Bonnies Begin Season in South Carolina Friday

ST. BONAVENTURE, N.Y. - The St. Bonaventure softball team begins its 2012 campaign Friday at the Upstate Classic on the campus of South Carolina Upstate in Spartanburg, S.C.

The Bonnies will play Ohio at 2 p.m., followed by a 4 p.m. meeting against Detroit.

Coach Mike Threehouse returns all but seven players from last year's team, led by senior catcher Brooke Frey. Frey, a preseason College Sports Madness Preaseason Atlantic 10 Conference Team selection, led the Brown and White in batting average (.347), hits (33), doubles (10), runs (22), stolen bases (four) and walks (19). She enters her final campaign ninth-best in school history with 57 runs batted in and fifth-best with 15 home runs.

Frey heads a group of five seniors on this year's team, supported by designated player Ashley Nowak, pitcher/utility player Diana Phalon, second baseman Brittany Storch and outfielder Kristin Sullivan.

Sophomore shortstop Ashley Snider will attempt to avoid the proverbial slump after her first campaign brought in A-10 All-Rookie honors. Snider, a product of Court Depew, N.Y., led the Bonnies with nine home runs, 58 assists and a .663 slugging percentage last season.

On the mound, sophomore Jen Sensano leads a three-player pitching staff that also includes Phalon and freshman Julia Pratt. Sensano led the Bonnies in wins (8), earned-run average (3.66), complete games (12) and strikeouts (60).

St. Bonaventure was picked to finish ninth in the A-10 by a poll of the conference's head coaches released Jan. 27, after finishing eighth with a record of 13-20 (8-12 A-10) last season.

The Bonnies will participate in the Upstate Classic throughout the weekend and then travel to the campus of Stetson in DeLand, Fla. to participate in the Hatter Classic Feb. 24-26. After a doubleheader with Mount St. Mary's at Stetson Feb. 29, the Brown and White will then head to Jacksonville for the North Florida Invite March 2-4. The early season road trips end with the TSU Tiger Tournament March 16-18 at Tennessee State in Nashville.

Softball action returns to McGraw-Jennings Field March 31 with an A-10 doubleheader against Saint Louis at noon.