Hofstra Softball's NCAA Chances Slim After Dropping CAA Championship to Georgia State

The Hofstra softball team entered this afternoon’s Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Tournament finals needing only one win over Georgia State to clinch its eighth trip to the NCAAs in nine years. Unfortunately for the Pride the CAA title hopes came crashing down with two close defeats to the Bulldogs and now their 2011 season is more than likely over as well.

Despite being 40-13, Hofstra head coach Bill Edwards said following the Pride’s 2-0 CAA title game loss to Georgia State that they likely don’t have the resume to receive an NCAA at-large bid due to not picking up enough quality non-conference wins. Hofstra entered the CAA Tournament ranked 54 in the RPI.

“I’d be very shocked,” said Coach Edwards of his team’s at-large chances following the CAA title game loss where Georgia State scored two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to earn the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. “We had some games early that we had to win that we very competitive in but didn’t win.”

Hofstra Softball Fielding Among Tops In the Nation

Hofstra softball head coach Bill Edwards always places a major emphasis on defense during pre-season practices and that sharp focus on the fundamentals of fielding is paying off to near perfection.

According to the latest NCAA statistics, Hofstra (31-10) is tied with Texas for first in the nation with a .984 fielding percentage. For the season Hofstra has only made 19 errors. Last year Hofstra was also tops in the country for fielding percentage before making two errors in a season-ending NCAA Tournament extra-inning loss to Arizona.

Edwards attributes the Pride’s fielding success to a combination of hard work and having a “constant repetition of fundamentals.” In addition concentrating heavily to the physical aspect of fielding, Edwards also institutes a system that enables each player to constantly be prepared mentally during each at bat of how to position themselves for a variety of situations.

Olivia Galati Following Up Stellar Freshman Campaign With More Dominance in Circle

 Courtesy Hofstra Athletic Communications

After a stellar freshman season that saw her garner Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Rookie of the Year Honors, Hofstra softball pitcher Olivia Galati has certainly not had a sophomore slump and instead has become an even more dominant force in the circle.

Galati earned her third CAA Softball Pitcher of Week honor this past Monday after recording two complete-game victories over Connecticut to help the Pride capture the Hyatt Place Invitational at Hofstra Softball Stadium last weekend. In her last six appearances Galati has been on fire with 56 strikeouts and no walks while helping to lead the Pride to wins over Michigan State, Purdue, Buffalo and Connecticut. Scoring has been hard to come by against Galati all season with the sophomore boasting a 1.36 earned run average (ERA) in 15 appearances on the mound.

Saturday's Hofstra-Columbia Game To Feature Pride Softball Reunion

When the Hofstra softball team takes the field against Columbia Saturday morning for its home opener in the Hyatt Place Invitational, there will be two familiar faces in the opposing dugout.

The Columbia head coach is former Hofstra softball player Kayla Noonan, who was a four-year catcher for the then Flying Dutchwomen in the late 90’s. The Lion’s assistant coach Adrienne Clark is also familiar to Pride fans, as she was a key pitcher for Hofstra during its run to three straight NCAA Tournaments from 2003-2005.

Hofstra Softball Battle Tested for Start of Its Home and Conference Schedule

After a challenging first month of the season playing 18 games down south against some of the nation’s top softball programs, Hofstra head coach Bill Edwards said his team is very well prepared for a run at a Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) title and the start of its home schedule this weekend.

In addition to playing many top-notch teams, Hofstra was met with further challenges off the field to start the year including many flights and weather delays. Hofstra (10-8) capped its grueling first month of the season on the road winning four of five games at the Florida Atlantic Invitational over Middle Tennessee State, Michigan State, Purdue and Buffalo. The Pride’s early season non-conference slate also included impressive wins over Virginia and Florida State at the Seminole Kickoff Classic from Feb. 11-13.

“It was an exhausting tournament schedule to start the year off,” said Edwards, whose teams have traditionally opened the beginning of the season in warmer weather before starting the home schedule in late March. “They were very tiring and exhausting trips.”

Former Hofstra softball player makes pitch to be Phillies Ballgirl

Courtesy philadelphia.phillies.mlb.com 

A former Hofstra softball player is making a pitch to be a Philadelphia Phillies Ballgirl in 2011.

Genevieve Haney, who played softball at Hofstra from 2005-2008, is one of five finalists for the final Phillies Ballgirl spot open for the 2011 season, and the Major League Baseball team has decided to let fans decide who will earn this coveted job. Hofstra fans can cast their vote for Haney and view a video of the former Pride softball player making her case for the job on the Phillies website. Polls close on Nov. 30 at 5 p.m.

Haney, a native of Levittown, Pa., was a utility infielder for Hofstra and was apart of Pride teams that captured four straight Colonial Athletic Association titles and won six NCAA Tournament games.

Hofstra softball's Kriss Root recognized for hitting and GPA

One week after Hofstra's Kriss Root was named Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Softball Scholar-Athlete of the Year,  the just graduated Pride centerfielder's success on the diamond and in the classroom was featured in the South Central Pennsylvania newspaper "The Chambersburg Public Opinion."

Root excelled in sports and academic statistical categories as the Waynesboro, Pa. native was Hofstra's leading hitter with a .366 batting average in 2010 and she graduated in May with a 3.83 GPA with a degree in exercise science. The article  mentions how the former Pride star will now be pursuing a doctorate in physical therapy and earned the nickname "Dr. Root" by Hofstra head coach Bill Edwards because of her mastery of the sciences and his belief that she has the ability to graduate medical school.

Future Hofstra softball player Nicole Hagerty ends high school career with title

Future Hofstra softball player Nicole Hagerty concluded her high school career in grand style tossing a five hitter to lead Gloucester Catholic to an 11-1 victory over Lodi Immaculate in the championship game of the NJSIAA/Blue Ribbon Awards Non-Public B tournament on Friday June 4 in Toms River, N.J. 

While Hagerty has excelled as a pitcher in high school she will not be in the circle at the college level. Hofstra softball head coach Bill Edwards has said Hagerty could play first base for the Pride and fill the gap being vacated by graduating senior Michele DePasquale, who the Gloucester Catholic star has had communication with since signing with the Pride. Last year Hagerty was named to the Newark-Star-Ledger All-South Jersey team after leading Gloucester Catholic to a South Jersey championship.

Future Hofstra softball player Nicole Hagerty ready for bright lights

The Hofstra's softball team's 2010 season ended with an epic 12 inning loss to third ranked Arizona on Sunday in the NCAA Regional Finals but with the addition this fall of Nicole Hagerty, a star for Gloucester Catholic in South Jersey, the future should continue to be bright for the program. Hagerty, who was named to the Newark-Star-Ledger All-South Jersey team last year, was featured in a q & a with the Philadelphia Inquirer about her decision to attend Hofstra with one of the attractions being the school's proximity to Manhattan. Hagerty could fill the gap at first base being left by graduating senior Michele DePasquale.

Hofstra softball glad to hit the road for NCAAs

After hosting NCAA Tournament regionals from 2006-2008 the Hofstra softball team will be hitting the road in the post season for the first time in five years and that suits head coach Bill Edwards just fine. After winning the Colonial Athletic Association and the conference’s automatic bid to the NCAAs (Hofstra (43-10) was slotted to play in the Tucson, Ariz. region starting against Oklahoma State (43-14) on Friday.

“I would much rather be on the road,” said Edwards whose teams reached the regional finals in 2004 and 2005 at Stanford and Alabama but did not fare as well the next three years when the NCAAs were held on its home field. “Whenever we hosted we played some of our poorest ball.”

Hofsta softball tradition on display during 2010 CAA championship

Moments after capturing the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) title Friday afternoon on the strength of a no-hitter from freshman pitching phenom Olivia Galati the Hofstra softball team transported from its gold uniforms sported during the 3-0 win over Georgia State into old school white jerseys worn underneath. Accepting the CAA championship trophy in the same uniforms worn by past great Hofstra teams was a way of paying homage to past great players who have laid the groundwork for what has become one of the top college softball programs in the northeast.

Hofstra’s 2010 CAA championship was the program’s 12th conference crown in 13 seasons and for every one of those the old school white jerseys have been worn for the title game. “We keep them and break them out once a year,” said Hofstra head softball coach Bill Edwards of the tradition of sporting the white jerseys in conference title games. “The significance is that we’re sending a message to our alumni that everybody is apart of the program.”

“Every time we have worn them in a championship game we have never lost and that tradition continues,” said Galati, whose no-hitter was the first in CAA Tournament history.

Hofstra softball gearing up to host CAA Tournament

The Hofstra softball team clinched the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) regular season title last weekend by winning two of three at second place Georgia State but head coach Bill Edwards has no plans to take this weekend’s series against Drexel lightly.

“We’re not going to do anything different then we have done all year round,” said Edwards, whose team enters its final three regular season games against Drexel starting with a doubleheader Friday at 37-10 and 15-2 in the CAA. “We’re going to play every game to win.”

While Saturday’s regular season finale will be senior day for Pride seniors Michele DePasquale,  Kris Root, Stefanie Feinstein and Christie Novatin, it will not be the final time the foursome takes the field at Hofstra University Softball Stadium. By winning the CAA regular season title Hofstra earned the right to host the conference tournament from May 12-14.

“It is a privilege to host and they have earned it,” said Edwards. “It is a very good thing for us.”

Hofstra softball ace Olivia Galati receiving much deserved media attention

The first place Hofstra softball team has a chance to clinch home field advantage for the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Tournament this weekend by taking two of three games at second place Georgia State. A major reason why Hofstra (34-9 and 13-1 in the CAA) is position to win a conference title and return to the NCAA Tournament after missing it for the first time since 2002 last year is ace freshman pitcher Olivia Galati, who enters the series at 20-5 with a 1.26 ERA.

Galati, the 2009 New York State Gatorade Player of the Year winner at St. John's the Baptist High School, has played like a veteran early her college softball career and is receiving well deserved media attention. On April 26 Long Island Pulse published a story on how the 5'5 Galati has made a seamless transition from high school to college pitching. Newsday and Spy Softball also penned features on Galati earlier this month. With the physical and mental toughness Galati has displayed as only a freshman there should be many more articles to come for Hofstra's ace in the circle.

Hofstra softball off to fast start in CAA

One year after its 11-year run of capturing a conference title came to a close the Hofstra softball team is making an early season statement in Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) play that the beginning of a new streak may soon be around the corner. The Pride completed its second straight weekend conference three-game sweep Saturday with a 2-0 win over George Mason to have first place all to itself in the beginning of the CAA slate.

“Anytime you can win a series it certainly helps your chances to get to the playoffs, anytime you sweep a series now you’re talking about possibly hosting it,” said Hofstra softball head coach Bill Edwards following Hofstra’s 2-0 win over George Mason thanks to a two-run sixth inning single from junior third baseman Sara Michalowski. “When [a sweep] happens it is obviously very, very gratifying.”

Hofstra softball continues hot play in first home games of 2010

After playing its first 13 games on the road the Hofstra softball team was excited for some home cooking this weekend, especially freshman pitcher Olivia Galati, who attended many Pride games growing up in West Babylon. Galati did not disappoint her many friends and family who flocked to Hofstra Softball Stadium Saturday and Sunday as the St. John the Baptist product tossed 23 strikeouts in victories over Connecticut and Boston University to help the Pride improve to 13-4.

 “It is seriously like a dream come true" said Galati of her Hofstra Softball Stadium debut as a college player. "I’ve been looking to come here and I’ve been coming to games my whole life here and to actually step on the field and say this is my home field is really, really cool."

Galati’s efforts helped the Pride win three of four games in the Hofstra Invitational and remain hot in non-conference play. She earned Sunday’s 2-1 win over BU thanks to a walk-off home run from junior third baseman Sarah Michalowski in the bottom of the seventh after Michele DePasquale tied it in the sixth with an RBI double. Coming into the Hofstra Invitational the Pride were ranked 23rd in the Ultimate College Softball  top 25 poll after achieving several impressive wins at tournaments in Tampa, Fla, Columbus, Ga. and Louisville, Ky.

Hofstra softball's hot start getting national attention

In its opening two weekends of the 2010 season the Hofstra softball program has made quite a splash on a national level. Against top-level competition at two tournaments in Florida and Georgia the Pride are off to 9-1 start that has catapulted them to 25th in the latest Ultimate College Softball top 25 poll.

Hofstra's hot start featured wins over North Dakota State, North Carolina State, Michigan State, Wright State, South Florida, Virginia Tech, Kent State and Mississippi State. The only loss came to 22nd ranked Florida State. The 9-1 start matches program's best since 1994, when Hofstra finished the season ranked 20th in the nation after going 39-16 but were snubbed of an NCAA Tournament bid.

Hofstra's nine wins have featured several close games with six of its nine victories coming by one run. "The big thing is that we are playing clutch," said Hofstra softball head coach Bill Edwards of his team's 9-1 start. "We're on a roll."

Hofstra softball future looks bright entering new decade

Three weeks after his induction into the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Hall of Fame, Hofstra head softball coach Bill Edwards still remains touched by the 24 current and former Pride players that attended the ceremony, and that is not the only reason for him to be beaming as a new decade dawns. The 21st-year Hofstra head coach is excited about the future of his program following the recent signings of three solid hitters and how his current team came together in the fall season in preparation for a 2010 campaign he hopes will end in the NCAA Tournament after missing out last year.

In his two decades in Hempstead Edwards has been able to recruit top notched talent that have helped turn Hofstra into a nationally recognized program that defeated number-one ranked UCLA in 2000, reached the NCAA regional finals three times and captured 11 straight conference titles from 1998-2008. Edwards is confident that the three players who comprise his 2011 recruiting class will help continue Hofstra's recent string of success. The trio of future Hofstra players includes a pair of infielders from New Jersey in Nicole Hagerty and Jessica Zeilman along with utility player Tori Rocha from Rehoboth, Mass.

"The three players who committed to us we have been tracking since the ninth or 10th grade," said Edwards. "Every time we see them play they are getting better."

A video tribute to Hofstra softball coach Bill Edwards upon induction into Hall of Fame

 Courtesy Hofstra Athletic Communications
In honor of his induction into the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Hall of Fame on Dec. 11, a video tribute to Hofstra head coach Bill Edwards has been released on youtube featuring insights on what has made the longtime Pride coach such a success both on and off the field. The 8:20 video features an assortment of interviews from many in the Hofstra family including president Stuart Rabinowitz, athletic director Jack Hayes, senior associate director of athletics Cindy Lewis and head basketball coach Tom Pecora. Edwards has been Hofstra's head softball coach since 1990 and in that nearly two-decade stretch has guided the program to national prominence with 721 wins, 11 straight conference titles from 1998-2008 and NCAA Tournament regional finals appearances in 2004, 2005 and 2008. The Coach Edwards video tribute was edited and produced by Len Thon, executive producer and director of Hofstra Multimedia Productions. 

Hofstra softball celebrates past & present at alumni day

The past and present of Hofstra softball’s rich history gathered yesterday for the fifth annual alumni day featuring more than 30 former Pride players hitting the base paths against the current players.

Since the autumn tradition at the Hofstra University Softball Stadium began in 2005, the alumni team has been competitive in their games against the current team but always managed to come up a little short. However the most important part of the day is allowing former Pride players a chance to catch up with old friends and pass on pointers to the current Hofstra team. Following the game the entire Hofstra softball family enjoyed a barbeque prepared by parents of the current players.

“We always get a good turnout of alumni because we are all so proud of the program we played for and the rich tradition we all had a hand in creating,” said Meaghan Almon, Hofstra softball's starting catcher from 2001-2004. “Hofstra Softball is one big family and we are very proud of what we have accomplished over the years.”

Hofstra softball has enjoyed stellar success under head coach Bill Edwards including 11 straight conference titles from 1998-2008. Five former Hofstra players from that 11-year run of dominance spoke at alumni day to gohofstra.com about the program’s success.