With six starters from the 2018 roster graduating, Central Connecticut’s softball team underwent somewhat of a youth movement heading into the 2019 season. However, for head coach Breanne Gleason, she sees Central’s youth as a benefit rather than a detriment.

“When people see us play, I want them to see our winning mindset, I want them to see the confidence we have,” Gleason said. “Yes, we may be young, but we aren’t going to play like it.”

The Blue Devils will head into the season with just one senior on the roster in second baseman Kaitlin Patterson. After hitting .288 with 24 runs batted in during the 2018 season, Gleason says she expects a big season out of the upperclassman.

“Leadership-wise and play-wise Patterson is definitely someone we are going to look to,” Gleason said. “She has a ton of experience, she’s started pretty much every game since she has been here.”

Of the remaining upperclassmen, outfielders Emily Cronin and Guiliana Hathaway should both play big roles.

Cronin hit .270 with six RBI and nine stolen bases over 47 games. Hathaway hit .238 with a home run and six RBI over 27 games. Both should see starting roles in 2019.

Amongst the team’s youth, Gleason sees many different underclassmen making a difference during the 2019 season. The head coach says freshman catcher Rian Eigenmann should make a big impact in her first year with the program.

“Eigenmann’s a good hitter, she’s fast, she’s a total player,” Gleason said. “We’re going to look for her to do some things, I think a lot of people will get to see how good she really is.”

Outside of Eigenmann, the Blue Devils should be led on offense by sophomore infielder Sydney Bolan. Bolan hit .293 with eight home runs and 23 RBI over 49 games as a freshman. Bolan’s eight home runs tied for sixth place in the Northeast Conference. With players such as Brittany Camara and Alexis Debrosse leaving the program, Bolan’s bat should be key.

With senior stalwart Emily Sargent graduating, the Blue Devils’ pitching staff will not have an ace to start the season. Gleason says she expects to start the year with a committee on the mound.

“Right now, I think we have three girls that can win, I think if we can keep them at that level it’ll be good for us,” Gleason said. “Young pitching staffs might stress people out, but I look at it as nobody really knows what we can throw at them. All three are very different, which makes things hard to prepare for.”

According to Gleason, freshmen Carly Stoker, Kari Marks and sophomore Ashley Antonazzo should all have an opportunity to shine on the mound. With Antonazzo being the only returning Blue Devil pitcher, there is a chance she gets the first shot at replacing Sargent.

Central’s 2018 season ended with a sweep in the NEC Tournament. Gleason is hoping her youth movement can help get the Blue Devils back into the postseason.

“We’re just looking to repeat on last year’s successes,” Gleason said. “Every time the season starts our goal is just to make the NEC Tournament and then go from there. Once we do that we can focus on some bigger goals.”