a solid season in 2006 batting .329. Classmates Jenna Goldfarb and Melissa Jennings will also get into the Eagle lineup this season. Jennings will backup Nappe at catcher, while Goldfarb can see time at either second base or in the outfield. "I'd definitely like to see us qualify for the state tournament this year," Schoemer said. "I'm hoping that the nine seniors on the team will be motivated to go out on a good note. We did a nice job offensively last year, but now we'll need to put everything else together."