LORETTO, Pa. – The Saint Francis softball team will feature nine newcomers this season.  With freshmen or sophomores making up over half of the roster, younger players will be relied on to provide an impact to the lineup.
 
While it might take a few games to get adjusted to the speed of college softball, the freshmen have already shown signs of their potential throughout the preseason.
 
"They have all shown examples of why they were recruited to be here," said Head Coach Jennifer Patrick-Swift. "They have also made a few freshmen mistakes. That is what we expected and we're trying to put them in positions to have more of the good moments. We want to push them to their limits and we encourage failure, because it means they're trying and getting out of their comfort zones, and with each failure comes an opportunity to learn and be better next time."
 
With a roster with so many newcomers, the focus of the preparation for this season has shifted a little to make sure they are ready when the team opens its season on Friday at UNC Wilmington.
 
"We do our best to put them in positions and situations in practice that will allow them to get preparation they need in order to be confident when practice situations turn into game situations," said Patrick-Swift. "There may be times this year when we have five-to-seven freshmen and sophomores on the field at one time.  That might seem scary to some, but we're confident in any combination we have out there because I feel they're prepared for the moment."
 
Williamsport native MiKayla Bower joins sister Alexis Bower (Cogan Station, Pa./Williamsport Area) on the Red Flash squad.  MiKayla will have a utility role this season, including time in the circle.  As a senior last year, she was selected First Team All-State after batting .492 with 31 hits, including 11 doubles three triples and a home run, scoring nine runs while knocking in 20.  In the circle, Bower went 9-4 with a 1.03 ERA in 14 apperances.  She added 100 strikeouts, with only 12 walks, in 81.2 innings. 
 
"It's great playing with her again," said Alexis. "I loved playing with her in high school and I've missed her the last two years. She's going to bring a lot to the program.  She's a really upbeat person and dedicated, she's always working hard.  She's always striving to be the best player on the team."
 
The newcomers feature another sibling pair as Cheyenne and Sierra McKee (DuBois, Pa./DuBois) join the team.  Cheyenne earned Second Team All-State honors as a shortstop in 2014 and 2015, while Sierra was named First Team All-State at catcher as a senior. 
 
"We wanted to be recruited together, so we tried to find a school that fit both of us. That was here," said Cheyenne.
 
A local product, McKenzie Burge (Osceola Mills, Pa./Phillipsburg-Osceola) also earned First Team All-State honors in Class AA in 2014 and 2015 after claiming Second Team honors in 2012 and 2013.  Burge will also be used in a utility role and will be a valuable left-handed hitter in the lineup after setting the on-base percentage (.628) single-season record at Philipsburg-Osceola last year.
 
Throughout the preseason, Burge has focused on adjusting to the speed and details of the college game.
 
"With everything I learn, I just try to apply it as a quickly as I can," said Burge. "I don't really think about it, I just do it and go with it. I trust what the coaches are saying.  It's been an adjustment to fine pick everything, but the coaches have prepared us well."
 
Brandi Dalious (Harrington, Del./Polytech ) will see time in the outfield and at third base.  She joins the Red Flash after leading Polytech High School to a Delaware State Title.  Dalious was an NFCA Second Team At-Large selection as well as a First Team All-State honoree in 2014 after hitting .441.
 
Outfielder Halle Marion (Middletown, Pa./Middletown) was a First Team All-State selection in 2014 at Middletown high School.  She was also a three-time All-Conference honoree.
 
Catcher/third baseman Melanie Martire (Herndon, Va./Herndon) was a four-year letterwinner at Herndon High School, earning First Team All-Conference as a catcher and Second Team as a third baseman last year.
 
Hayley Norton (Spring Grove, Pa./Spring Grove) will see time in the outfield after being a three-time All-State selection at Spring Grove High School.  Norton holds the single-season (9) and career home run (25) records at Spring Grove as well as the career hits record.
 
Infielder Kassidy Troxell (Navarre, Ohio/Perry) played four years at Perry High School.  She was a two-time All-Conference selection and holds the single-season record at Perry with 52 hits.
 
The Red Flash opens the 2016 season this weekend at the UNC Wilmington Tournament.  SFU plays the host Seahawks at 10 a.m. on Friday in the first game of a doubleheader.  Saint Francis will take on Army at 3 p.m. in the second game.